Lebanon: Education Coordinator

Background/IRC Summary:

The International Rescue Committee is an international organization specializing in emergency and humanitarian programming. Since the fall of 2012, the IRC's Education program has provided Education support to Syrian refugees in various locations in Akkar and Be'k'a Governorates. The IRC's current education program includes programming focused on Early Childhood Education, Remedial Support and Community Engagement in support of Lebanese schools. These program pillars focus on addressing issues such as access and quality in line with commitments in the Lebanon Crisis Response plan. In addition to Education programming, the IRC also has robust programs in Women's Protection and Empowerment, Economic Recovery and Development, Child Protection, Education, and Protection. The Education Program Coordinator will be responsible for managing and overseeing the activities associated with supporting the provision of Education services across Lebanon.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Education Coordinator will be responsible for overall leadership, coordination and technical support to maintain and expand IRC's Education programming in Lebanon. This includes:

1 Ensuring program quality and innovation where possible; 2 Build and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders, serving as IRC representative to donors, line Ministries including Education, other multinationals, technical agencies and other partner organizations. 3 Strengthening community engagement and client-centered service models; 4 Continuing to support the expansion of strategic priorities such as partnerships where possible.

The Coordinator is responsible for overall management of Education staff, providing any and all support necessary to ensure successful implementation of Education sector programming, and ensuring a strategic vision for the ongoing development and implementation of the programming. The Coordinator also plays a key role in program development through contributions to new concepts and proposals, including design and writing of technical proposal sections, with support from the IRC Technical Unit and relevant departments of the Lebanon country program and HQ. The Coordinator is responsible for building the capacity of key National Staff to enable them to take greater responsibility for overall management of the Education portfolio.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Quality

• Provide clear technical support, supervision, training and mentoring to the Education team, including training needed to build specialized skills.
• Ensure that Education staff and services adhere to best practice, professional standards and principles.
• Stay abreast of developments in the IRC Education Technical Unit and global working groups related to new tools and guidelines
• Liaise with Education Technical Advisors on a regular basis and proactively pursue technical guidance as needed.
• Lead and support integration and collaboration of Education programming across other IRC sectors, including Economic Recovery and Development, Child Protection, Women's Protection and Empowerment and Protection.

Human Resources Management

• In collaboration with HR, support recruitment of program staff.
• Build and supervise an Education team with specific technical expertise in relevant areas and meet technical program needs. This includes creating detailed work planning (including spending plans and budgeting).
• Build capacity of the team under his/her supervision in the different selected program methodologies, and provide ongoing coaching and support of staff to ensure high-quality program implementation.
• Take responsibility for discussing job expectations, performance, and objectives on an informal, quarterly basis with all staff and as a part of the annual Performance Review and Planning Process
• With team members, identify individual training needs and ensure access to training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.
• Identify staff performance issues where applicable and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
• Overall responsibility for staff timesheets, work plans, vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.
• As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of a national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by end of assignment
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures

Strategy and Business Development

• Identify gaps in existing Education programming and work with the team to develop innovative approaches and mechanisms to address them.
• Lead Education sector specific strategy development and review to address emerging priorities.
• Utilize the IRC's Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF) and related theories of change in project design and promote understanding of OEF tools among education staff
• Lead the design and development of new and potential funding opportunities for Education programming in line with IRC Lebanon's Country Strategy.

Grant and Budget Management

• Responsible for the overall achievement of grant activities, deliverables, and budget compliance within donor guidelines.
• Produce high quality donor reports and other materials as required.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Select, adapt, and refine core indicators in alignment with selected IRC Education outcomes.
• Provide direction and monitor staff in their implementation of work planning, program budgets and spending plans to meet desired objectives.
• Contribute to the technical interpretation of M&E data and apply output and outcome indicator findings to improve program quality
• Oversee the maintenance of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for Education programming in Lebanon, including quality control and reporting systems.

Coordination, Representation and Advocacy

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Develop strategic partnerships with local organizations, wherever possible
• Maintain productive working relationship with Education Coordination structures
• Ensure key field concerns are brought to relevant stakeholders.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Programs Position directly supervises: Education Senior Manager, M&E Manager, Education Quality Manager & Senior Program Officer

Indirect Reporting: Education Technical Advisor Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Grants Department, Education Technical Unit, Supply Chain, HR, Research Evaluation and Learning Technical Unit, Regional Advocacy Department, Other program coordinators

External: Education Partners Group, Sub Committee Members, Government, donors

REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced degree in Education, social sciences, international development or other related field
• Minimum of 3 years professional experience in implementation of Education programming in Humanitarian or Development contexts.
• Proven experience working in emergency contexts
• Proven experience building capacity on technical and non-technical (budget, HR, reports) skills and knowledge
• Prior international experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments; regional or in-country experience preferred.
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills
• Solid experience with planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Thorough understanding of gender-based violence response protocols and service provision.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties
• Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
• Proven track record in working with teams, showing high performance in a multi-cultural environment, demonstrating flexibility, and able to handle pressure with professional grace.
• Fluency in English required; spoken French or Arabic an asset.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The Coordinator will be based in Beirut with frequent travel to the sub-offices. Accommodation in Beirut will include modest individual housing. This position is unaccompanied. Accommodation in the sub-offices will include overnights in Qobayat and Zahle, as per security requirements determined by management. Security protocols for Beirut and the field offices will be determined as needed prior to any site visits.

Attention Returning Lebanese National Candidates : We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci44NTEyMC4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20