Deputy Team Leader at Mott MacDonald

Mott MacDonald - DEEPEN is a five-year UK government-funded programme working since 2013 to improve the quality of education in private schools in Nigeria.

The programme will support low-cost schools in particular and is initially focused on the private school market in Lagos.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Deputy Team Leader

Job Ref: 21628BR
Location: Lagos
Job Category: Education

Job Profile

• The Deputy Team Leader will support the Team Leader to oversee the general programme implementation, direction and reporting.
• S/he will assist the programme delivery in accordance with DFID requirements, including value for money, develop strategies and direction for future interventions and manage key technical work streams

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• The Deputy Team Leader will have responsibility for overseeing the four key work streams and technical delivery of the programme.
• Specifically, the Deputy Team Leader will:
• Liaise regularly with DFID (and to an extent other stakeholders including the Lagos State Government and the Education Data, Research and Evaluation in Nigeria (EDOREN) programme) to maintain a clear vision and dialogue on where, when and how DEEPEN should focus its effort;
• Lead, line-manage and support the four Intervention Leaders to achieve the overall DEEPEN goal of creating an enabling environment for private schools, particularly those that educate poor children, and identify and maximise synergies between the work streams;
• Ensure that programme interventions are aligned with and governed by the guiding principles of gender, poverty, sustainability, doing no harm, and value for money, and in particular that interventions target in particular girls and children from the poorest households;
• Oversee and quality assure the technical work of the Intervention Leaders and lead specialists;
• Update DFID on a regular basis, prepare quarterly and annual reports, and respond to DFID’s other programme-related requests and queries within the agreed timeframe and to the required quality;
• Oversee the budgeting of all technical activities to maximise the accuracy of financial forecasting to DFID and work with the Finance Officer to ensure correct details on the internal Mott MacDonald financial management system;
• Provide periodic and strategic input on the quality of measurement, research, monitoring, evaluation and learning on the programme, a vital component given the experimental nature of the programme and its potential lessons for a wider audience;
• Review and quality assure external communications, upholding the brand of DEEPEN and Cambridge Education;
• Build strategic alliances with partners and key stakeholders, representing DEEPEN at events and conferences as required;
• Monitor the planning and management of DEEPEN activities, including financial expenditure and the preparation of costed work plans and terms of reference;
• Oversee the inputs of external technical advisers and specialists (for example, consultants and researchers);
• Maximise effectiveness, efficiency and economy in all programme activities to attain aims;
• Ensure regular communication and knowledge sharing with key stakeholders;
• Support the Team Leader to ensure that innovative approaches are embedded in DEEPEN strategy and delivery;
• Promote and monitor work ethics, good governance and anti-corruption behaviour;
• Maintain regular communications with the Project Director, particularly related to progress against time, budget and quality aspirations and DFID satisfaction;
• Provide support during programme annual reviews, contract performance reviews and/or audits;
• Conduct any further activities as required by the Team Leader or Project Director

Candidate Specification
Competencies, Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Required:

• Post-graduate degree in educational planning or other relevant field.
• Ability to build relationships with key stakeholders.
• Proven track record of managing teams and projects in developing countries.
• Excellent planning, reporting and risk management skills.
• Skills in analysing and interpreting evidence and educational data.
• Effective people, team and project management (including budgeting) skills.
• Fluent in English (spoken, reading and writing) with excellent writing skills.
• Good organisational and communication skills.
• Experience working on education projects or programmes.

Desirable:

• Experience working with private education and/or low-cost private schools.
• Experience working in an M4P or private sector development programme.
• Experience of educational research.
• Experience living and working in Nigeria.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams in projects or programmes with components of social development and/or poverty reduction.
• Experience working with donor agencies (specifically DFID).

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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