Education Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and regain control of their future. The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012 and currently operates in the south and north of the country through direct programming and local partnerships in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Economic Recovery and Development, Education, Child Protection, and Women’s Protection and Empowerment. The country program operates from main offices in Aden and Sana’a and field offices in Abyan, Al Dhale’e, and Hodeidah governorates.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Education Coordinator is responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and quality implementation of the final year of the three-year Improving Access to Quality Education in Yemen project funded by USAID. The project objective is to restore education opportunities for out of school children in five districts in Al Dhale’e governorate, an area which is has been heavily affected by years of armed conflict and the destruction of public services. The project utilizes a diverse technical approach to accommodate children in a range of situations, including school-based learning, community and remedial education, and home-based self-learning.

The Education Coordinator will ensure effective project management, manage a multi-million-dollar budget, monitor and strengthen technical quality, coach and mentor project staff, and maintain effective working relationships with external actors.

The position is based in Aden with up to 50% travel to Al Dhale’e.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Management

• Lead the education team to implement timely, effective, and relevant activities in line with identified needs, established objectives, and the project workplan.

• Coordinate closely with the Deputy Director for Programs and grants department to ensure timely and effective grant management and compliance with donor requirements. Develop actionable plans to ensure that stated project objectives are regularly evaluated and achieved.

• Produce and utilize regularly updated project management tools, including workplans, implementation plans, procurement plans, and accurate financial forecasts.

• Oversee timely, relevant, and responsible management of project funds.

• Coordinate closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) department to develop effective monitoring tools and collect relevant data.

• Ensure that all internal and external reports are submitted on time and to a high-quality standard.

• Oversee the project design process for any new education programming, including the development of budgets, proposal narratives, logframes, and other supporting documents.

Technical Quality

• Ensure all education projects are implemented in accordance with the IRC’s technical guidelines and global best practices.

• Regularly review MEAL data and apply indicator findings to improve program quality. Ensure all programs are data-driven.

• Ensure that programming adheres to the IRC’s Outcome and Evidence Framework to achieve outcomes, ensuring the use of evidence-based theories of change and project approaches/activities.

• Liaise with the Education Technical Advisor on a regular basis. Stay abreast of developments in the IRC Education Technical Unit and global working groups related to new tools and guidelines.

• Represent the Yemen education team in local and global technical presentations.

Team Leadership and Management

• Coach, mentor, and lead the education teams to implement programs to a high standard of quality.

• Oversee the timely recruitment, comprehensive onboarding, and the sustained professional growth of team members.

• Ensure all team members are well-versed in job expectations and have clear performance objectives. Conduct regular management meetings with all direct reports and ensure the same is done throughout the team management structure.

• Identify training needs and develop capacity building plans for education staff.

• Promote and monitor staff care and wellbeing.

Coordination

• Ensure consistent IRC representation in the Education Cluster and technical working group meetings.

• Oversee regular communication, negotiations, and engagement with partners and government entities, including the Ministry of Education in both Aden and Al Dhale’e.

• Work closely with field managers and the humanitarian access & security team to ensure concerns and challenges at the service delivery level are addressed appropriately.

• Proactively collaborate with other IRC sector technical leads to promote program integration and ensure effective internal referrals.

Other

• Other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor to further IRC education programs.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Programs

• Position directly supervises: Education Manager, Education Program Assistant, Education Specialist (70%)

• Other internal contacts: Grants, MEAL, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, and other program coordinators.

• External contacts: Education Cluster, peer and partner agencies, Ministry of Education

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in education, social sciences, or other relevant field.

• Minimum of five years of experience managing the implementation of large education programs in humanitarian contexts.

• Prior experience in grant management required. Knowledge of USAID regulations and technical approaches is a strong advantage.

• Skilled in project management, including the creation and timely execution of workplans and high-quality donor reporting.

• Strong financial management skills, including budget management, financial forecasting, and management of spending plans.

• Demonstrated experience in a leadership position required, including training, coaching, and mentoring education technical teams.

• Experience in complex emergencies and conflict-affected settings strongly preferred.

• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic required.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.

• Demonstrated advance planning and organizational skills. Able to effectively prioritize and follow multiple activities and deadlines simultaneously.

• Flexible and innovative. Able to adapt programs and pivot approaches in response to changes in context.

• Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of 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, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

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.

Work Environment: There is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility of the conflict expanding into other locations. The situation in Aden is currently quiet but remains unpredictable. Security will be thoroughly discussed during the interview process.

Housing: Lodging in Aden and Al Dhale’e is in shared IRC guesthouses. All IRC sites have electricity and internet.

The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and 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.

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