Child Protection and Education Manager

Background:

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities over 30 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in six regions in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery, and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Position Overview

Under the direct supervision of the field coordinator & in close collaboration with the head office CPE technical teams, Child Protection and Education (CPE) Manager provides technical oversight of IRC’s child protection and education programs across refugees/IDPs and participates in program design, concept note, proposal and budget development, as well as ensures quality implementations, and budget management of projects. In addition, the CPE Manager provides continuous technical support to CPE projects, staff development and supervision, as well as travels to the field sites and camps to provide on-spot technical support for improved program delivery and monitoring of program activities. The incumbent will be based in Jijiga and represent IRC at relevant cluster coordination meetings.

Major Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Implementation

• Support the field team to develop work plans, procurement plans and spending plans on timely manner for procuring of goods and services with accurate specifications and realistic cost and liaise with Addis based technical team.
• Provide onsite technical support for the quality implementation of projects in collaboration with the field team and Addis based technical team.
• Set up periodic check-in calls/meetings with the field team to update progress, spot bottle necks and suggest and implement solutions.
• Actively participate in the project cycle meetings to reflect on the needs, success and challenges of the project and document and apply lessons learned.
• Monitor budgets versus actual expenditure (BvA) on monthly basis and guide the field team to take appropriate action based on the status of spending of a specific project.
• Document the number of clients in each project with age and gender disaggregated and file for future use and reporting.

Grant Monitoring and Reporting

• Conduct regular field monitoring visits of CPE program activities and provide support for the team in the field/camps.
• Document key findings of the internal and external assessments for planning purpose.
• Review reports from the fields/camps and provide feedback.
• Draft/review reports and share with the CPE head office team within the given timeframe.
• Work with the field Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) teams to ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are in place and inputs are provided in timely manner.

Staff Management and Development

• Ensure staffs maintain high standards in the management of their respective program activities.
• Engage in technical supervision and training of field staff to fulfil the minimum skills set across both the child protection and education sectors.
• Work with the field/camp managers and share insights on performance management of field/camps staff.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Mentor and build the overall capacities of the CPE team and support them for personal staff development plans.

Representation, Coordination and Advocacy

• Engage and maintain effective/professional working relationships with key partners, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors at the field level.
• Represent IRC in coordination and working group meetings at appropriate levels to share experiences and challenges with other actors.

Educational Requirements:

• MA/BA in Social Work or Educational Planning and Management (EDPM); Educational Leadership, Development Management; Development Economics or related field of studies.

Preferred experience & skills:

• 3 years for MA holders and 4 years for BA holders proven experience in international NGOs preferably in protracted refugee and IDP contexts; and
• At least 2 years of managerial experience and professional track record with NGO working in child protection/education in emergency/ humanitarian program implementation in conflict and post conflict environments.
• Experience in leading and/or technically supporting programs related to child protection or education.
• Strong monitoring and evaluation experience.
• Proposal and report writing skills.
• Computer literate.
• Experience in working with multicultural and diversified workforce.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

Language Skills: 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.
• Knowledge of local language is an asset.