Technical Director, USAID/Pakistan Foundational Learning Activity At Save the Children – US

Summary

Save the Children is seeking a Technical Director (TD) for the anticipated five-year USAID/Pakistan Foundational Learning Activity. The purpose of the Activity is to enhance student learning outcomes in reading and math and to prevent school dropout by enabling teachers, head teachers, and local education administrators to improve the quality of education.

The TD is responsible for overseeing the technical delivery of the program to ensure education opportunities are accessible, relevant and of high quality. They will adopt a people-centered approach in all program activities and promote the acquisition of foundational skills for all children. They will collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to strengthen education systems as well as support the design of service delivery strategies, track progress towards program goals, and adapt as necessary.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• In collaboration with other relevant technical staff, lead and oversee the development and delivery of a high quality, inclusive, and gender-sensitive education program which puts people at the center of the process, resulting in increased learning opportunities for children and youth in safe and respectful learning environments.
• Ensure the technical and methodological soundness of activities, and in collaboration with the project team and partners, support the design and rollout of education activities, are flexible in scale and sequencing, and consistently achieve the program’s results while adhering to humanitarian principles.
• Ensure that existing evidence-based practices and innovative education interventions (including relevant EdTech) are integrated in the project’s design and its implementation.
• Contribute to the gathering and application of program research and monitoring data, and in collaboration and consultation with USAID and other stakeholders, refine and adjust technical approaches and annual work plans to achieve program goals.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Education, key USAID implementing partners, and other donors and stakeholders to promote sustainability, efficiency, and the adoption of successful program strategies into the national education strategy.
• Provide technical and program guidance and oversight in the design and day-to-day management of implementation.
• Document and disseminate innovation and good practices and contribute to a wide range of project communication products, leveraging the available programmatic and evidence-based practices.
• Prepare high-quality, accurate and timely reports for Save the Children, project partners, and USAID as required.
• Represent the program as required to promote sustainability and impact.
• Work closely with REALM team to design and implement contextualized formal and non-formal education assessments, able to analyze the data and have strong research background.
• Provides technical expertise, strategic guidance, and capacity-building support to ensure the effective design, implementation, and evaluation of education programs.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, international development, or related field.
• Minimum of seven years of experience with progressively increasing responsibility for the design, management, and implementation of complex education programming in developing countries involving multiple stakeholders and implementing partners.
• At least three years of experience providing technical leadership on large-scale USAID-funded education projects and designing and implementing education programming, preferably in Pakistan or the broader South Asia region.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and mobilize diverse partners, developing stakeholder networks, and successfully communicating and coordinating among key stakeholders.
• Sound understanding of the education landscape of Pakistan.
• Commitment to child rights, gender equality and Save the Children’s values.
• Expertise in any of the following areas: foundational literacy and numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL), inclusive education, education systems strengthening and teacher professional development.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in strengthening Ministry of Education (MOE) capacity to provide safe education opportunities in formal and non-formal school settings.
• Ability to collaborate and liaise with senior MOE officials, other USAID implementing partners, relevant education sector stakeholders, and senior members of the donor community.
• Proven track record managing a project team composed of technical experts from multicultural backgrounds and fostering team work.
• Strengths in inspiring and enabling others through training and capacity building to realize objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, Urdu, and/or other languages spoken in Pakistan.
• Ability and willingness to be flexible and accommodating in demanding working circumstances.

Qualified Pakistani and female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.