Education Technical Advisor At Development Aid

DRS is looking for an Education Technical Advisor for an INGO that provides formal and non-formal education opportunities, child protection and psychosocial support, and a cash and voucher program to refugees in Poland.

Job Title: Education Technical Advisor

Contract: 1-year contract with extension

Location: Warsaw, Poland

Starting date: as soon as possible

Position Description:

The Education Technical Advisor will lead the monitoring of educational needs and gaps, the design of appropriate and inclusive education interventions in alignment with international standards, and the quality assurance of education programs for thousands of children across the country.

The Education Technical Advisor will provide technical leadership to NGO’s work in the education sector, with responsibility for developing clear strategic plans, identifying fundraising needs and leading the development of technical proposals, and forging strong partnerships with Government, UN, NGOs, and local civil society counterparts, supporting the Education Sector coordination mechanism, as well as providing technical support to education staff and partner staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Leadership:

• Provide overall strategic leadership to Save the Children’s work in the education sector in Poland.
• Lead the development of the SCI education sector strategy and provide education technical input to the development of country annual plans, area plans, sector strategies, and other planning documents.

Programme Support:

• Provide technical expertise, quality assurance, and guidance for Save the Children’s education programmes in Poland, ensuring they are of high quality with reliable data and outcomes.
• Lead the development of technical tools, guidance, and documentation as required.
• Promote and lead on the roll-out of SCI’s Common Approaches, ensuring adaptation to context.
• Support the development of monitoring, information management, and reporting systems that provide information for reporting and programme improvement (in conjunction with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team). Ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programmes.
• Work closely with the MEAL team to put in place a sector MEAL plan, ensuring this links to reporting requirements and strategic plans.
• Lead technical assessments in coordination with other SC thematic areas and/or other external sector agencies, ensuring assessment findings are documented and that all assessments include a specific analysis of children’s needs.
• Lead fundraising for Education (and integrated programming), including the development of high-quality concept notes and proposals, and engagement with donors’ technical advisers.
• Review and assure the quality of programme and donor reports in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements.
• Work closely with the accountability lead to put in place sector accountability mechanisms, ensuring that feedback is incorporated into programme design and learning disseminated to the wider sector.
• Carry out field visits to country programmes in order to design new programmes, develop proposals or review/monitor/evaluate ongoing grants.
• Ensure integration (where appropriate) with other sectors, especially looking to strengthen the links between Education programmes and Child Protection, encouraging teams to have an integrated approach to emergency responses.
• Capacity Building:
• Develop capacity-building plans for both SC and partner staff, linking capacity-building initiatives to opportunities identified via coordination and networks, as well as to SCI’s global expertise.
• Support technical work of Education PM/Coordinators and coach/mentor Education staff on technical approaches where needed.
• Support the capacity building of external Education Sector partners where needed, working closely with the Sector Coordinators.

Representation & Advocacy & Organisational Learning:

• Lead external representation of Save the Children’s education work in Poland, including with the Government, donors, and other key education stakeholders.
• Represent Save the Children in the Education Sector Working Group and in national/international technical networks as requested.
• Take the initiative in documenting lessons learned, best practices, and case studies to shape in-country strategies and programme approaches and contribute to broader sector learning.
• Proactively identify advocacy opportunities, case studies, and research opportunities that link with wider organizational strategic objectives and turn these into action.
• Play a leadership role in shaping communications and media priorities in line with thematic priorities, acting as a spokesperson when required.

General:

• Demonstrate leadership in relation to Save the Children policies and practices with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Ensure that the minimum standards of humanitarian relief are maintained in accordance with the Sphere Charter and with INEE Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies.

EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a technical leadership role in education for an NGO, UN agency, or other development / humanitarian organization.
• Proven experience leading Education in Emergencies (EiE) programming and participating in emergency coordination forums (education cluster, education working groups, etc).
• Experience in applying relevant interagency humanitarian frameworks and standards in education in emergencies (for example INEE Minimum Standards).
• Extensive experience in developing and negotiating successful projects and partnerships with a range of donors.
• Knowledge of working and living in the region.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Excellent spoken and written communication in English, the knowledge of Polish/Ukrainian is desirable.

OTHER SKILLS:

• Excellent understanding of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning processes and methodologies.
• Ability to write clear and well-argued assessments and project reports.
• Excellent communication, advocacy, and representation skills.
• Proven ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact, and diplomacy.
• The capacity and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of SC. In particular, a good understanding of the SC mandate and child focus and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support.