Early Childhood Development (ECD) Hub Lead and Practice Lead at Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable children to prepare for - and respond to - crises and adversity. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Early Childhood Development (ECD) Hub Lead and Practice Lead

Location: Nigeria
Functional Area: Gender Transformative Policy and Practice (GTPP)
Grade: 5
Trave Required: Up to 30% of the time
Effective Date: 01 July 2023
Reports to: Director: GTPP

Role Purpose

• The post holder leads the Early Childhood Development(ECD) Hub’s work to support the embedding of gender-transformative ECD programming across the organization in development, humanitarian and protracted crisis settings, through the development of a vibrant and engaged community of practice, support for the development, testing, adapting and scaling of program and influencing models of relevance and ensuring that learnings are captured and shared; ensuring robust technical support – including learning and development initiatives – is available to Plan International offices to progress the broader implementation of gender-transformative ECD programming; and supporting strategic partnerships for impact and income.
• As the global Hub Lead, the post holder works in coordination with the Hub Steering Group, to ensure that the ECD Hub delivers on ambitious objectives set by the Gender-Transformative Policy and Practice (GTPP) leadership,managing other Hub team members and being accountable for budget and deliverables.
• The post holder is a member of the GTPP leadership team, playing a role in setting direction for the department, agreeing on priorities, resource allocation and provisions to ensure GTPP advances gender equality and children’s rights in a holistic manner.

Dimensions of the Role
Provides overall leadership and direction for gender-transformative ECD programming as the Practice Lead. This involves:

• Ensuring that the ECD thematic package is implemented and updated to align with the Global Strategy ambitions, supporting the operationalization of gender-transformative approaches across the core components, and coordinating/supporting work on ECD models as per the global approved process.
• Ensuring quality support on ECD is provided to Plan Country Offices and the Plan Federation where needed, including for country strategy development.
• Ensuring that Plan’s ECD vision, strategy and work is further operationalized and communicated within the Federation and beyond to position Plan as a strong player within gender-transformative ECD work in development and humanitarian settings.

Provides overall leadership and direction for the ECD Hub team as Hub Lead.  This involves:

• Collaboration with other Hub members (Policy and Advocacy lead, Network Coordinator) to define and take forward a shared agenda, in partnership with the ECD Core Group and ECD Regional Focal persons.
• Horizontal leadership with other Hubs to ensure that all policy, advocacy and gender transformative program work is supporting gender equality and children’s rights
• Overseeing the Hub’s strategic direction, managing the Hub’s operational budget and leading internal fundraising efforts for strategic projects.
• This role involves communications, representation and relationship management with technical and senior staff both internally across the entire organization, and externally with a range of partners.The post-holder is expected to travel from time-to-time for international key events, and to provide regional and country support.

Accountabilities
As program / practice Lead:

• Oversee the ongoing refinement of the ECD package (ECD narrative& Theory of Change, results and Monitoring and Evaluation [M&E] frameworks) to ensure this is aligned with the ambitions of the Global Strategy across the development and humanitarian contexts, provides optimized practical guidance for Country Offices (COs) on program M&E, and addresses any recommendations for change emerging from use, in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) team or relevant ECD experts.
• Support COs and NOs in the development, testing, adapting, and scaling of evidence-based ECD Programme and influencing models (or cross-cutting models including ECD) relevant for different contexts (development, humanitarian, protracted crisis) and ensure the communication and operationalization of Plan’s ECD resources across the Federation.
• Ensure countries are supported - where needed - to adopt, adapt and utilize existing guidance, resources and tools for gender-transformative, conflict-sensitive ECD work across all settings, and support the inclusion of ECD in country strategy development
• Deliver and enable targeted technical support to COs, and oversee learning and knowledge management processes to strengthen ECD program quality and promote good practice across the Organization.
• Working with the MERL team to ensure that data is collated and analysed at least annually to identify trends in ECD programming and influencing outcomes, impact and funding; and advance priority research and evaluation topics with external and internal partners to address key practice and knowledge gaps related to ECD
• Sustain and further strengthen the network of strategic partners and allies to strengthen Plan’s ECD programme impact and influencing; and provide demand-based support for strategic business development opportunities.
• Facilitate and undertake external representation and speaking roles at external events, if neededand showcase evidence and narrative around Plan’s ECD work via partnerships, networks and other relevant platforms.

As Hub Lead:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership of the Hub, reporting to the Director of GTPP and the Hub’s Steering Group.
• As a member of the GTPP leadership team, ensure alignment and integration with other hubs and cross-cutting themes, including WASH, Health, Food security, Protection, DRM, to advance the over-arching priorities set out in the Global Strategy and address the needs and rights of the ‘whole girl’ in a holistic way – influencing internally to ensure increased understanding of the continued importance of ECD work for Plan’s global priorities.
• Line manage and performance manage Hub colleagues, ensuring projects and activities are planned, delivered and budgeted effectively within the Hub.
• Oversee the development of the Hub annual plan and budget, and lead and manage projects from inception to completion to ensure achievement of required delivery standards and outcomes.
• Maintain and further strengthen the relationships with internal stakeholders - particularly steering group members (including Hub funders),and the GH DRM/MERL/Innovation and Funding Strategy teams, to identify and deliver solutions that benefit all and ensure continued support for ECD.

For both:

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility.
• This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

Key Relationships:

• GTPP: Director, Coordinator, Hub Leads and Program Leads (including Knowledge Management)
• ECD Hub: staff, Steering Group, core group and regional focal persons
• Other Hubs and relevant technical networks
• GlobalHumanitarian team (including Education in Emergencies), MERL, Innovation, Funding Strategy, Finance
• Management and Programme leads in National Organizations (NOs), COs and Regional Hubs
• Partners/allies in ECD sector
• Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

• An Undergraduate or Postgraduate Degree or equivalent experience in ECD, Public Health, Nutrition, Education, Pedagogy, Human Rights, Political Science, Social Science, Gender Studies, International Development, or another specific field relevant to Plan International’s work.
• Considerable experience and expertise in ECD programming and influencing, preferably within both development and humanitarian settings or protracted crisis settings.Particularly knowledge and experience within parenting/caregiving, community-based early learning, maternal and child health and nutrition, WASH as well as a child protection, gender and inclusion focus.
• Knowledge and understanding of gender-transformative and inclusive programming and influencing approaches, and how these might be practically applied in the area of ECD.
• Proven experience in international work environments and intercultural communication, including an understanding of NGO structures, the girls and women’s equality movement and the UN human rights and humanitarian system.
• Experience of successful resource mobilization, donor representation and growing the portfolio in ECD or closely related areas.
• Motivating, engaging, and inclusive driver who fosters team spirit and community of practice around ECD across the whole Federation.
• Direct work experience in countries where Plan International operates, in one or more low- and middle-income country contexts.
• Significant experience in programme and influence design, monitoring & evaluation, learning and knowledge management.
• Structured and strong organizational, , and planning skills, including budgeting, to balance multiple activities and projects.
• Strong initiative with the ability to work independently and solve problems with limited supervision.
• Attention to detail as well as an ability to take a big-picture perspective.
• Ability to adjust approaches, communication style and behaviour to work effectively across cultures and with diverse stakeholders and communities.
• Collaborative work style and eagerness to continually learn and grow.
• Excellent command of English, both speaking and writing.
• For Hub Lead: Experience of leading and managing in a matrix environment, including managing remotely.

Desirable:

• Ability to work in French and / or Spanish.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more Information (DOC)