Nairobi, Nairobi Municipality, Kenya

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Requisition ID: req43005

Job Title: Program Coordinator- Education

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Description

Working under the supervision and guidance of the Deputy Director Programs (IRC Kenya), and from Education Technical Advisor, the Education Coordinator will be part of the management team. The Education Program Coordinator is the senior most technical and program authority on Education within the Kenya program.

Education Coordinator is responsible for providing overall leadership in advancing the implementation of Strategic Action Plan (SAP), guidance, coordination, and technical support within IRC’s education team throughout Kenya.

The position holder will provide regular technical and field -based support to Education teams to so that all interventions are technically sound, take into account international standard processes, and are appropriately designed meeting the needs of IRC clients in target communities. They will certify timely and quality implementation of program activities and strategies.

They will make certain that the objectives of the programs are met on time and are being supervised and evaluated well, guarantee staff receive appropriate mentorship and professional development, and that a positive team spirit is fostered, encouraging innovative and quality programming. They will also work in coordination with key education collaborators and partners, representing organizations’ program in Kenya.

Additionally, they will be required to work together with Technical Coordinators, Grants, Operations, Finance and Field Teams assure that the program activities are implemented according to approved plans, the IRC Kenya education sector strategy, strategic plan and in conformity with the IRC program framework.

You will be responsible for ensuring a robust program that is knowledge based through research, reflection and continuously exploring opportunities for growth and sustenance of programs.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Business Development

• Provide leadership to the team in coming up and implementing evidence-based, cost-effective funding applications and finding opportunities for sustainable program growth through the pursuit of new programming initiatives and emphasizing the significance of securing multi-year funding to support them.
• Ensure, with education staff and Technical Advisor, that design of projects/ new business reflects IRC program quality standards and industry standard methodologies, clear theory of change while embracing an integrated and triple nexus programming approach.
• Develop tactical partnerships with both local and international organizations to support positioning to pursue new funding opportunities to deliver on the program strategy and scale.
• Advance IRC SAP 100 ambitions within education programming and contribute to the realization of the articulated SAP ambitions including developing strategic partnerships with local organization (emphasis on women and youth led organizations) and the advancement of cash programming and gender integration/ mainstreaming within IRC programming.
• Contributes to the development of program education strategy, planning and documentation, in deliberation with the technical unit.

Technical monitoring and Program Quality:

• Coordinate with Coordinators on appropriate management, compliance, and performance standards, as well as effective systems for budget management, knowledge management and risk management.
• Formulate integrated programming initiatives so that sector complements the other IRC sectors and promotes mainstreaming of protection principles and gender-responsive approaches.
• Provide guidance, strategies, and tools make certain programming choices are based on needs assessment findings (primary & secondary data) and analysis, input from communities, partners, a thorough understanding of context, technical standard methodologies, and operational viability.
• Support to improve quality of specialized services available in country in addition to contributing to the standardization of education protocols, referral pathways and SOPs.
• Promote the standards of the organization’s Education programmes by setting up quality assurance mechanisms and providing technical supervision of program staff.
• Ensure that all activities are consistent with established standard processes and apply standardized protocols, policies and guidelines, as outlined by relevant education institutions and statutory bodies.
• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place with associated information sharing protocols for education in emergencies (EiE) analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy. Provide technical direction on confidential and safe data collection, case identification, safe information sharing and referral mechanisms in line with internationally recognized standard processes.

• Project Management

  • Provide overall leadership and management of the program portfolio, ensuring strategically coherent program direction, well-managed growth, and compliance with IRC and donor regulations.
  • Continually seek out ways to raise the capacities of team members, individually and collectively.
  • Ensure that detailed, realistic, and feasible project implementation plans are developed, modified as needed and implemented accordingly
  • Support education staff to collect, document and disseminate lessons learned and standard methodologies, incorporating these into new project designs.
  • Work closely with M&E Coordinator to regularly review progress against indicators.
  • Contribute to accountability mechanisms for beneficiary feedback and review sector M&E and accountability data with sector staff to identify areas for operational improvement.
  • In partnership with the M&E Coordinator and sector staff, develop effective and appropriate M&E plans, including methodologies and tools to strengthen the quality of data collection, analysis, and reporting.
  • Confirm that the stated goals and objectives for the education programme are met with strong monitoring and evaluation (M&E) follow up, including any required operational research, with support from Technical Advisors as needed.
  • Take part in the design of robust M&E plans, lead technical assessments, design/adapt education information systems as a basis for education program development.
  • Review donor reports in participation with Program Managers, other Technical Coordinators and the Technical Advisors.
  • Conduct regular travel to the field to support program implementation review and provide technical guidance to the implementation teams.

  Financial Management

  • Work with finance, operations, and grants to ensure compliance with donor requirements and develop periodic re-forecasting of the annual operating budget.
  • In collaboration with the field management, ensure that education staff are well trained to properly run project budgets.
  • Meet with sector, grants, and finance staff regularly to review budget comparison reports.
  • Mitigate risk by collaborating with the Finance Department to ensure that sector staff fully understand financial and administrative processes involved in project budget cycles.
  • Ensure that risks limiting achievement of objectives are reported and rapidly addressed.

  Systems Strengthening

  • Support IRC programs to fully reflect and where required transition their approach to system strengthening as an important component of Education Programming.
  • Work at the policy level with key decision makers from various national and county government and donors, participating in strategy development and technical discussions relating to future direction of the sector and influence policy reforms/development across all sectors.

  Emergency Preparedness and Response

  • Ensure that the IRC Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, in relation to the education sector, are prepared in consultation with relevant government and aid partners, are kept up to date with protocol, standards and guidance from relevant bodies on Education and conform to the wants of clients.
  • Together with the Senior Management Team (SMT), collaborate on establishment and operationalization of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) as pertains to Education considerations.

  • Staff and Partner Capacity Development:

    • Create a supervisory environment focused on the achievement of team and individual results that emphasize the importance of learning, productivity, accountability, and openness. Communicate regularly with staff and promote positive conflict resolution among team members.
    • Provide guidance and supervision to sector managers; guide recruitments, discuss job expectations, set objectives, and provide appropriate and timely feedback on performance of direct reports, including timely implementation of performance management as per IRC’s performance management system.
    • Build capacities of sector staff in key project management principles, tools and approaches and ensure that these new skills are applied on the job.
    • Develop/organize training and other capacity strengthening opportunities to build the capacity of local partners where relevant/ required.
    • Lead with commitment, integrity, and accountability to the “IRC Way Standards”.
    • Promote constructive, favorable collaboration between sector staff, other IRC program staff and operational support staff.

    Representation and Communication

    • Enhance IRC Kenya’s education Sector profile among relevant collaborators – donors, national and local government partners, international and national NGOs, etc.
    • Represent the IRC education Sector at NGO, interagency and governmental meetings.
    • Lead and advice on advocacy activities for the sector ensuring the integration of Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion objectives in IRC and partner programming.
    • As the education focal point for program-related communication between IRC country programs in the region and the global level, the role includes being responsible for education sector inputs to advocacy efforts both locally and globally.

    Qualifications

    • Advanced degree in education, training, or relevant field
    • Must have at least six years of progressive experience in international management, including technical staff supervision.
    • Validated ability to develop winning proposals to public and private sector donors.
    • Experience in leading programs financed by US government agencies, DFID, EU, UN, foundations, and private donors is a necessity, with previous experience in competitive RFA/P environments is a plus.
    • Shown ability to lead projects to completion on time, within budget, and with the anticipated results.
    • Demonstrated successful leadership experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, capacity in the transfer of technical knowledge and leadership skills through technical training, coaching and mentoring of staff, as well as identified partner organizations.
    • Demonstrated experience and success working in partnership models
    • Extensive experience with research, monitoring and evaluation tools and systems for sophisticated programs.
    • Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes.
    • Demonstrates strong understanding of integrated programming and has experience in running multiyear and multi-sectoral programming.
    • Must be capable of applying skills and knowledge in different capacities, including direct implementation and advisory functions,
    • Experience working in new program start-up.
    • Shown capacity to develop and work with innovative systems, new technologies, creative approaches and sustainable models to programming.
    • Strong program/technical and budget leadership skills, budgeting, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills across multiple grants and countries.
    • Demonstrates strong relationship building skills with a strong presence in coordination bodies and advocacy processes
    • Shown practical experience in program design, implementation, and M&E and experience in developing and using community participatory approaches.
    • Experience working with community groups, community engagement and negotiation.
    • Highly diplomatic with excellent political awareness and sophisticated negotiation skills.
    • Experience of working with forced migrants and education in emergencies is required.
    • Confirmed experience in governance programming such as working with GOK, county governments, devolution processes for increased demand and improved service delivery is desirable. as well as experience working on government policies and laws.
    • Shown experience in partnership/partner engagement and management.
    • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties.
    • Ability to work and live in a sometimes-insecure environment while maintaining a positive demeanor.
    • Strong people leadership skills with cross-cultural exposure and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Critical to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.
    • Advance planning and organizational skills. Able to prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.
    • Able to adapt plans and pivot approaches in response to changes in context.
    • Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
    • Fluency in English and Swahili, spoken and written, is a must.

    Working Environment: Security risk level 2 in Nairobi and 3 in Kakuma and Dadaab camp. The situation in most parts of the country is currently calm and access to project sites is possible. Some parts of Northern regions experience insecurity – highway banditry and intercommunal conflicts.

    Professional Standards: 

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

    Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

    IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

    We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

    Apply now