Education Coordinator at Save the Children Nigeria

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Education Coordinator

Job No.: 210000IV
Location: Abuja
Team / Programme: Education- PDQ
Type of Contract: National
Employee Status: Permanent
Grade: 3
Reports to:  Head of Education
Staff directly reporting to this post:  None

Child Safeguarding - Level 3
The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

Role Purpose

• Reporting to the Head of Education, the person coordinates the proposal development, follow up, monitoring of implementation of all education projects in Nigeria. The Education Coordinator provides support to Head of Education both technical and operational level to oversight on all aspects relating to Education in Emergencies and regular education projects.
• The job holder provides overall programmatic and operational coordination support including; designing, planning, implementation, capacity enhancement, monitoring/ evaluation and reporting both internally (within SCI) and externally (for/with partners) for education portfolio. The job holder may be called upon as and when necessary to support the emergency team in cases of humanitarian crisis.

Key Areas of Accountability
Projects Coordination & Management:

• Coordinate implementation of the Education projects across Nigeria in line with the design of the projects and donor requirements.
• Establish, maintain and strengthen linkages in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and capacity enhancement of staff in all Education Projects.
• Create and sustain positive working relationships with the partners and other stakeholders.
• Plan and coordinate National and State level engagements with partners and key stakeholders.
• Monitor and ensure timely and quality reports are submitted as per the reporting requirements.
• Work closely with Programme development and Quality (PDQ) & MEAL teams to ensure quality program design, delivery, documentation and reporting of education portfolio in the country.

Operational Planning and implementation:

• In close coordination with the Head of Education, provide support to ensure design, planning, monitor project implementation plans, phased budgets, monitoring and support, documentation and reporting for all Education projects.
• Provide technical solutions/ support to expedite the implementation and budget performance   of projects, in line with plans and budgets.
• Effectively support the education projects’ staff and partners in developing annual plans, in line with EIE best practices, INEE Minimum standards for education projects design and Save the Children International’s Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies and Common Approaches.  planning guidelines, and ensure compliance with the agreed work plans, and that programme objectives and targets are being achieved in line with funded proposals.
• Provide guidance to the Education Staff and partners through the planning processes to develop plans that are cost effective and in line with proposal.
• Maintain high standards of transparency and accountability in the course of programme design, proposal development and expedite implementation while ensuring integrity and timeliness of project duration and meeting programme objectives, compliance with donors & Save the Children policies.
• Provide regular operations and implementation updates to Head of Education on project progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by management.
• Ensure the timely reviews and adjustments for the project operational and implementation plans and budgets as may be required from time to time.

Finance and Budget Management:

• Support budget performance to ensure that projects are on course as per detailed implementation plans and phased budgets.
• In coordination with the Head of Education, conduct project monitoring, suggest necessary revisions and prepare draft reports for corrective actions.
• Ensure that the budget variance analysis are monitored and reported on time and with accurate information.
• Work closely with Head of Education to ensure that partners are well guided, supported and their capacity built in sound financial management procedures.

Partner Development and Management:

• Participate in partner capacity assessments and identify capacity building needs for the Education Portfolio partners.
• Undertake partners’ capacity building programmes in order to address identified capacity gaps and areas of support that the partners will require for effective implementation of the projects.
• Monitor and support the development of partner detailed implementation/ work plans and phased budgets.
• Provide capacity building and support in project implementation by partners.
• Monitor and follow up the implementation of the agreed work plan and budget to ensure that the program objectives are being realized in accordance to the program and partnership agreement and take the necessary actions for any identified deviations.
• Undertake field visits to the partners on both programmatic and operational support.
• Support timely, accurate and high quality financial and programmatic reporting by the partners and take corrective actions for any non-compliance by the partners.

Program/ Project Narrative and Financial Reporting:

• Work in close collaboration with the Head of Education in the review and guide project teams in preparation of timely and high quality progress and end of project narrative and financial reports which are in accordance with the donor reporting schedule and formats.
• Review all program financial reports, ensuring that donor guidelines have been followed and high standards met. The project deadlines met in reporting and keep a track record of reporting (Narrative and Financial).
• Organize and facilitate quarterly follow ups and progress review meetings to address key performance issues from the reports.
• Review overall Budget Vs Actual expenditure analysis and variance explanations.

Internal and external engagements:

• Ensure that the Education Portfolio is represented and given recognition at stakeholder meetings, workshops, donor, networks and any other engagements.
• Develop and maintain regular channels of communication with partners and key stakeholders at all levels (Community, LGA and State).

MEAL:

• Effectively manage projects design and study processes which include assessments, baseline and evaluation studies, putting in place a functional Activity Tracking Table.
• Ensure that the projects quality bench marks are followed up.
• Collect and managing complaints and feedback in close coordination with CRM and MEAL teams for all Education Projects.
• Ensure regular monitoring of projects results, documentation of projects case studies, lessons learnt, significant changes and best practices and coordinating learning and reflection meetings/sessions
• Ensure an effective programs/ projects monitoring and evaluation systems is in place.
• Monitor programs/ projects activities to ensure quality, timeliness and adherence to both Country Office and Save the Children policies and procedures.

Human Resources Management and Development:

• Work together with the Head of Education and project teams to identify learning and development needs of the project teams and develop specific plans to address the learning needs.
• Coach and mentor the Education Teams on the provision of technical support and implementation of quality programmes.
• Capacity building of Education Teams through trainings, coaching, performance management, implementation as well as in learning and reflection events
• Participate in monthly/weekly project management meetings to enable adequate staff support

Technical Oversight:

• In liaison with Head of Education and PDQ team provide guidance and support to projects team, partners and stakeholders.

Academic Background, Experience & Person Specifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Education or Master’s Degree with work experience in Education. Experience in managing in any thematic area such as education, child protection, child rights governance or disaster risk reduction is a must.
• At least 5 years of accrued working experience in program implementation with a minimum of 3 years in a management level position in an international NGO and those applying partnership approaches is desirable.
• Experience in strategic thinking and planning skills, be able to set priorities, prepare manageable plans and to evaluate progress.
• Experience of working with local partners and Local Government and State Authorities in Education, Child Rights Governance, Health, Nutrition, Education, or Child Protection is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas, occasionally under strenuous conditions.
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.
• Availability and willingness to work extra hours during times of humanitarian responses.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability to intervene with crisis management or troubleshooting as necessary.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Excellent time management and planning capacity.

Skills and Behaviors (Our 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 others to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

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.

Occasional duties:

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Judgement and Decision-Making:

• The Project Coordinator will be supervised by the  of Head of Education and close collaboration with the PDQ team will be responsible for making quick decisions aimed at improving timely and quality delivery of the interventions.
• Some of the decisions that require consultations include but not limited to; major operational issues, technical guidance, policies/procedural changes and financial decisions.

Internal Contacts:

• Head of Education –regular contact
• PDQ Team-frequent contact
• Programme Managers Education - frequent contact
• Education Project Teams – frequent contacts
• Technical Specialists – frequent contact
• Team Leaders – regular contact
• Other Save the Children Staff – regular contact

External Contacts:

• Partners – frequent contact
• Children, stakeholders – regular 
• Government agencies (National & State Government staff) – Frequent contacts
• Donors-minimal contact

Application Closing Date
9th February, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online