Job Title: Quality of Education Program Manager, Food for Education, Sierra Leone, Kabala
Requisition Number: I2676
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Sierra Leone, Kabala
Reports to: Chief of Party
Start Date:1st December 2015
Requisition Number: I2676
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Sierra Leone, Kabala
Reports to: Chief of Party
Start Date:1st December 2015
Please note: this position is contingent on donor funding.
About CRS: Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Since 2012, CRS Sierra Leone in line with the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to support basic education for all, has been implementing the Food for Education (FFE) program -
”All Pikin for Learn”. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); “All Pikin for Learn” is an integrated education program -with school feeding and literacy as major components- designed to improve the quality and relevance of education, encourage complete cycle of primary education for vulnerable and marginalized children, especially girls; and increase community involvement in education.
”All Pikin for Learn”. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); “All Pikin for Learn” is an integrated education program -with school feeding and literacy as major components- designed to improve the quality and relevance of education, encourage complete cycle of primary education for vulnerable and marginalized children, especially girls; and increase community involvement in education.
The three-year program implemented in five vulnerable chiefdoms of Koinadugu District namely; Sulima, Mongo, Neini, Neya and Dembelia Sinkunia started in October 2012 and is benefitting nearly 30,000 pupils in 192 primary schools. The program is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology together with local and international partners.
CRS is poised to receive additional funding for three more years of implementation starting November 2015 and is seeking a Quality of Education Manager to be based in the Koinadugu district headquarter town of Kabala in the north of Sierra Leone.
JOB SUMMARY
The Quality of Education Manager Food for Education will take the lead in the design and implementation, monitoring and reporting of all training related activities of the FFE project either implemented directly by CRS or in collaboration with partners.
The Quality of Education Manager is expected to spend at least 50% of his or her time in the field working with literacy coaches, teachers, SMC members and School Supervisors of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEST) Koinadugu office.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Capacity and Innovation
• Work with all FFE staff based in Kabala to undertake a training needs assessment of Community Teachers, Literacy Coaches old and new SMCs and Head teacher
• Support the head Literacy Coach and other senior FFE staff to plan and execute all the FFE trainings
• Identify teacher training needs and liaise with the Northern Polytechnic for selected teachers to be registered in the distance education program
• Challenge Literacy Coaches and teachers to come up with creative ways of engaging early learners to appreciate prints as they begin to read and write.
• Support the head Literacy Coach and other senior FFE staff to plan and execute all the FFE trainings
• Identify teacher training needs and liaise with the Northern Polytechnic for selected teachers to be registered in the distance education program
• Challenge Literacy Coaches and teachers to come up with creative ways of engaging early learners to appreciate prints as they begin to read and write.
Literacy Promotion
• Work with the Executive Secretary of the Basic Education Secretariat of MEST, the Association of Language and Literacy Educators (TALLE), and other INGOs implementing early grade literacy interventions to develop a hybrid of early grade literacy instructional materials for the program.
• Facilitate the training of Literacy Coaches in the use and roll out of the hybrid early grade literacy instructional materials.
• Work with the Literacy Coaches to ensure that every teacher in the early grade classes spend up to 45 minutes daily for reading instruction.
• Play an integral part in the design and structure of the reading assessments at baseline, mid-term and final evaluations.
• Facilitate the training of Literacy Coaches in the use and roll out of the hybrid early grade literacy instructional materials.
• Work with the Literacy Coaches to ensure that every teacher in the early grade classes spend up to 45 minutes daily for reading instruction.
• Play an integral part in the design and structure of the reading assessments at baseline, mid-term and final evaluations.
Partnership Management
• Manage the relationship with the International Literacy Association (ILA), as they undertake Diagnostic Teaching Method (DTM) and other interventions in the Scope of Work.
• Collaborate with experts of the ILA when they travel to Sierra Leone to undertake DTM and other effective literacy teaching technique sessions.
• Manage the relationship with the Northern Polytechnic as they undertake distance education of untrained project community teachers
• Develop and maintain effective and mutually beneficial relationships with other key education stakeholders.
• Collaborate with experts of the ILA when they travel to Sierra Leone to undertake DTM and other effective literacy teaching technique sessions.
• Manage the relationship with the Northern Polytechnic as they undertake distance education of untrained project community teachers
• Develop and maintain effective and mutually beneficial relationships with other key education stakeholders.
Learning, Documenting and Reporting
• Together with the MEAL Coordinator, organize learning to action sessions on a quarterly basis.
• Document, report and share lessons learned from program implementation.
• Play an integral role in preparing reports of all training activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of bi-annual reports to be submitted to the USDA via the office of the Chief of Party.
• Document, report and share lessons learned from program implementation.
• Play an integral role in preparing reports of all training activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of bi-annual reports to be submitted to the USDA via the office of the Chief of Party.
Representation
• Maintain effective working relationships with NGOs, WFP, local authorities, implementing partners and other civil society players
Agency-Wide Competencies (For All CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Key Working Relationships
Internal: Work with Program Officers, Program Manager, Area Manager and other CRS staff
External: Partner NGOs, Teachers, Pupils, SMCs, Northern Polytechnic (Makeni) and other school stakeholders.
External: Partner NGOs, Teachers, Pupils, SMCs, Northern Polytechnic (Makeni) and other school stakeholders.
Supervisory Responsibility
• Literacy Coaches
• Literacy Coaches
Qualifications & Experience
• Minimum Master's degree in Education or equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years field work with an INGO
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Computer literate in word and excel
• Ability and willingness live in and travel to remote areas
• Ability to work under pressure, handles multiple tasks, and meets deadlines
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
• Minimum of 3 years field work with an INGO
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills
• Computer literate in word and excel
• Ability and willingness live in and travel to remote areas
• Ability to work under pressure, handles multiple tasks, and meets deadlines
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
EOE
HOW TO APPLY:
For fastest consideration, please create an online profile to apply.
