State Pre-Service Coordinator at Cambridge Education - 3 Positions

Cambridge Education (CE) is an education services company that provides expert education consultancy in partnership withgovernments, donors and development agencies around the world. CE has a substantial and expanding portfolio of education projects in Nigeria, and is seeking applications for the following position:

Job Title: State Pre-Service Coordinator

Reporting to: State Team Leader and Deputy National Programme Manager
Responsible for: All State Based Technical Specialists and State Support Team
Grade: D

The Northern States positions are expected to be in northern Nigeria with teams based in some or all of these states: Sokoto, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Niger and/or Yobe.

Purpose: The Pre-Service Coordinator will manage the programme pre-service interventions in the State and will provide leadership and support to technical specialists working on the different areas of the programme. This will require establishing the framework in which technical assistance work will take place, and coordinating the deployment of technical assistance in the State. The Coordinator may also be assigned State Team Leadership responsibilities.

Job Profile:
The Education Programme is a six-year UK government funded programme designed to provide strategic technical assistance at
Federal level and in up to 6 Lead States on teachers’ skills improvement. It aims ultimately at improving student learning.

Tasks:

• The State Pre-Service Coordinator (SPC) will be supported by other technical staff and together they will be responsible for oversight and coordination of the technical work at the state level and will ensure that all aspects of the project are consistent with one another so that maximum synergy can be attained.
• The Pre-service Coordinator will take responsibility for building sustainable systems of preservice training within the state.
• The SPC will work closely with others to support state personnel in the design and implementation of such a system.
• S/he will also ensure that appropriate specialist technical assistance is provided to the state and will quality assure the work of such specialists.
• S/he will support the development of programme implementation strategies.
• S/he will support the development of activity plan for the implementation of the programme at the state.
• S/he will support the management of resources for the implementation of the programme in the state.

In addition, s/he will:

• Collaborate with the National Pre-Service Technical Lead, the NCCE Adviser, State level programme team members, and with Colleges of Education and other State level bodies and stakeholders, as appropriate, to improve the quality, effectiveness and inclusiveness of preservice training for primary and lower secondary school teachers in the State, and the capacity within the State to provide such training
• Coordinate within the State a situational analysis led of the capacity, activities and structure of State Colleges of Education and assessment of the willingness and capacity for change at the State Colleges of Education
• Visit, with CoE trainers, schools where students are completing their teaching practice in order to observe and give feedback, with subsequent follow-up work on-campus and refinement of pre-service training design and practice
• Ensure effective advocacy, communication and dissemination of knowledge at the State level regarding pre-service teacher training, and sharing of information nationally
• Facilitate capacity building of the State Colleges of Education on the new QA and accreditation instruments and procedures
• Provide direct support for quality improvement at the State Colleges of Education, including delivering workshops on principles of teacher training and teaching practice
• Support reorientation of CoE curriculum to practical skills and knowledge, including the effective use of modern technology and audio-visual aids, and of staff to gender issues
• Support development of incentive packages for CoEs, in collaboration with the NCCE Adviser
• Coordinate the conduct of pilot exercises to trial and develop pre-service teacher training processes and materials
• Enhance awareness of teacher trainers, head teachers, teachers, education managers and other stakeholders in the State, regarding issues of teacher status, inclusiveness and ethics
• Ensure lesson learning and dissemination of best practice in CPD at State level
• Generate synergies and ensure lesson learning between the programme and other efforts in the field of in-service teacher education at State level. Ensure effective dissemination of best practice, within the State and to the programme

Extent of authority
The Pre-Service Coordinator will report to State Team Leader and the Deputy National Programme Manager and will be responsible for working with other staff within the State to deliver pre-service training in the state. S/he may have direct line management responsibility of the state technical staff, and State Support Team.

Special relationships and contacts
The post will also require close cooperation and collaborative working arrangements with staff and consultants working on related programmes in the Governance and other related fields.

Essential competencies / skills

• Practical knowledge of educational development issues in Nigeria and other countries.
• Knowledge of current international literature on pre-service education of teachers Governance, Institutional Development, Education and the delivery of public services.
• Knowledge of Nigerian Government and parastatal structures and systems.
• Knowledge of the capacity constraints that may hamper effective and efficient action.
• Ability to manage change through other people.
• Possession of inter-personal skills and the ability to deploy them as and when necessary.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and consistent quality assurance of other professionals’ work.
• Ability to lead and inspire colleagues, to act as both team leader and team member.

Required academic / professional qualifications, training and experience

• Degree in educational planning, teacher education or relevant field
• Professional track record in pre-service teacher education and in school teaching
• Experience and background in fragile environments
• Proven track record of raising teachers’ standards through INSET/CPD
• Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Knowledge of current INSET/CPD practices and initiatives
• A minimum of a higher degree in a relevant area and with not less than10 years experience of
• working with the public sector and reform processes in Nigeria.
• Proven staff and financial management experience.
• Experience of Planning, Institutional and Organisational Development, Education
• Management or Public Administration Reform.
• Experience of managing professional inputs in development assistance programmes.
• Experience of working with Nigerian government and parastatal officials and civil society groups.

Knowledge, essential competencies, skills and qualifications:

• Degree in educational planning, teacher education or relevant field
• Professional track record in pre-service teacher education and in school teaching
• Experience and background in fragile environments
• Proven track record of raising teachers’ standards through pre-service teacher training
• Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Knowledge of current pre-service teacher training practices and initiatives

Application Closing Date
5pm Friday 12 April 2013.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should be sent by email to recruitments@camb-ed.com.

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.