Education Manager – PLANE at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Education Manager – PLANE

Job ID: 220003NA
Location: Kano
Grade: 3
Post Type: National
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Contract Length: 1 Year – Fixed Term
Team: Education Team – FCDO Funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) Window 3 – Community Support to Learning

Child Safeguarding

• Level 3.  The responsibilities of this post may require the post holder to have regular contact with children and young people.
• As part of these responsibilities the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or as a result of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.
• The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Role Purpose and Description

• Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) Windows 3 is an FCDO funded program with a key outcome to promote learning and inclusion of girls in Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa states and policy at federal/national level as appropriate.
• The Education Manager will lead in all Education activities for the project and consortium partners. This includes, leading in the development and implementation of the project Detail Implementation Plan (DIP), Procurement Plan, Activity Based Budget (ABB) for Education Component that will generate evidence, maintain accountability standards and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning of the education project.
• FCDO funded PLANE Window 3 is an innovative model for education interventions focusing on out of school children especially girls. The PLANE Window 3 Theory of Change focuses on provision of basic foundational skills and improved learning environment for out of school children in the North-western Nigeria.
• The funding for PLANE Window 3 – Community Support to Learning is ensured that out of school children (OOSC) in priority areas have flexible, responsive routes into learning opportunities, that support their transition into formal schools and further levels of education and that support their holistic wellbeing and development.
• Programme Manager Education provides both operational and technical assistance and oversight on all aspects relating to PLANE Window 3.
• The job holder provides overall programmatic and operational coordination and management including; planning, implementation, capacity enhancement, monitoring/ evaluation and reporting both internally (within SCI) and externally (for/with partners).
• The job holder may be called upon as and when necessary to support the emergency team in cases of humanitarian crisis.
• Under the guidance of the Programme Manager Kano and Head of Education, Abuja the Programme Manager will ensure that PLANE Window 3 is implemented in a coordinated, harmonized and aligned manner, in line with donor requirements and commitments.
• The Education Manager will be responsible for supporting the Programme Manager in submission of timely and regular progress narrative and financial reports.

Scope of Role

• Reports to: Programme Manager with dotted reporting to Head of Education
• Staff directly reporting to this post: Education Coordinators Jigawa & Kaduna, Education Officer in Kano.
• Budget Responsibilities: Yes

Key Areas of Accountability
Programme Implementation, Coordination & Management:

• Provide high quality Education sector technical leadership, support and capacity building to implementation team and coordinate education component interventions in all the 3 states (JKK- Jigwa, Kano and Kaduna) and from all organisations in the consortium.
• Oversee the coordination and implementation of the PLANE Window 3 across North-western in line with the design of the project and donor requirements.
• Establish, maintain and strengthen linkages in the management and implementation of the project.
• Create and sustain positive working relationships with the partners and other key stakeholders in the 3 states.
• Plan and coordinate LGEAs, and State level engagements with partners and key stakeholders.
• Monitor and ensure timely and quality reports are submitted as per the reporting requirements.
• Working closely with Programme Manager Kano, Head of Education, Awards, Operations Team, Supply Chain, Finance and MEAL to ensure quality programme delivery, documentation and reporting of progress.

Operational Planning and implementation:

• Programme Manager Education, ensure planning, development of detailed implementation plan (DIP), phased budgets, procurement plan, reach, implementation, monitoring, documentation and reporting for PLANE Window 3 in JKK States.
• Overseeing the implementation and budget performance in line with the project plans and budgets.
• Effectively support the projects staff in developing weekly, monthly and annual plans, in line with PLANE Window 3 Project design and Save the Children International planning guidelines and ensure compliance with the agreed work plans and that programme objectives and targets are being targeted and achieved in the 3 states in line with the funding proposals.
• Support staff to ensure that PLANE Window 3 implementation are to the desired standards and on time.
• Provide guidance to the consortium partners through the planning processes to develop plans that are cost effective and in line with PLANE Window 3 project.
• Maintain high standard of transparency and accountability in the course of programme implementation while ensuring integrity and timeliness of activities implementation in meeting programme objectives, compliance with donors & Save the Children policies.
• Provision of regular operations and implementation updates on project progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by management.
• Ensure the timely reviews and adjustments for the project operational and implementation plans and budgets as may be required from time to time.

Finance and Budget Management:

• Manage the Projects budget in coordination with Programme Manager and Field Finance Manager.
• Overseeing the budget performance to ensure that projects implementation is on course as per the detailed implementation plans, procurement plan and activity based budget.
• Education Manager will conduct budget monitoring, suggest necessary revisions and prepare draft reports.
• Ensure that the budget monitoring reports are responded to in time and with accurate information.
• Working closely with Education team to ensure that partners are well guided, supported and their capacity built in sound management procedures.
• Review all program financial reports ensuring that donor guidelines have been followed and high standard met, prior to submission to management.
• Organize and facilitate quarterly follow ups and progress review meetings to address key performance issues from the reports.
• Overall Budget Vs Actual expenditure analysis and variance explanations.

MEAL:

• Effectively manage projects design and study processes which include assessments, baseline and evaluation studies, putting in place a functional Activity Tracking Table.
• Ensure that the projects quality bench marks are followed.
• Collecting and managing complaints and feedback in close coordination with MEAL team and Projects Officers.
• Ensure regular monitoring of projects results, documentation of projects case studies, lessons learnt, significant changes and best practices and coordinating learning and reflection meetings/sessions
• Ensure an effective programs/ projects monitoring and evaluation systems is in place.
• Monitor programs/ projects activities to ensure quality, timeliness and adherence to both Country Office and international Save the Children policies and procedures.

Human Resources Management and Development:

• Working together with the Education Team to identify learning and development needs of the project teams and develop specific plans to address the learning needs.
• Support implementation of the Save the Children performance management system, by supporting, supervising and reviewing performance of the Education coordinator.
• Coaching and mentoring the EiE Coordinators and Officers on the provision of technical support and implementation of quality programmes.
• Capacity building of EiE Coordinators and Officers through trainings, coaching, performance management, implementation as well as in learning and reflection events
• Setting and managing staffing targets, performance and priorities for EiE Coordinators and Officers
• Participate in monthly/weekly project management meetings to enable adequate staff support

Technical Oversight:

• In liaison with Programme Manager, Head of Education and Country Office leadership team provide guidance and support to projects team, partners and stakeholders.

Internal and external engagements:

• Ensuring that the programme experience is represented and given recognition at stakeholder meetings, workshops, donor, networks and any other engagements.
• Develop and maintain regular channels of communication with partners and key stakeholders at all levels (Community, LGEA and State).

Additional job responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Health and Safety:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications 

• Minimum of a Masters’s Degree in Education. Experience in managing integrated programmes across different thematic areas such as education, child protection, child rights, governance or Teaching at The Right Level (TaRL) is a must.

Experience and Skills:
Essential:

• At least 7 years of accrued working experience in program implementation with a minimum of 3 years in a management level position in an international NGO and those applying partnership approaches is desirable.
• Experience in strategic thinking and planning skills, be able to set priorities, prepare manageable plans and to evaluate progress.
• Experience of working on TaRL and with Out of School Children (OOSC) with local partners and Local Government and State Authorities in the Northwest Nigeria is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent time management and planning capacity.
• Fluent English language skills (written and verbal) and Local language skills (Hausa, Fulfulde etc.).

Deadline: 24th May, 2022.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online