Education Project Manager - ECDE 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 Project Manager - ECDE

Job ID: 12779
Location: Borno
Employment Type: Contract
Grade: 3
Job Category: Programme Operations
Contract length: 1 year (renewable based on performance & funding)
Team: Programme Operations
Post type: National

Role Purpose

• With technical support from head of education and the head of program implementation the Education Project Manager will provide technical and operational support to the project team to implement all Education activities for the project. 
• The job holder will also be working closely with stakeholders at the community, LGA and State level.
• Under the guidance of the Education Sector Lead, he/she will ensure that the ECDE project adheres to safe programming and is implemented in a coordinated, harmonized and aligned manner, in line with the donor requirements and commitments.

Scope of Role

• Reports to: Directly reports to Head of Program Implementation. Indirectly reports to Head of Education.
• Staff directly reporting to this post: Education Officers.

Key Areas of Accountability
Project Management and Coordination:

• Oversees the coordination and implementation of the Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) project across the BAY States, Nigeria in line with the design of the project, SC Standards, and donor requirements.
• Establish, maintain, and strengthen linkages in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) project and contribute to assessments (baseline, end line assessment).
• Ensure accurate project documentation, including collection of monitoring data and tracking of progress on output indicators; utilize data to contribute to reports as required.
• Develop and maintain relationships with schools, communities, community leaders and parents/caregivers to ensure buy-in, sustainability and Do No Harm to the children at home and community. 
• Create and sustain positive working relationships with the partners, government officials and other key stakeholders in collaboration with Advocacy Team of SCI to work with relevant education authorities to support the review of the national policy on ECDE.
• Oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of the project activities at the States, LGAs and schools/community level and share lessons learnt, case studies and human-interest stories within SCI and externally to the partners and donors. 
• Monitor and ensure timely and quality reports are submitted as per the reporting requirements to the Education Sector Lead, Awards Focal Point and Operations Team.
• Working closely with Education Sector Lead to ensure quality program design, delivery, documentation and reporting of education activities in the respective States.

Operational Planning and implementation:

• Overseeing the implementation and budget performance in line with the approved project plans and budgets.
• In close coordination with the Education Sector Lead, provide support in developing, planning, and monitoring project detail implementation plan, procurement plan, phased budget, MEAL Plan with documentation and reporting for all Education interventions in the State.
• Ensure the project is implemented on time and within approved budget (fund summary).
• Work closely with the head of program implementation and the finance focal person to review monthly transaction list in preparation for monthly BVA and APRM meetings. 
• Recommend technical solutions to speed up the implementation and budget performance in line with the project plan and budget.
• Effectively support the projects staff in developing annual plans, in line with best practices for education project design and Save the Children International planning guidelines and ensure compliance with the agreed work plans and that program objectives and targets are being achieved in line with the funding proposal.
• Maintain high standard of safeguarding, transparency and accountability during program design and support in expediting implementation while ensuring integrity and timeliness of project duration and meeting program objectives, compliance with donors & Save the Children policies.
• Provision of regular operations and implementation updates to the Project and State Team Leads on project progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by the management.
• Ensure the timely reviews and adjustments for the project operational and implementation plan and budget as may be required from time to time. 

Finance and Narrative Reporting and Budget Management:

• Work in close collaboration with the Head of Programme Implementation and support from Head of Education to prepare and review 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 and narrative reports ensuring that donor guidelines have been followed and high standard met. 
• The project deadlines meet in reporting and keep a track record of reporting (Narrative and Financial).
• Organize, facilitate quarterly follow-ups, and progress review meetings to address key performance issues from the reports.
• Overseeing the budget performance to ensure that project implementation is on course as per the detailed implementation plan, procurement plan and phased budget. 
• Conduct project monitoring, suggest necessary revisions and prepare draft reports for corrective actions. 
•  Ensure that the budget variance analysis (BVA) is monitored and reported as per in time and with accurate information.
• Safeguarding:
• Ensure safe programming in the planning, implementation, monitoring, training of teachers and construction/rehabilitation of classroom environment across the ECDE project period.
• Adhere to the Do no Harm principles across the entire steps within the Program Management Cycle.

Internal and external engagements:

• Ensuring that the program experience 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 (LGA, State and National).
• MEAL
• Effectively support teams in MEAL aspects, which include assessments, baseline, midline, and evaluation studies, putting in place a functional Activity Tracking Table.
• Ensure that the projects’ quality benchmarks are developed, implemented, and followed up as per technical assistance of MEAL team in project interventions.
• Collecting and managing complaints and feedback in close coordination with MEAL team and Education Team.
• Ensure regular monitoring of project results, documentation of project participants data and report them on Log frame and IPTT. 
• Ensure 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:
• Working together with the Education Sector Lead to identify learning needs and develop specific plans to address the learning needs of the project staff. 
• Coaching and mentoring the project teams on the provision of technical support and implementation of quality programs.
• Participate in monthly/weekly project management meetings to enable adequate staff support.

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.
• Supporting in the development of the Detailed Implementation Plan, participating in stakeholders’ meetings, and contribute to narrative reporting in line with donor requirement.

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

• Degree in Education or other related fields (master’s degree in early childhood development and education is an advantage).
• Experience in managing integrated programs across different thematic areas such as Education, teacher education, Early Childhood Development and Education, Teacher Professional Development (TPD), Child protection, child rights or governance is a must.

Experience and Skills
Essential:

• At least 5 years of accrued working experience in program implementation with an International NGO and those applying partnership approaches is desirable. 
• Experience in strategic thinking and planning skills, being able to set priorities, prepare manageable plans and to evaluate progress.
• Experience of working on and supporting the implementation of ECDE interventions in humanitarian or development setting is an added advantage.
• Ability to coach, mentor and build the capacity of ECDE teachers in a humanitarian or development setting will be an added advantage.
• Experience of working with diverse group of stakeholders at the community, LG, State and National levels.
• Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to establish and maintain cordial 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.
• Fluent English language skills (written and verbal) and Local language skills (Hausa, etc.).

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.

Application Closing Date
21st May, 2025, 9:22 AM.

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