Deputy Education Coordinator -Readvertised at IRC | June 2024

Background/IRC Summary:

 Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to serious humanitarian crises around the world and helps victims to survive and rebuild their lives.

For over half a century, Tanzania has been a country of asylum, hosting one of the largest refugee populations in Africa.  Currently, the country hosts approximately 287,903 Burundian and Congolese refugees, many of whom arrived in 2015 as the crisis in Burundi increased. To date, refugees continue to co-exist with the host communities in Kigoma region expressing multiple reasons and needs. Within this context, IRC provides protection and basic assistance in the areas of Safety (comprises of Protection and Rule of Law, Women Protection and Empowerment, and Child Protection), Health (mental health and psychosocial support services and reproductive health), and Education.

 Job Overview: 

The IRC has been providing education services for Congolese and Burundian girls and boys in the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp since January 2014 and extended education services to Nduta in 2020. Services cover the full education spectrum from pre-school, through primary and secondary school, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and tertiary education applications. Schools follow the country-of-origin national curriculum (Burundian and Congolese).

The IRC is seeking a committed and motivated Deputy Education Coordinator, to lead the implementation of quality education programmes across the Kigoma region. The Deputy Education Coordinator is expected to provide leadership, management, and coordination of high-quality education activities in Nyarugusu, and Nduta, ensuring community and government engagement throughout. The post holder will lead timely implementation of education activities, relating to education quality and improvement, curriculum development, and assessment, within agreed work plans and budgets. The Deputy Education Coordinator will be responsible for directly supervising the education managers, building their capacity in education quality, improvement, curriculum development and implementation, assessment (including examinations), and project management and reporting. The post holder will ensure effective coordination and communication with external stakeholders, including government representatives.

This position will report to the Education Coordinator

The Deputy Education Coordinator will be responsible for:

Program Management and Implementation

• Lead implementation of IRC education programs, including development of detailed implementation, procurement, and spending plans and follow-up on progress.
• Oversight of school curriculum implementation, assessment, and examinations and day to day school management and running.
• Lead implementation of national examinations, in partnership with UNHCR and government representatives.
•  Effective coordination and leadership to improve the quality of education through teacher training and ongoing support programmes.
• Ensure strong school management and leadership systems are in place.
• Conduct regular meetings with project staff and community members to assess progress toward objectives, discuss issues and assist in finding solutions to challenges identified.
• Review project budget spending and closely track progress and address any challenges and project monthly expenditure.
• Regular communication and coordination with Education Coordinator on technical and project management issues.
• Lead in the compilation of donor reports and periodic updates as needed.
• Closely coordinate with relevant IRC departments (SC, Grants, Finance and HR) to ensure smooth implementation of all education projects.
• Assess and respond to capacity building needs of all direct reports and the wider education team (education officer and M&E team), including incentive refugee staff.

Representation & Partnership

• Support the Education Coordinator, when necessary, in representing IRC in sector coordination meetings and interagency activities and promote IRC’s leadership in education programs.
• Lead implementation of interagency assessments.
• Program Management and contribute to Business Development
• Participate in program design and the development of new proposals in line with the Strategic Action Plan and Outcomes and Evidence Framework.
• Compile learning from project implementation to inform the design of future programs.
• Support budget development and activity plans for new proposals and concept papers.
• Lead the development of communication materials highlighting the achievement of IRC and the impact it brings to the people served by IRC projects.

HR Management

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being; approve and manage all leave requests to ensure adequate coverage.
• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by staff to IRC’s Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures and the IRC way.
• Report any violations of the IRC Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, The IRC Way, and Child Safeguarding Policy (TZ specific and global), as per the IRC Tanzania reporting mechanism.
• Participate in recruiting, training, and mentorship of camp-based staff.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to and works closely with: Education Coordinator

Position directly supervises:  Education Project Managers

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

This position also works closely with the Education TA, Playmatters and Shule Bora Technical Leads, MEL, Finance and grants.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher qualification (master’s degree) from an accredited university in education, development, social work.
• A minimum of five years of relevant, progressively responsible, professional experience in managing technical implementation of education programmes in a complex humanitarian or development context.
• Prior experience working in Education with refugees, preferably in a camp setting and rural communities preferred.
• Demonstrable understanding of the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
• Capacity to plan and manage effective and creative education inclusive responses in both immediate and longer-term contexts.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to develop relations with diverse teams, government (DRS-MOHA) and MOEST, UNHCR and other donors, Education Working Group, and other partners.
• Ability to summarize and communicate key findings for management decision-making.
• Ability to work independently while seeking the support and decision-making input of senior management.
• Ability to work effectively in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Proficiency in facilitating training and meetings.
• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to challenges.
• Highly collaborative and consultative approach to work.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• Language:  Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Swahili, effective in representation and liaison with external partners.
• Communication:  Excellent management, interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to promote harmonious

Working Environment: Security level yellow – The situation in most of the country is calm. Some parts of Kigoma region experience insecurity-highway banditry.

Partnership: The IRC is committed to working with partners as our preferred operating model and adhering to our six partnership principles: equality, complementarity, mutuality, solidarity, results orientation, and humility.

Commitment to Client Responsiveness: By committing to Client-Centered Programming, at the IRC Tanzania, we place the people we serve – our clients – at the center of our programming and services. The IRC Tanzania Staff have an important role to play in supporting the implementation of client-responsive programming through raising awareness to the community and clients about expected staff behavior, project information, the existing feedback mechanisms and how to use them including the response processes, access, and eligibility to services, and contribute to building an institutional culture that prompts staff to listen to clients and to communicate and respond to their requests, feedback, and complaints.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. 

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity.  We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal. 

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.