Senior Education Officer-OTL – INTERNAL ONLY

Requisition ID: req50884

Job Title: Senior Education Officer-OTL – INTERNAL ONLY

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict-affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno State, and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs for primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.

Job Overview/Summary

Role Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to support the daily implementation of the USAID OTL-funded education project.

Dimensions of the Role

• The post holder will directly implement the project and also document lessons learned, support assessments, and monitoring and evaluation of the Education in Emergencies components of the IRC.
• He/she is responsible for assessment, response analysis, design, and capacity building of the education officers.

Major Responsibilities.

• Responsible for overseeing the team of Education Officers’ day-to-day implementation of the OTL activities.
• Works with state-based program officers on TPD, safety, youth, and inclusion to ensure harmonized implementation approaches.
• Enhances coordination, documentation, and reporting across the state’s LGEAs to support information management.
• Ensures Education Officers have needed training and resources to support clients in given LGEAs.

Accountabilities
In collaboration with the Project Manager:

• Support in documenting lessons learned and best practices of the pilot project.
• Support the Project Manager, Institutional Capacity Strengthening Manager, and Access to Education Lead in designing the Project Implementation Plans.
• Ensure the execution of the Project Implementation Plan and work closely with the National implementing partners on the project.
• Will work closely with the National partners in the execution of the Formal, and non-formal (ABEP) education components of the project.
• With support from the M&E team design a Monitoring plan and simple data collection tools to ensure monitoring and data collection of key project indicators.
• Will be responsible for the formation, strengthening, and training of the Community structures (SBMCs, PMCs, CBCPCs), etc.
• Will play a key role in the mobilization and engagement of the community and stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of the project.
• Will be responsible for school supervision, and data collection.
• Will support in organizing and facilitating teacher training and assessments.
• Support assessment of the Education sector in the state of implementation
• Review, assess, and update the education situation in areas affected by an emergency.
• Highlight education issues requiring a response – both immediate (less than 2 months) and medium term and make recommendations on specific PLAN actions required. Ensure core commitments to children are taken into consideration.
• Ensure key data from assessments can be used as a baseline for program evaluation.  If additional baseline data is required to evaluate children’s learning outcomes, then work with appropriate colleagues to collect this additional information.
• In collaboration with national and international Education actors, map current institutional response capacities – including conducting an education-specific 5Ws.
• Support in designing appropriate education interventions based on the outcomes of assessments and the context.  The inclusion of quality issues in education and learning outcomes is really important.
• Ensure that issues of early gender, protection, DRR, and conflict sensitivity are factored into the program design.
• Ensure the IRC guidelines, Education cluster standards, and INEE Minimum Standards, are considered in implementation and documented.
• Provide regular updates to the Education program manager, on progress, priorities, and constraints – verbally and in writing on an agreed frequency. 
• Support the implementation of and represent The IRC in emergency education coordination mechanisms including any relevant cluster.

Qualifications

• University Degree or equivalent in Education, Social Science, Social Work, Psychology, or related fields
• Minimum of 4 years relevant working experience in Education in Emergencies
• Experience working in emergency settings.
• Good knowledge and understanding of DO NO HARM principles and established international child protection standards.
• Experience with participatory approaches to education, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, or other related areas.
• Experience working with IDPs, refugees, and other vulnerable populations (ideal)
• Previous experience directly providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation, and violence.

Desirable:

• Strong ability to work independently, organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, creativity, and flexibility
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, is comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible, and able to handle pressure well.
• Ability to read and write in both English and other languages appropriately in Northeast Nigeria.

Behaviors:

• Creates a strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders.
• Holds self and others to account to deliver agreed goals and standards of behavior.
• Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity.
• Provide good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable programs to meet their agreed financial and program outcomes.
• Actively seeks support in addressing difficulties in the execution of duties.
• Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organizational development.
• Sound judgment and decision-making in complex situations.
• Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness.
• Leads by example to motivate the high performance of others.
• Very strong commitment to continuous learning.

Key Working Relationships.

Position Reports to – The OTL Education Program Manager.

Indirect/Technical Reporting: The OTL Education Program Manager.

Position directly Supervises – Learning Facilitators.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:IRC education Country Program
• Region/Global:

Key External Contacts:All relevant education stakeholders in the state.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Minimum two years of project management experience; work with USAID-funded programs preferred. Experience working with CBOs, CSOs, and government education actors in NE Nigeria.

Languages:English, Hausa, and Basic of Kanuri.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements: Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Ability to Travel: 50 % of the time where applicable.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate’s potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.

Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attract, motivate, and retain employees who deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status, or cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.