Project: Civil Society Empowerment for Accountable Education (CSE) Project
Reports to: CSE Project Lead & Governing Council
Funded By: Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the Education Out loud (EOL) OC2 Program administered by Oxfam IBIS.
Salary range: NPR 100,000 - 130,000

About the Project

The "Civil Society Empowerment for Accountable Education" (CSE) project promotes civil society engagement to boost transparency, accountability, and inclusivity within Nepal's education sector, focused in 9 local governments units across Madhesh and Karnali province. Rooted in digital innovation, design thinking, and advocacy, CSE equips Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with the ability to effectively utilize data for civic mobilization, advocacy, and policy-making.

Four interlinked results are envisaged: the establishment of inclusive Learning Collaboratives for data-driven advocacy; development of a toolkit to guide stakeholders; enhanced citizen mobilization by CSOs to foster transparent and accountable educational policies; and increased multi-level CSO engagement in national SDG 4 processes. The toolkit's adoption will facilitate marginalized voices in the policy dialogue and ensure the project's continuity and scalability.

Job Summary:

The Program Manager for the CSE Project plays a critical leadership role in implementing a transformative initiative that enhances transparency, accountability, and inclusivity within Nepal's education sector. This position demands a dynamic and experienced individual who can manage the program effectively while keeping it aligned with the organization's goals,  standards of international bodies and the community based stakeholders the project serves. Rooted in digital innovation, design thinking, and advocacy, this role requires a highly motivated and experienced individual who can lead and manage the program, ensuring it delivers impactful outcomes. 

The Program Manager must be capable of working at a strategic and implementation level simultaneously. At a strategic level the Program Manager will be accountable to the KS leadership and the governing council to ensure alignment with the project’s result frameworks and compliance with KS’ policies. At an implementation level the Program Manager will provide day-to-day leadership to the project team. The Program Manager will work in close collaboration with KS leadership to interface with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), government stakeholders, and project partners to achieve the project's objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Planning and Management:

• Develop and execute comprehensive program plans, including objectives, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Ensure program alignment with GPE objectives and guidelines.
• Oversee project lifecycle, from initiation to closure, ensuring compliance with international standards.
• Report findings from the ground and project health updates to the KS leadership and governing council at regular intervals.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building:

• Maintain strong partnerships with CSOs, government bodies, UN agencies, and GPE representatives.
• Engage in diplomatic dialogue and advocacy with a range of stakeholders to promote the program’s objectives.

Resource Management:

• Contribute to program budgets and financial resources, ensuring adherence to financial regulations and GPE funding guidelines.
• Implement efficient resource allocation strategies to optimize program impact.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:

• Support the development and implementation of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Regularly report on program progress to stakeholders, including detailed analyses and recommendations.

Capacity Building and Team Leadership:

• Lead and develop a diverse team, promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops for staff and stakeholders.

Risk Management and Quality Assurance:

• Identify, analyze, and mitigate program risks in line with the project’s risk management frameworks.
• Uphold high-quality standards in all program aspects, ensuring accountability and effectiveness.

Innovation and Knowledge Management:

• Promote a culture of innovation, encouraging the adoption of new technologies and methodologies.
• Manage knowledge sharing within the program, aligning with established knowledge management practices.

Change Management and Advocacy:

• Coordinate changes to the program scope, schedule, and resources while minimizing disruption.
• Support CSOs in advocating for transparent and accountable educational policies at multiple levels of government.

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., education, project management, social sciences).
• Proven experience in program management, ideally with exposure to GPE-funded projects or other multilateral grants.
• Strong leadership, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency in project management tools and familiarity with digital innovation in education.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Familiarity with the education sector in Nepal and social innovation is a plus.