Project Director/ Team Leader/ Chief of Party, Education Development, Worldwide
RTI International is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 4000 provide research and technical services to governments and businesses in more than 75 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory testing and chemical analysis.
RTI's International Education Division is supporting education development around the world by strengthening education policy, management and practice in order to achieve measurable improvement in teaching and learning. From our well-established reputation in education system strengthening, to innovative work in early grade learning assessments and teaching and learning programmatic interventions, RTI is improving education quality, relevance and efficiency through implementation of projects funded by USAID, DFID, DFAT and other donors and clients. RTI’s current portfolio of international education projects includes countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The International Education Division is currently accepting applications for Project Directors / Team Leaders/ Chiefs of Party for upcoming DFID and USAID-funded education development projects. The role of the Project Director/ Team Leader/ Chief of Party will be to provide overall technical and administrative leadership and expertise, and serve as the primary liaison with the donor on management and technical matters. S/he will maintain excellent working relationships with the client and ensure their agreement with the project's strategy, plans, and resource requirements.S/he will also be responsible for overall project performance, management, and execution and ensure quality and timeliness of project deliverables within budget and compliance parameters. The Project Director/Team Leader/Chief of Party will take a leadership role in coordination with the donor and key stakeholders, including the host country Ministry of Education and other implementing organizations.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Manage technical and administrative personnel and subcontractors in the implementation of a large, complex education development project.
- Ensure that all activities meet or exceed project requirements, including cost, schedule and quality parameters.
- Serve as primary liaison with the donor on management, technical and strategic aspects of projects to maximize efficiency and impact, minimize costs and achieve sustainable results.
- Lead the coordination of project activities with a diverse group of stakeholders and beneficiaries, including ministries of education, regional and/or local education offices, school administrators and managers, teachers, civil society, and other program partners.
- Ensure internal integration of project activities through 1) an annual work plan and budgeting process, 2) creating/maintaining an effective project management team, 3) overseeing an effective monitoring and evaluation system.
- Provide leadership and oversight for areas such as finance, operations, human resources, reporting, and communications.
- Develop and implement practices to ensure a high level of staff morale and retention.
- Lead the preparation of all project progress reports with an emphasis on strong analytical content. Provide briefings to funding donor as requested.
Requirements:
- Postgraduate degree in education or a related field from an accredited university.
- 10-15 years of experience in relevant management, supervisory, technical experience working on large donor-funded education projects.
- Previous experience successfully working as a Team Leader/ Project Director on DFID-funded education sector projects is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in relevant technical fields such as early grade reading, education policy, planning, curriculum development, and/or teacher professional development.
- Demonstrated experience in project design, policy dialogue, strategic planning and implementation, education reform and institutional capacity development.
- Prior experience working in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia or the Middle East.
- Must be diplomatic and politically savvy, as s/he will interact with host country government institutions and senior-level officials.
- Demonstrated ability to work in complex environments, work across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver project outcomes within agreed timelines.
- Excellent representational and verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent report writing skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability.
- Fluency in English is required.
To Apply:
If you would like to be considered for future opportunities as a Project Director/ Team Leader/ Chief of Party on a donor-funded education development project with RTI International in Africa, Asia, or MENA, please submit your resume to the following link: www.rti.org/job16991. Compensation and allowance packages are commensurate with experience and post location. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short listed applicants will be contacted.
RTI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
