Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC) Program Director

Job Description

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

Following a major transition, our international programmes are now delivered through a merged operation with 14,000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We’re changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Contract length: Fixed Term- 2 years

The Role

The Myanmar Education Consortium is a national program designed in view of the rapidly evolving changes occurring in the education sector and the overall country context. The MEC has been formed to build on the skills and existing work of a diverse range of civil society agencies (international and national) to address the overwhelming basic education needs in Myanmar. The MEC will support the building of capacity of complementary (non-government) education systems and structures including community and school based early childhood development, non-formal education programs for vulnerable children and young people who cannot attend government schools. The program, now in its second year, will be implemented through a four year+ phased approach. To date, the MEC has established a trust fund mechanism to support local education stakeholders and seeks to continue to inform policy and strategic debate in education reforms in Myanmar.

The Myanmar Education consortium Director will bear overall responsibility for the leadership, oversight and management of the Myanmar Education consortium and the grants from donors that contribute to the Myanmar Education consortium program (currently DFAT, DFID and DANIDA). The Programme Director is accountable for ensuring high quality performance of the MEC team and achievement of all targets. The director is also responsible for key representation before host government representatives, donors, partner agencies, local institutions and the media. The MEC has been designed as a US 40+ million with a current staff of 20.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Master Degree in relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least 10 years experience in developing countries, or on social development programmes, preferably in an NGO environment
• Demonstrable understanding and experience of working with civil society and of organizational development (ideally with local NGOs), ideally on education programmes
• Previous experience as a team leader managing large aid programs in the region
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills in a complex international setting with proven track record of people and team management and development, with a proven ability to forge consensus and drive action.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to lead, manage and work effectively within a team environment and across departments.
• Experience in successfully establishing and managing collaborative relationships and partnerships with donors and government counterparts.
• Significant experience leading strategic planning and programme design
• Strong representation and influencing skills
• Excellent English written and oral skills, with the ability to communicate with a range of audiences
• Ability to effectively establish a learning culture within an organisation
• Highly developed cultural awareness and the ability to work well in an international organisation, with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Proven ability to draw up and manage an annual budget and work within budgetary constraints, ensuring best use of resources at all times.
• A commitment to children’s rights and Save the Children’s values.

Please apply in English using your CV and covering letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role.

For more information and to apply online please click the apply now button or send your detailed CV (quoting MEC/DEVEX) and covering letter to South East and Eastern Asia Recruitment scijobssea@savethechildren.org by the 24th October 2014.

We welcome applicants from both the non-profit and for profit sectors. Interviews will be held in the first week of November.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

More information