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.

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, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home. IRC has operated in South Sudan for over 30 years now delivering humanitarian relief, post-conflict assistance, and development programs in both refugees, internally displaced and host community settings. IRC operates in 10 field offices including in Juba with program portfolio covering health, nutrition, Environmental Health (EH), child protection, economic recovery and development (ERD)/livelihoods, women’s protection, and empowerment, Education, and general protection. IRC continues to provide life-saving assistance and humanitarian aid to vulnerable South Sudanese, trying to rebuild their lives and restore peace. The IRC’s new strategy in South Sudan will prioritize improving health, safety, and economic well-being, targeting women, children, and other vulnerable.

Position Summary:

  • IRC is seeking a Senior Education Manager (PlayMatters) for the implementation of PlayMatters 3.0 (PM3.0), a multi-year initiative funded by the LEGO Foundation. PM3.0 in South Sudan adopts a system-strengthening, learning through Play (LtP) approach to improve access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning for children in crisis-affected and recovery contexts. The programme focuses on strengthening education system’s capacity for uptake and institutionalization of LtP, while expanding access to joyful, inclusive learning opportunities for children in both humanitarian and development settings. Implementation is delivered through a consortium led by IRC, in partnership with War Child Alliance and Plan International, working closely with national and sub-national education actors. More information on PlayMatters can be found here: https://www.playmatters.org
  • The Senior Education Manager-Roving – will play a central role under Outcome 2 by providing overall leadership for the quality, timely, and effective implementation of PlayMatters 3.0 delivery in South Sudan, ensuring that Learning through Play (LtP) is translated into practical, classroom-level change through strengthened teacher capacity, supportive school environments, and community engagement. The role will lead the rollout of the PM3.0 Core Package, including Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD), Teacher Learning Circles (TLCs), and coaching and supervision systems, while overseeing field teams and national partners ensure consistent, high-quality implementation aligned with programme standards and the country strategy. In addition, the postholder will provide strong technical leadership in the development and contextualisation of inclusive LtP content and materials, ensuring quality assurance and alignment with national curricula, while working with consortium partners and education stakeholders to identify, test, and apply innovative and practical teaching approaches. This role will coordinate teacher professional development, support the skilling of parents, community members, and other stakeholders, and facilitate access to appropriate teaching and learning resources to enhance classroom practice. Working closely with consortium partners, government actors, and system structures, the position will ensure that inclusive, gender-responsive practices, safeguarding, and psychosocial support are effectively integrated into delivery, while contributing to planning, adaptive management, and learning. The Senior Education Manager will also line manage and mentor field staff, strengthen partner capacity through a structured cascade training model, and coordinate closely with RMEAL, operations, and technical teams to ensure coherent, efficient, and evidence-driven programme delivery that supports system alignment, scale, and sustainability of LtP approaches.

Job Responsibilities

Technical Leadership – Learning through Play (LtP)

  • Lead the design, adaptation, and integration of inclusive Learning through Play (LtP) approaches within education activities, ensuring alignment with PM3.0 country strategy, MoGEI frameworks, and curriculum priorities.
  • Provide overall technical leadership on development and contextualisation of inclusive LtP content, tools, and materials, ensuring relevance to large class sizes, low-resource settings, and multilingual environments.
  • Ensure timely and high-quality technical support to field teams and partners on the application of LtP in classrooms, schools, and community settings.
  • Oversee access to and effective use of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) and ensure alignment with national curriculum and foundational learning priorities

Teacher Professional Development & Capacity Strengthening

  • Lead the design and delivery of Teacher Continuous Professional Development (TCPD), including Training of Trainers (ToTs), Teacher Learning Cycles (TLCs), coaching, and supervision systems.
  • Strengthen the capacity of teachers, school leaders, national partners, and community actors to deliver inclusive, learner-centred, and practical pedagogy.
  • Facilitate professional exchanges, peer learning, and collaboration platforms to promote continuous learning and application of LtP approaches.

Implementation of Leadership & Programme Management

  • Provide overall leadership for Outcome 2 implementation, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within scope, and to quality standards in line with workplans and budgets.
  • Co-leading the development and monitoring of annual workplans, phased budgets, and performance plans, ensuring alignment with programme priorities and adaptive implementation.
  • Maintain continuous analysis of the operating context, providing timely updates to inform programme adjustments and decision-making.
  • Develop and ensure adherence to implementation SOPs, tools, and delivery protocols.
  • Support Implementation of outcome 3 when required.

Quality Assurance, Monitoring & Learning

  • Ensure strong quality assurance systems across training, classroom implementation, and community engagement activities.
  • Conduct regular field visits for supportive supervision, compliance monitoring, and documentation of lessons learned and best practices.
  • Collaborate with RMEAL teams to ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality data collection, reporting, and learning, including integration of feedback and accountability systems.
  • Contribute to research, assessments, and evidence generation to inform adaptive programming and scaling of LtP.

Staff Management & Capacity Building

  • Line manages, mentors, and support education staff and partner teams, ensuring high performance, accountability, and professional development.
  • Lead recruitment, onboarding, and continuous capacity strengthening of staff and partners on LtP, safeguarding, inclusion, and programme delivery standards.
  • Foster a collaborative team environment and ensure effective coordination across field teams and technical functions.

Partnership, Coordination & Representation

  • Strengthen and manage relationships with national partners, ensuring quality implementation through a partner-first approach and structured capacity support.
  • Coordinate closely with consortium partners—War Child Alliance and Plan International and government stakeholders to ensure harmonised delivery and alignment with system priorities.
  • Represent PlayMatters in technical forums, coordination platforms, and stakeholder engagements, contributing to knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, and sector alignment.
  • Promote integration across sectors and workstreams (e.g., MHPSS, safeguarding, inclusion) to ensure holistic programme delivery.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in education, Teacher Education, Curriculum Studies, or a related field required; master’s degree is an added advantage.
  • Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in education programming, including teacher professional development and programme management in humanitarian or development contexts.
  • Strong understanding of education systems in South Sudan, including teacher management, curriculum, and coordination structures.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and adapting educational content or training packages, preferably in low-resource or crisis contexts.
  • Proven leadership and team management skills, with experience in mentoring, capacity strengthening, and managing diverse teams and partners.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including experience delivering trainings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.
  • Experience working with INGOs and in humanitarian or refugee contexts is highly desirable.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data management tools.
  • Willingness and ability to travel frequently to field locations (up to 70%).
  • Fluency in English required; knowledge of local languages is an advantage.                                                                                                    

Reports to:  IRC South Sudan PlayMatters Project Team Lead.

Working Environment:  The Senior Education Manager (Technical) will work in the IRC South Sudan office and rove across project implementation location and be provided with regular administrative and logistics support to perform his/her responsibilities. IRC is an equal opportunity employer. Female candidates and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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,

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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