The overall purpose of this role is to lead and manage an EU supported project entitled ‘Enhancing School Readiness through Inclusive Quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)’ to increase access to quality ECCE for children in crisis situations, enhance their school readiness and reducee dropout rates in primary education in conflict affected areas.

He/she ensures that program quality is maintained within the entire project cycle and that all field program implementation is undertaken efficiently and effectively by putting in place all M&E requirements and incorporating cross cutting issues of Gender Equality.

Dimensions of the Role

The ECCE project manager will be reporting to the Head of Program Operations and responsible and ultimately accountable for the strategic direction and planning, quality programming and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, team leadership and stakeholder and partner relations. The post holder will be based in Plan International Ethiopia Country Office in Addis Ababa, but travels to project locations in Amhara, Afar and Tigray regions for approximately 50% of her/his time.

Accountabilities

The post holder has responsibilities for the overall delivery of the ECCE project to support  the provision of safe and conducive pre-primary school environment for 4 to 6 old girls and boys that enhances their well-being, provides them stability, structure, and hope, promotes the children’s, especially girls’, right to play and education, and thus improves their school readiness. The post holder oversees the overall performance of the project and collaboratively works with key stakeholders and government departments. She/he has the responsibility of working with various regional and local government offices of Education, Finance, and Women Children and Youth Affairs. S/he will provide a hands-on support to staff who will be directly implementing the project. The following are key responsibilities:

Individual development

• Lead high quality, result oriented program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting in compliance with donor, government and partnership agreements related to the project.

• Follow a management system and processes consistent with program quality needs and donor requirements.

• Ensure proper implementation of the assigned project as per the agreed work plan.

• Serve as a budget holder for the project, oversee and support the budgeting (submission of budget revisions), expenditure tracking and all aspects of financial management of the programme.

• Facilitate signing of agreement with Regional Governments.

• Provide technical and administrative support for partners (where relevant) to ensure smooth implementation of project activities and utilization of budget.

• Ensure programme strategies in Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI), and Child Protection, are responsive to the context, implemented consistently across all project activities and adhere to the best practices in the relevant sectors.

• Lead donor engagement endeavors at country level,

Organizational development

• Foster strong collaboration and coordination with implementing partners,   key stakeholders, and government departments through open and transparent communication, agreements on roles and responsibilities and joint planning and review sessions. 

• Lead and manage a team of professionals in the Country Office, Amhara, Afar, and Tigray to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity and teamwork. Work closely with other sectors to explore greater linkages between ECCE and other related programs.

• Support ECCE strategies to ensure that there is standard and acceptable program implementation in the target communities.

• Provide capacity building, guidance, and train project staff, targeted community, and partner staff, to improve the effectiveness of performance management, high-quality performance and learnings.

• Lead the development and implementation of the activities related to organizational development.

• Ensure the development of resource mobilization strategies to support the cause of ECCE; prepare concept notes and proposals to secure additional funding for the project.

• Prepare and submit quality reports to donor and government counterparts.

Learning

• Identify areas of promising practices in terms of organizational strength and organize forums to share experiences.

• Introduce innovative practices for Early Childhood Care and Education development.  

• Provide input into donor reports, including supporting ECCE to document experiences and outcomes.

• Represent PIE in external meetings, on external communications, and advocacy platforms.

Internal collaboration

• Work in close collaboration with the MEAL and thematic project specialists to plan for areas of Education and fill gaps.

• Work creatively to support Programme Units’ staffs and sector thematic leads in the CO in demonstrating effective learning and capacity development system.

• Collaborate with technical programme specialists in the country and with PI National Offices (when required).

• Collaborate with other functions (finance, Child Protection, grant compliance and gender) to ensure that Programme Quality standards and processes integrated across functions.

• Mainstream child Protection in the program area as well as observe the Child Protection Policy and be vigilant to report all child protection concerns.

• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Child Protection (CP) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 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 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.

Dealing with Problems

This position requires a very high degree of conceptual, analytical and deductive thinking. It requires ability to investigate into and solve complex problems that the organization focuses on. The position requires an objective, integrated and multidisciplinary approach to programming. The position holder requires a clear understanding of the policies, procedures, strategic direction of PIE and the ability to conceptualize the existing interrelationships, organizational working environment and other prevailing conditions. ECCE is such a complex project the post holder must be able to cope up with and address all capacity development related problems that may arise in the course of project implementation.

Job Requirements

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

• Master of Arts degree in education and related fields (Curriculum Studies, Educational Psychology, Educational Planning and Management, social work, sociology, and other related fields of studies).

• Minimum of 5 years of substantial experience in leading the development, management and implementation of projects related to early childhood care and education including in emergency/ fragile contexts.

• Excellent English language proficiency - written and verbal.

• Technical experience and knowledge in the area of early childhood care and education interventions, including leading emergency projects, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the projects.

• Progressive experience of working for INGOs and with local NGOs and partners in the implementation of programmes and support in institutional development.

• Strong understanding of gender equality and inclusion, and child protection (including in emergency contexts).

• Technical experience in the budget management of multi-million grants/ grant portfolios.

• Demonstrated ability to be creative and innovative.

• Experience in managing EU projects

Strategic

• Promote programmatic approaches to protection mainstreaming, gender sensitivity, and inclusivity

• Promote the participation and influence of children and youth in Plan’s programming

• Ensure comprehensive programmatic integration and coherence of all project activities

• Liaise and collaborate with relevant local and national authorities and stakeholders

• Represent Plan International at field and national level coordination meetings as requested

Finance, logistics & HR

• Lead project cycle management related processes for allocated projects

• Develop, monitor, and regularly review detailed implementation plans

• Develop and monitor individual work plans for senior project staff

• Conduct monthly financial reviews and update financial forecasts accordingly

• Lead procurement planning and support programmatic procurement processes

• Engage in proactive workforce planning in coordination with the HR department

• Actively contribute to and support the capacity building of project staff

Compliance

• Ensure compliance and adherence to Plan policies, guidance and procedures

• Ensure compliance and adherence to donor regulations, including visibility requirements

• Ensure the appropriate documentation of all programmatic project documents

• Lead donor and internal reporting, including analysis of M&E data, for allocated projects

Programme quality

• Lead periodic and systematic reviews of holistic programme quality in addition to project M&E

• Develop a strong knowledge foundation for evidence-based programming

• Conduct regular field-level observation and conduct regular programmatic spot checks

• Support operationalization of the M&E framework, tracking indicators, assessments, and field monitoring

• Work with technical specialists and other relevant staff to improve the quality of programmes

• Identify issues with knowledge and information management, and provide recommendations for improvement

Project development

• Conduct and share regular assessments and in-depth context analyses in areas of implementation

• Work with relevant staff to develop and improve programme response strategies

• Contribute to proposal development and support the development of budgets, log frames, and work plans

Skills specific to the post

• Excellent conceptual and strategic thinking skills,

• Strong analytical skills and high attention to details,

• Negotiation and influencing skills,

• Excellent writing and editing skills,

• Strong team building and motivational skills,

• Strong organizational and project management skills, and ability to deliver within tight deadlines,

• Working with wider range of community groups and partnership with local partner organization,

• Establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures,

• Knowledge of compliance requirements of the Department, and

• An understanding of and commitment to the aims and values of Plan.

How to Apply

Register using the following LINK

Note: Female candidates are highly encouraged to Apply