Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

BACKGROUND:

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 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 camp) refugees and urban-based refugees as well as vulnerable Jordanian host community, in coordination with the humanitarian community and the Government of Jordan. Simultaneously, IRC in Jordan is pivoting to a more long-term resilience/development programming responding to the context in Jordan and the worsening vulnerabilities faced by refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.

Job Overview/Summary:

Since 2018, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been a leading actor in advancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Jordan through comprehensive and community-based initiatives that combine direct service delivery, educational media, and system strengthening.

Through multiple projects—including Ahlan Simsim (a partnership between the IRC and Sesame Workshop funded by the MacArthur Foundation and later the LEGO Foundation), as well as other initiatives implemented with diverse partners—the IRC has reached millions of children, caregivers, and educators across Jordan. These efforts have generated a robust body of high-quality ECD content, evidence-based program models, and training resources that support both humanitarian and national systems for early childhood care and education.

In close collaboration with national stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education (MoE), Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), and the National Council for Family Affairs (NCFA), the IRC continues to strengthen Jordan’s ECD ecosystem to provide holistic, inclusive, and cross-sectoral services for all children. Guided by the Nurturing Care Framework, these programs address the multidimensional needs of young children—spanning health, nutrition, early learning, responsive caregiving, and safety—and ensure accessibility for both refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.

The IRC’s ECD programming in Jordan is recognized for its innovative and adaptive approaches that reach children and families wherever they are—whether in urban neighborhoods, remote areas, or formal camps such as Za’atari. By focusing on holistic child development and caregiver empowerment, the ECD portfolio aims to provide children with a strong foundation for lifelong learning, wellbeing, and resilience.

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Coordinator will provide overall leadership, coordination, and technical guidance for all ECD projects within the IRC Jordan Country Program, ensuring coherence, quality, and strategic alignment across the full ECD portfolio.

The coordinator will oversee the design, implementation, and scaling of high-quality, evidence-based ECD programming that bridges the humanitarian–development nexus and supports both direct service delivery and national systems strengthening.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management, Technical Quality and Strategy

• Lead the overall strategic direction, coordination, and technical management of all ECD programs within the IRC Jordan Country Program, ensuring alignment with the Country Strategic Action Plan and the regional ECD strategy.
• Lead on the ECD components of the Strategy Action Plan in Jordan, along with the Implementation Plan and key Strategic Objectives identified for the country (Client Responsiveness, Partnerships, Outcomes & Evidence).
• Actively support ECD staff in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of high-quality ECD interventions.
• With guidance from the ECD Technical Unit and the Regional Ahlan Simsim Team, develop country-specific programmatic standards for child-facing and caregiver-facing programming.
• Ensure that content and program models are aligned with national standards and frameworks for early childhood development and early childhood education.
• Develop and strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and accountability mechanisms across all ECD programs, ensuring adherence to both international and national standards.
• Work collaboratively to ensure integration and complementarity of ECD programming with other IRC departments—such as the Health Department—to promote a holistic and coordinated approach to child well-being.

Program Development, Grants Management, and Reporting

• Lead the strategy development and design of IRC’s ECD programming as new needs and funding opportunities arise.
• Ensure that all program designs follow a client- and partner-centered approach, informed by assessments, learning, and engagement with national and local systems.
• Develop and coordinate proposals and budgets for ECD initiatives in collaboration with the Partnerships Department, Grants, and Finance teams.
• Conduct needs assessments, desk reviews, or other studies to inform evidence-based program design and adaptation.
• Oversee the preparation and monitoring of detailed program work plans, budget forecasts, and spending plans for all ECD projects.
• Ensure regular and accurate review of Budget vs. Actual reports, identifying variances and corrective actions in coordination with the Grants, Finance, and Regional teams.
• Prepare for and actively participate in Project Cycle Meetings (PCM), ensuring timely completion of follow-up actions and documentation.
• Ensure the timely submission of high-quality donor reports and other internal and external reporting requirements.

Partnerships, Coordination, and Advocacy

• Lead the maintenance and expansion of strategic relationships with key formal system actors, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Development, and other relevant institutions and stakeholders in Jordan.
• Represent IRC’s ECD portfolio in external forums with government bodies, civil society organizations, the private sector, donors, and academia as needed.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with partners, donors, embassies, and multilateral stakeholders to enhance IRC’s visibility and positioning as a leader in ECD in Jordan.
• Work closely with the Partnerships Department to develop a collaborative and inclusive approach to engaging strategic and implementation partners, ensuring adherence to IRC’s PEERS standards.
• Lead and participate actively in coordination platforms, including the Childhood National Team, Education Working Group, ECD Working Group, and other relevant national and regional bodies.
• Provide technical guidance and strategic direction in the design and implementation of scaling and capacity-strengthening initiatives with ministries and partners to ensure sustainability and institutionalization of ECD approaches.
• Ensure all ECD operations comply with IRC, donor, and national regulations and standards.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Lead recruitment, supervision, and professional development of ECD staff, ensuring that all team members have the tools and knowledge to perform effectively.
• Coach, train, and mentor ECD staff to strengthen technical, managerial, and leadership competencies, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Set clear objectives and expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and provide constructive feedback in accordance with IRC’s global HR standards.
• Identify training and development needs for ECD staff, developing formal and informal capacity-building initiatives accordingly.
• Approve and manage attendance, leave, and timesheets to ensure adequate departmental coverage and compliance with organizational procedures.
• Collaborate with the HR Department to address performance issues in line with the National Staff Employment Policies.

Promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment that prioritizes staff well-being, equity, and accountability

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Position Reports to: Jordan Senior Program Coordinator
• Position directly supervises: SEL Manager, ECD Senior officer.
• Indirect Reporting: Regional Ahlan Simsim Project Lead

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: IRC Technical Advisors and ECD/Education leads, supply chain department, Finance department, Other Program Coordinators, Program Managers, and M&E Sr Manager, Partnership Coordinator, Grants Coordinator

Other External: Ministry of Education (MoE), relevant UN bodies, local and national authorities, and other key stakeholders.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• A university degree or equivalent experience in Education, Early Childhood Development, Social Sciences, Human Development, or other relevant disciplines. Master’s degree is preferable.
• Minimum of six years professional experience managing (designing and implementing) ECD/Education programs including in humanitarian and development contexts.
• Demonstrated successful experience in capacity building, project design and program coordination.
• Demonstrable experience working with local partners in the delivery of ECD programs, as well as working with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Protection and other actors on system support and system strengthening initiatives.
• Strong writing and analytical skills, including M&E and assessment data framework for use in program decision-making and advocacy.
• Competence in Windows, MS office programs, emails and other relevant software
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Arabic is required.

Working Environment: This post will be based in Amman Office & Open for internal candidates only.

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, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The IRC is committed to fostering an accessible workplace. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities to apply for positions that align with their qualifications and interests. If you are selected for an interview, please inform your recruiter if you require any accommodation during the recruitment process. Examples of accommodation may include extended time for interviews or assessments, flexible scheduling to accommodate medical appointments, or assistance with communication needs. The IRC has offices in many locations, each with varying capacities to provide specific accommodation. While we are committed to doing our best to meet your needs, please note that certain accommodation may depend on the resources and facilities available at each location. Please know we will carefully consider all requests and make every effort to ensure a supportive and accessible recruitment process. 

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the 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.

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