GRADE: TBC

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Development and Quality (PDQ)

LOCATION: Kathmandu, Nepal

CONTRACT LENGTH: Fixed term until December 2018 with possibility of extension

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Level 2: either the post holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or the post holder will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore a police check will be required (at ‘standard’ level in the UK or equivalent in other countries).

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Education Advisor is the technical lead for Save the Children in Nepal/Bhutan’s work in the Education sector, consisting primarily of Early Childhood Care and Development, Basic Education, and Education in Emergencies programming. The Advisor plays a lead role in setting the strategic direction for the education sector, designing new programs and projects, and identifying and pursing strategic partnerships. S/he is responsible for ensuring program quality and program learning for a range of projects, and directly supervises other education technical staff based in Kathmandu, as well as advises field-based technical staff. S/he plays a senior representational and advocacy role with the Government of Nepal, donors, and key national and international stakeholders, and works on a regular basis with SC members and internal stakeholders to maximize program delivery. The Advisor ensures that program learning, research and evaluation findings are channelled towards advocacy, continuous improvements, and new program design. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Program Development and Design (30% LOE)

• Identify and pursue opportunities for synergistic, inter-sectoral programs to address the holistic needs of children, especially the most deprived. 
  
• Work with Save the Children technical and awards staff to develop funding strategies and proposals to expand the Education portfolio in line with strategic priorities and technical best practice from a range of sources. This will involve continuously developing concepts and innovations and packaging them for a range of donors, both for proactive and reactive fundraising efforts.
  
• Ensure consistent design, methodology, and quality assurance across thematic programs 
  
• Ensure multi-thematic approaches to program design and methodologies; ensure that cross thematic objectives (Gender Equity and Social Inclusion, Disaster Risk Reduction, Child Participation) are included in program design and monitoring 
  
• Ensure that all programs have an effective Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) practices throughout the program cycle.
  
• Introduce innovative ideas and approaches to support children’s education in Nepal; 
  
• In consultation with POD colleagues, ensure that Education activities (as relevant) contribute to sponsorship goals and meet agency significant benefit standards.
  
• With POD colleagues, continuously assess staffing patterns and competencies to ensure that right staff are in place to support realistic program design, sector needs, and development.
  

Strategic Direction (10%*)

• Take lead role in formulating CO’s vision for long term programming in Education in Nepal, including the development of its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Education. 
  
• Participate actively in the Country Annual Planning and Country Annual Reporting, providing oversight and compiling the reports for the education sector. 
  
• Identify needs and opportunities for potential programs, through situation analyses/feasibility studies, networking, and leveraging research and evaluation findings from both internal and external sources. 
  
• Maintain oversight of program portfolio (at Country and Field level) and ensure alignment with CSP
  
• Provide thought leadership and links with SCI’s global thematic initiatives 
  

*Significant level of effort anticipated in 2018 due to SCI’s strategic planning cycle. 

Policy and Advocacy (20% LOE)

• Lead in defining Save the Children’s advocacy agenda in the education sector, as informed by SC’s experience in Nepal and globally. Lead in networking and articulating Save the Children’s position, policy and strategy in national forums and meetings. Engage in key debates related to national education sector policies and programs, in coordination with technical colleagues and other relevant staff.
  
• Lead in translating national messaging to provincial and palika-level policy and action plans. Work with project and program teams to develop provincial and palika-level policy and action plans.
  
• Engage in policy development with central authorities; with POD, support field-based technical staff to engage with local authorities as per the CSP, advocacy plans, and relevant policy concerns. Develop policy briefs and position papers, ensuring the inclusion of technical input from the relevant project managers. 
  

• With POD, identify appropriate strategic partnerships for joint advocacy initiatives on Education issues at the national level.
  

Representation and Networking (15% LOE)

• Maintain working relationships with relevant Ministries and Departments and their Education programs; connect Save the Children’s flagship programs with government and other non-government interventions
  
• Ensure that the country office has effective representation on national, regional and international networks and fora related to Education, and that we participate in conferences/meetings that will enhance our reputation and programming
  
• Actively participate in technical coordination meetings to ensure synergies with other agencies in our development work and emergency responses 
  
• Maintain excellent relationships with donors, both in terms of strategic positioning and program delivery
  
• Ensure that CO has effective and appropriate representation on national, regional and international Education related forum and participates/contributes to conferences, workshops and meetings that will enhance our programs.
  
• Develop and maintain partnerships with academics 
  
• Represent CO on the Regional and Global meetings on education, both internal and external.
  
• Participate in SMT as invitee and ESMT meetings and attend other meeting both within and outside SC; represent SC whenever requested by the Supervisor
  

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) (15% LOE)

• With POD, ensure that interventions are evaluated using appropriate methods, including process and impact evaluations, and that evidence is rigorously maintained, documented and disseminated internally and externally, to contribute to improvements in programme quality and advocacy efforts
  
• Ensure the incorporation of quality assurance systems at multiple levels (strategy, design, implementation, proposal, monitoring processes, evaluation and learning, reporting) 
  
• Identify and pursue opportunities to disseminate technical materials, learning and best practices, such as workshops, targeted communications materials, etc. 
  
• With the MEAL team, ensure Quality Benchmarks are appropriate and applied to all education programming. 
  
• Support field teams to identify and carry out operational research related to Education.
  
• Ensure that Save the Children’s regional and global experience is reflected in our Education program
  
• Share CO’s experience and organizational learning with COs as well as with relevant organizations over the globe 
  

Capacity Building (10% LOE)

• Conduct regular thematic coordination meetings with POD technical staff in the field and in Kathmandu, including annual Program Learning Groups (PLGs)
  
• Build and nurture a community of practice to foster technical knowledge and growth within the decentralized education theme 
  
• In coordination with POD, provide on-going and one-off technical support and advice to programs and partners as needed.
  
• Coordinate with POD to identify internal and external capacity building opportunities and resources to provide high quality technical assistance to Education projects, supporting technical staff, partner agencies and others to build knowledge and technical competence.
  
• Ensure that core education modules and approaches are rolled out effectively and with fidelity to education theme staff and partners 
  

Other

• Other tasks as requested by the PDQ Director 
  
• Support the Save the Children Humanitarian responses where appropriate, ensuring timely and quality responses in line with international standards and technical best practice
  

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
  
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
  

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
  
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.
  

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
  
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
  
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
  

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
  
• Willing to take disciplined risks
  

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency
  

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in Education or related Social Science(s) 
  
• At least 10 years of working experience in relevant field, including at least 5 years in senior leadership position
  
• Strong leadership abilities, leading and inspiring others
  
• Excellent understanding of key issues and strategies for Early Childhood Development and Basic Education programs, formal and non-formal Education theories, Education in Emergencies 
  
• Excellent skills on process facilitation and coordination with high standard. 
  
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills
  
• Strong analytical capacity and proficient understanding of both qualitative and quantitative research methods
  
• Good presentation skills including policy briefing 
  
• Good supportive supervision skills, developing self and others
  
• Excellent English communication skills, specifically written 
  
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results, engage in effective and collaborative problem solving and decision making, and foster program innovations and adaptations 
  

Desirable: 

• Advanced knowledge about the Education policy and context in Nepal