Education and Refugee Protection Programmes Coordinator At Save the Children

TITLE: Education and Refugee Protection Programmes Coordinator

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Thailand Programme

LOCATION: Mae Sot Field Office

CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 March 2025 – 28 February 2026, with possible to extend

ROLE PURPOSE: The post holder will oversee the successful management and implementation of an integrated Education and Child Protection programme based in Mae Sot field office, Save the Children Thailand. The Education programme focuses on supporting Myanmar refugees across nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, ensuring that refugee children can fully exercise their rights to education in their host/resident communities. Building on the successes and lessons learned from the EU-funded Basic Education Support towards Transition (BEST) phases I-V, the programme also incorporates adaptations to address the evolving context and emerging challenges under BEST VI. Refugee children and their families in these camps continue to face significant barriers to their wellbeing and future opportunities.

The Education and Refugee Protection Programmes Coordinator is responsible for managing the education for refugee children portfolio in Mae Sot field office, overseeing three key projects; 1) Basic Education Support towards Transition (BEST VI), 2) Preparing for Reintegration through Education and Participative Solutions (PREPS) 2023 – 2025 projects in Thailand and 3) Inclusive and Accessible Protection and Quality Rehabilitation services for women, children, and Persons with Disabilities in the nine refugee camps, in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion (HI). The post holder will collaborate with strategic and implementing partners, including JRS, ADRA, HI, KRCEE, OCEE KnED, and all consortium members and stakeholders. A strong emphasis will be placed on ensuring that gender equality is treated as a cross-cutting issue and fully integrated into all activities. This includes addressing gender disparities in education and promoting equal access to education at all levels for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations across the nine refugee camps.

In addition, the position holder will be responsible for managing performance and building the capacity of relevant project staff. A significant portion of their time will be dedicated to working closely with the team, including partner teams in the intervention areas, to provide support and monitor the daily implementation of the programmes.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Senior Field Coordinator – Mae Sot

Staff reporting to this post: 3 BEST/PREPS Sr. Education Project officer, Sr. Safe School officer, and Data Verification Assistant

Indirect: N/A

Budget Responsibilities: EUR 1,000,000

Financial Approval: USD 15,000

Role Dimensions: Education and Refugee Protection Programmes Coordinator will work closely with Strategic Programmes Quality and Impact (SPQI) team, including Education Technical Expert, Child Protection Technical Expert, implementing partners, INGO partners, UN agencies, CCSDPT members as well as CBOs working on education in the refugee camps.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Program Management

• Oversee the implementation and development of both the technical and administrative aspects of the programmes, with overall responsibility for budget and staff management.
• Monitor project expenditures, ensuring alignment with the budget plan, accurate cost allocation, and timely spending. Take full responsibility for budget management, including tracking expenditures against the budget.
• Lead the timely development and revision of key project management tools, such as the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP), Human Resources (HR) plan, Procurement plan, and Indicator Performance Tracking Table (IPTT) on the PRIME system.
• Ensure all internal and external reporting requirements are met, including the preparation of donor reports in the required format, incorporating feedback and review from the Education Specialist.
• Monitor project progress through regular meetings, the collection and analysis of key performance indicators, and proper documentation of processes and results.
• Work closely with the Education Technical Expert and Child Protection Technical Expert to ensure high-quality implementation in compliance with Save the Children Child Safeguarding Policy and other quality benchmarks.
• Document and share lessons learned and success stories from the project.
• Work closely with Senior Field Coordinator – Mae Sot and operational support teams (HR, Operations, Finance) to ensure timely delivery of key project inputs.
• Contribute to Save the Children’s strategic planning in the education sector and the design of future programming strategy by coordinating with the Education Technical Expert.
• In coordination with the Education Technical Expert, Child Protection Technical Expert, and Regional Technical Advisors facilitate meetings, workshops, and evaluations initiated by Save the Children and donors related to the implementation of this project.
• Collaborate with the Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media team, as well as technical experts, to support policy advocacy efforts.
• Work with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure appropriate and effective mechanisms and practices are in place for the programmes.
• Coordinate with the Awards team to prepare requests for budget revisions, realignment, and other grant modifications, as needed.
• Undertake additional tasks relevant to programme management and activity implementation as assigned by the manager, including the development of new projects and the responses to emergencies at the area or country level.

Partnership Management and Support

• Support and build the capacity of partners implementing key components of this project while maintaining close coordination to ensure effective collaboration.
• Plan and organize regular meetings with the partners to draw lessons, share experiences, and monitor the progress of the project; support partners to collate good practices and evidence for showcasing at regional and global forums.
• Provide technical support to partners on the sub-award agreements and compliances, ensuring adherence to Save the Children standards in logistics, management, and finance. Ensure the timely transfer of funds to partners, except in cases where unforeseen circumstances prevent it.

Representation and coordination (internal and external)

• Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders and partners, including NGOs, civil society organizations, community groups, UN agencies and government counterparts.
• Facilitate the smooth flow of information and coordination across departments and with partner staff.
• Participate in coordination and technical meetings at the provincial and national levels.
• Participate in regular Project Coordinators meetings and Maesot Office meetings, providing input into decisions and addressing issues that may impact project implementation.
• Facilitate field visits for donors and Save the Children Member representatives.
• Ensure high-quality, accessible information about the project and its achievements are available for internal and external audiences,including current donors, Save the Children Members, and potential funders.
• Take a proactive approach in coordinating and sharing information with other stakeholders in the area who have similar focus, approaches, or target groups.

Leadership:

• Establish clear and compelling objectives for teams and individuals, and regularly monitor progress and performance.
• Foster a supportive and empowering work environment by encouraging innovative ideas and initiatives from staff.
• Apply a flexible and adaptive leadership style to a given situation and meet the needs of the team.
• Maintain a strong focus on achieving results and meeting the agreed objectives, and proactively solve problems without requiring direct instruction from line management.
• Identify clear development needs and create development plans for the team through regular constructive performance reviews.
• Manage and support the team under their responsibility,assessing staff performance in accordance with SCI performance management processes.
• Ensure adherence to security protocols and regulations by all personnel under their supervision.
• Identify learning and training opportunities for Save the Children staff and partners and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff.
• Collaborate with HR to identifying capacity building needs (e.g., management skills, language proficiency) and develop plans for each staff member.

Child Safeguarding Responsibility:

• Ensure that staff provide all programme beneficiaries with ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Education or a related field, with demonstrated experience and expertise in education-related roles.
• A minimum of five years of professional experience, preferably in the development sector, managing multi-sector projects in areas such as Education, Child Protection, WASH, Emergency Response, Influx, Migration etc.
• Strong knowledge of education technical issues such as teacher training, curriculum development, and assessment is preferred.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Demonstrated skills, experience (at least five years), and knowledge in project management development sector, specific experience in education strongly preferred
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, including good level of written and spoken English.
• People management skills/experience and proven ability to create an environment that encourages teamwork and motivates a team
• Experience and knowledge of effective financial and budgetary control.
• Ability to make decisions when needed and prepared to account for them.
• Capacity to anticipate change and adapt the plans and priorities accordingly

Desirable

• Ability to analyze information, and to document and report.
• Ability to, and experience in, delivering training in education-related issues.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently domestically (including to remote areas), and internationally as assigned.
• An in-depth understanding of the context of the migration and refugees with experience working along the Myanmar border is preferred.
• Significant experience working and building relationships with government officials and local partners.

Additional Job Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Equal Opportunities

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Save the Children Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Safeguarding Our Staff

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Save the Children anti-harassment policy.

Health and Safety

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with Save the Children Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Interested candidates should apply and submit a motivational letter, comprehensive CV, expected salary and details of at least 3 referees via the following link;

APPLY HERE

Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse”