ECD Senior Manager

Requisition ID: req50927

Job Title: ECD Senior Manager

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Amman, Jordan

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

BACKGROUND:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) 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 uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

In 2007, the IRC began providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable and crisis-affected people in Jordan in response to an influx of Iraqi refugees and the strain on host communities. Following the eruption of the Syrian war in 2011, hundreds of thousands of refugees crossed into Jordan. The ongoing insecurity in Syria and the growing needs of refugees have strained Jordan’s resources and infrastructure and exacerbated pre-existing issues like water scarcity and high unemployment.

As resources become more limited, refugees and host communities have fewer economic opportunities and become more vulnerable. The IRC’s new strategy for Jordan shows our commitment to improving the safety, health, education, and economic well-being of people affected by conflict, in camp-based (Za’atari, and Azraq camps) refugees and urban-based refugees, and in coordination with the humanitarian community and the Government of Jordan.

JOB OVERVIEW

The ECD Senior Manager will oversee program management, including work plan development, execution oversight, and collaboration with stakeholders. The ECD Senior Manager will lead the financial responsibilities, including budget development, spending oversight, and ensuring accuracy in reporting efforts. The ECD Senior Manager will drive program development by supporting proposals, identifying growth opportunities, and maintaining partnerships. Coordination with other IRC sector programs and effective communication with ECD staff are crucial. The ECD Senior Manager will present the program at conferences, and advocacy initiatives are essential, in advocating for early childhood development. The ECD Senior Manager will ensure alignment with sector needs and apply a client-centred approach to provide equitable access to services.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management

-Co-Lead on development of work plans, milestones and targets for program activities (all workstreams, in collaboration with managers)

-Oversee execution of work plans and milestones (all work streams),

Monitor progress, identify potential bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions to keep the project on track.

-Co-lead planning and oversight of activities with collaboration partners

-Facilitate effective communication and coordination to ensure the integration of partner contributions into the project's overall objectives.

-Lead monthly coordination meetings to Ensure all stakeholders are informed of project progress, address any concerns or challenges, and foster collaboration and alignment among team members.

-In coordination with the team and Grants department, follow up and update continuously the projects Dashboards to ensure quality management of the project in terms of identified indicators, targets, and budget.

-Conduct regular field visits to identify gaps and challenges and inform program efficiency and quality.

-Identify and assess risks associated with project activities and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Proactively address potential issues to minimize disruptions to project timelines and objectives.

-Drive a culture of continuous improvement by evaluating project performance, soliciting feedback from team members and stakeholders.

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Financial Management

-Co-lead development of program budgets and ensure budgets are comprehensive, accurate, and aligned with project goals and objectives

-Lead development and oversee the execution of spending and procurement plans.

-Track spending against budget allocations. Identify variances and implement corrective actions as necessary to ensure financial targets are met.

Internal and external reporting

-Lead on input collection for monthly/quarterly/bi-annual narrative and financial reporting

-Lead on development of internal and external facing briefs, presentations, and program documents

-reviews of all internal and external-facing materials to ensure accuracy, coherence, and adherence to IRC’s standards

-Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to gather necessary update and insights for reporting purposes

Program Development

-Support proposal development and business development opportunities

-Identify opportunities for program expansion and growth, conducting market research and analysis to inform decision-making.

-Collaborate with stakeholders to identify the ECD sector needs, adapting programs accordingly.

-Develop and maintain partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise.

-Apply a client-centered approach in partnership with local actors to provide systems strengthening, equitable access to services, and policy influence in the ECD sector.

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Coordination and representation

-Coordination and liaison w/ other IRC sector programs through collaboration and information sharing to ensure alignment of activities and maximize synergies between programs.

-Coordination and liaison w/ all ECD staff to ensure effective communication channels are in place to disseminate information, share best practices, and address any concerns or challenges

-Represent the program in conferences, workshops, etc.

-Advocate for the importance of early childhood development and represent the program's interests in relevant forums and advocacy initiatives.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position Reports to ECD Coordinator
Position directly supervises: ECD Project Officer

Key Internal Contacts:other IRC Jordan Programs such as Communication, MEAL, Partnerships, Grants, Supply Chain, and Finance departments.

Areas of focus

-Project Management

-Grants management & reporting

-Partnerships

-Operations, logistics and financial management

-Coordination (ECD/IRC)

Qualifications

JOB REQUIREMENTS

-Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Education Management, or a related field.

-Minimum of 6 years of experience in managing education or development programs, preferably in the ECD sector.

-Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.

-Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with fluency in English and Arabic.

-Demonstrated ability to think strategically, analyze data, and make evidence-based decisions.

-Strong writing and analytical skills,

-Experience working with and coordinating with local authorities, donors, UN bodies, NGOs, INGOs, and other stakeholders including grass-root organizations.

-Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

-Competent in Windows, MS office programs, emails, and relevant ECD databases.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

-Promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible, and able to handle pressure with professional grace

-Ability to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage human resources.

-Demonstrated strong interpersonal and intercultural communication with success working both within a team and independently.

-Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in 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 Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

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.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law