Consortium Director (Team Lead) At Concern Worldwide

About the role: This is an exciting opportunity to make a difference in the field of education in Ethiopia leading a dynamic consortium that is putting together a compelling and innovative bid for the forthcoming five-year “Transforming Education Programme in Ethiopia (TREE)”. As Consortium Team Leader, you will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with frequent visits to specific regions to be covered by the programme and other locations as necessary.

You will report to the Country Director and the Programme Steering Committee. Regular day to day liaison and coordination will be with the Programme Director and Education Programme Coordinator and Concern Worldwide’s Technical Advisers, finance, operations functions in Ethiopia and at head office. You will work closely with both local and international consortium members and downstream partners and contractors, the Core Programme Management Team, the Ministry of Education, and the donor.

This role is contingent on funding being secured.

Job Title: Consortium Team Leader, FCDO Transforming Education in Ethiopia

Reports to: Country Director, Concern Ethiopia

Manages: 4 team members.

Liaises with: Concern relevant head office management/staff, Consortium Steering Committee and individual consortium partners, downstream partners/contractors, Ministry of Education and other government line ministries, FCDO and other donors, other stakeholders in the field of education.

Terms: Fixed Term, Accompanied. Can be national or international posting.

Requirements: Regular travel within Ethiopia and occasional travel internationally.

About Concern: Established in 1968, Concern is a non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organisation, dedicated to the reduction of suffering and the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Concern’s vision, our mission and our work are all defined by one goal – ending extreme poverty, whatever it takes. Concern strives for a world free from poverty, fear and oppression.

Our culture is values driven and we believe that our people are central to all that we do and are key to delivering on our goal of Reaching the Furthest Behind First. We are committed to ensuring a workplace where everybody feels valued and are enabled to succeed in their work and contribute to delivering on our mission.

Concern believes that education is at the heart of development and is key to breaking the poverty cycle, and improving health, nutrition, income, and opportunities for all children. Our education programming aims to improve the lives of extremely poor and vulnerable children in a sustainable way by increasing access to high quality primary education and supporting wellbeing.

Background of the FCDO Transforming Education in Ethiopia Project:

In Ethiopia, many children are out of school or at risk of dropping out, in particular girls and other marginalised groups. Progress has been made in expanding education access for children across the country – however, since 2019 progress stalled due to conflict, climate-induced shocks, the impact of COVID-19 and other challenges which have exacerbated existing inequalities.

In response and building on its previous support to the Ethiopian Education system, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aims to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes and increase access to education for girls and marginalised children through the ‘Transforming Education in Ethiopia’ project (2024-2028). The programme will focus on three key aspects:

• Teacher and school leader development: Improved quality of teaching and learning with a focus on continuous teacher professional development in targeted schools.
• English Language Teaching and Learning: Selected schools provide better teaching and learning in English Language as a subject, and improved use of English across the curriculum.
• Equity, Inclusion and Girls’ Education: Improved access and retention of the most marginalised children, particularly girls.

Role Purpose:

The Consortium Team Leader will be responsible for providing overall leadership, management oversight, partner coordination, and direction for the project, with a clear focus on achieving the results defined within the contract. This includes direct management of key personnel roles and leadership of project staff. They will be responsible for the project’s overall contract and budget management. They will be expected to identify project delivery issues and risks in a timely manner and lead in the management of these, including proposing appropriate project adjustments. They will have a track record of working effectively in complex and sophisticated environments, across different cultures, managing diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines, and leading similar large complex projects.

The Consortium Team Leader will act as the primary liaison point with FCDO, key stakeholders, and consortium partners. They are expected to have extensive skills in complex project implementation, advocacy, and networking capabilities with international and national institutions, development agencies and government ministries.

The Consortium Team Leader will have a deep understanding of the education sector in Ethiopia and demonstrated technical expertise in education in emergencies, system strengthening, continuous teacher professional development, gender in education, social emotional learning and wellbeing or related areas. Broader technical knowledge of gender programming will be desirable, including women and girls’ empowerment, gender-based violence, and livelihoods.

Responsibilities:

• Set, communicate and deliver the strategic direction of the programme and ensure consistency of the overarching objectives of the programme.
• Provide overall leadership and oversight of the programme’s delivery and results, ensuring lessons learned are effectively captured and shared with key stakeholders to achieve lasting results.
• Provide overall managerial support throughout the implementation of the project to ensure high quality standards maintained, and the achievement of synergy and value for money from the combination of partners’ specific areas of expertise aligning with donor strategic priorities to achieve the programme’s objectives.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the project and lead on quarterly and annual work planning, programme implementation, knowledge management, MEAL and donor reporting.
• Maintain efficient systems in place to support all aspects of the project, including grant management, MEAL systems, in compliance with organizational procedures and donor requirements.
• Manage consortium partnerships in a collaborative manner, ensuring partners’ effective contribution to achievement of the project goals and objectives.
• Hold accountability for overall financial and operational compliance including optimising resources through robust budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor.
• Represent Concern and the consortium to FCDO via formal and informal briefings, and written reports.
• Develop and maintain strong working and cooperative relationships with all relevant key stakeholders, including government representatives, delivery partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions
• Represent the project and the organisation in national, regional, and international fora, and share information about project achievements and lessons learned within the organisation and wider development community.
• Provide line management to the Core Programme Management Team in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, ensuring good working environment and professional development of team members.
• Ensure adherence/compliance with Concern Worldwide’s Code of Conduct & Associated Policies (including Programme Participant Protection, Child & vulnerable adult Safeguarding, Anti-Trafficking policies), Conflict of Interest Policy, Anti-Fraud Policy, and Modern Slavery Transparency Statement. Uphold and promote Concern’s values – demonstrating leadership on equality, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling a positive safeguarding ethos.
• All managers are responsible for upholding and promoting Concern’s values, demonstrating leadership on workplace equality, diversity and inclusion, and role modelling a positive safeguarding ethos.
• Oversee and monitor programme risks (including financial, logistical and other support systems, security and safeguarding) and raise issues in a timely manner to the Concern Country Director and Programme Steering Committee.
• Promote and ensure accountability to programme participants and wider communities in line with Concern Worldwide’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and Do No Harm principles and ensure high ethical standards throughout programme implementation.
• All managers are required to actively participate in any emergency response as and when required.

Role Holder Requirements:

Essential:

• Advanced degree (Master’s or equivalent experience) in education, gender, public administration, international development or related field. D. or Ed. D. is preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years’ experience in managing and successfully delivering large-scale, complex, multi-partner programmes in Ethiopia or similar contexts. Preference will be given to candidates with such experience in the field of education.
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and strategic direction and harness the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners.
• Staff and financial management experience, with experience in leading and motivating individuals and teams to deliver high quality products and achieve programme outcomes.
• Understanding critical issues related to girls’ education, including FCDO’s Girls Education priorities.
• Experience and ability to work with and build effective partnerships between a broad range of stakeholders, including government (both at strategic/policy and service delivery levels), civil society, donor institutions and multilaterals.
• Prior experience of operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Understanding of education delivery and system strengthening in Ethiopia, and familiarity with the political, cultural context and operating environment in Ethiopia.
• Experience in coordinating and working with the government of Ethiopia, particularly within the education sector.
• Proven record of understanding and experience with research and adaptive learning.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to articulate complex information backed with evidence to advocate to and persuade influential stakeholders.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Desirable:

• Prior experience in managing large FCDO commercial contracts.
• Fluency in one or more Ethiopian languages.