Programmes Manager - Jordan

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN TO IN-COUNTRY, ENGLISH AND ARABIC SPEAKING APPLICANTS ONLY.

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ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

Middle East Children’s Institute (MECI) seeks to empower vulnerable and underserved individuals living in our community by enabling them to live more independent, and productive lives.

MECI uses a holistic, child-centred approach to provide learning support services to out-of-school and vulnerable children. We focus on vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian refugee populations. We complement our academic programming with arts, physical activity and Life Skills courses. In doing so, we aim to serve our beneficiaries as whole people, acknowledging the difficulties they have endured and preparing them for opportunities ahead.

Funded by UNICEF, MECI is one of the few agencies providing the MoE-owned Dropout Programme “تعزيز الثقافة للمتسربين” since early 2019. The programme provides a last-chance education and certification opportunity to dropped youth who have lost their right to returning to or joining the formal system. MECI implements it across the Kingdom in 7 governorates (Irbid, AlBalqa, Amman, ALKarak, AlTafileh, M’aan and ALAqaba) in 28 operational schools for the service of 600 youngsters.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Programmes Manager will ensure the efficacy and success of MECI’s multi-integrated education and child protection programming in Jordan. The main tasks and responsibilities of the position include:

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1. Generic Responsibilities

a. Adhere to MECI’s policies, guidelines, and procedures in all of your work.

b. Be assigned as MECI’s PSEA focal point.

c. Ensure Accountability to the Affected Populations (AAP) by guaranteeing that the targeted beneficiaries are the most vulnerable and served in high-quality.

2. Team Management

a. Directly and daily manage a team of 5 Education Officers, 1 Data Management by drafting work plans when necessary, comparing planned against achieved in weekly reporting, evaluating and analysing monthly quantitative achievements and monitoring teamwork. Be qualified to manage an increasing number of employees.

b. Offer leadership and regular support to staff member on technical issues and actively contribute to their capacity development and growth as possible.

c. Work collaboratively with the Technical Teams, currently, the Education Specialist, to analyse and act on programme trends as well as develop and revise key programme materials including MECI’s original curriculum tools, awareness sessions manual, training kits and other.

d. Lead recruitment processes when needed according to staff turnover and additional needs in line with development activities.

e. Inspire and ensure team spirit and diplomatic resolution of issues.

3. Programme Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation

a. Oversee the coordination and execution of project activities according to the project proposal, cycle work plans and donor specifications

b. Lead active team discussions on challenges and best practices in an effort to improve all steps of programs management

c. Ensure the documentation and filing processes of all interventions

d. Produce high-quality donor reports according to agreements and specification on a monthly and quarterly basis, in English

4. Programme Partnership Development and Representation

a. Oversee programme monitoring and evaluation activities by supporting data collection, management and analysis, tracking programme targets and indicators, and producing high-quality donor and progress reports in English (monthly, quarterly basis)

b. Be always attentive to the achievement of targets against planned.

c. Lead the response to donor queries in justification and urge.

d. Lead the development of new project proposals in informal, non-formal and inclusive education, community development and other areas relevant to MECI’s mission in Jordan.

e. Represent MECI’s works and interests at various inter-agency/sector coordination working groups and meetings, including the National Education Sector Working Group (ESWG), Child-Protection Sub-Working Group (CPSWG), Irbid Coordination Working Group (ICWG) and others.

f. Receive external educational referrals and ensure service delivery through coordination with internal teams, and send out external cross-sectoral referrals of our learners to the service matrix partners in addition to follow-up according to SOPs.

QUALIFICATIONS

o Relevant academic background at a graduate level. A post-graduate degree is a great asset.

o +4 years of relevant years of experience in program management and operations, preferably in education/protection interventions

o Technical expertise in Excel, and other Microsoft Office Programs

o For non-natives, exceptional fluency in English and in Arabic both written and verbal is essential. No exceptions will be made.

o Direct field experience considered an asset including experience in project management/program/grant management.

o Prior experience with UN-funded projects; knowledge of UN policies and procedures; knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM) approach is required.

o Thorough knowledge of Child Rights and Gender Equality is an asset.

DESIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

o Extensive knowledge and experience of project management, in particular managing large projects with partners in consortium setting.

o Certificate in Project Management or project management experience within the NGO sector.

o Demonstrate experience in providing mentoring and coaching, professional development of staff.

o Superior relationship building and stakeholder engagement. Requires building a rapid relationship with donors, partners and key staff in-country offices.

o Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to develop strong working relationships across cultural and organizational boundaries with internal and external stakeholders, and managing through influence.

o Demonstrated commitment to result-oriented performances including a successful record of planning and delivering results

o Excellent abilities to plan, organise and coordinate tasks with a positive and proactive attitude

o Comfort in producing and presenting reports to donors of various scales and weight

o Excellent negotiation and communication skills with the first experience in direct management

o Excellent in timekeeping, meeting deadlines and working under pressure.