The Middle East and North Africa MENA - Institutional Support Services (MENA-ISS) offers staff support services for USAID regional and bilateral programs, this support is demand driven. Consequently, we receive requirements for staff support services for immediate responses.
LEVEL OF EFFORT: Full Time (preferred) 40 hours a week
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 12 months from start date, with the option of one-year extensions.
DUTY STATION: Virtual/remote, the incumbent will be expected to work during core MENA working hours which are 9:00 - 17:30 Sunday through Thursday. The position may require occasional regional travel.
BACKGROUND
The Senior Education Specialist provides technical direction and support in the planning and designing, program, project, activity management and monitoring, budget tracking, analysis, implementation and reporting for the Education program. The incumbent advises superiors on the implications of political and social developments on the education program; drafts technical documentation and analyses research to develop strategies for the portfolio. The incumbent monitors ongoing programs, and prepares performance reports, briefing papers, concept papers, and other periodic documentations.
The incumbent will be responsible to help manage donor and government engagement and provide technical leadership and program management in the areas of disability/inclusive education, non-formal education, early grade learning, access to education for conflict-affected children and youth, workforce development, as well as gender and inclusive development, particularly on girls’ access to education services.
Support Education project design efforts and funding application for new education programs or supplemental funding in accordance with Mission and Agency project design Mission Orders and requirements.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Planning/Design/Evaluation:
· The Job holder provides guidance on the requirements of policies and the content and objectives of the education strategy to ensure outcomes are consistent with the company strategy.
· Initiates project activities in accordance with the education sector strategy.
· Play a significant role in supporting strategic planning including the development of the education components of the company’s Performance Monitoring Plan and Learning Agenda.
· Draft concept papers, statements of work, procurement documents, reports, correspondence, and other documentation as required.
· Supports the Education Office and larger design team(s) in planning for new project and activity design through collaborative design processes.
· Draft and/or review various sections of key documents in collaboration with other members of the Education and design teams, along with serving as a primary point of contact for data and resource management, ensuring that design-related background documents and deliverables are appropriately organized.
· Tracks policy developments, legislative changes, technical developments in the field, etc. that affect activities and/or objectives regarding the education program and advises the Team Leader and other team members of these and of the appropriate company position regarding them.
· In coordination with the Acting Education Office Director, lead and coordinate Education team efforts to meet mission-wide reporting efforts of Agency planning and reporting processes for the Education Office, including assignment of tasks, quality control, highlighting areas of concern or improvement, and suggest adjustments as appropriate for the preparation and submission of education components to portfolio reviews, the annual Operational Plan (OP), Performance Plan and Report (PPR), Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ), Mission Resource Request (MRR), Education Agency Goal reporting, and ad hoc taskers, factsheets, success stories, social media posts, and reports.
· Participate on extended design teams for other Mission technical offices when appropriate.
· Support coordination within donor and Ministry of Education counterparts on technical coordination, project implementation, and information sharing.
· The incumbent has overall responsibility for providing technical leadership for the education team. The incumbent serves as a key member of the Education Team and will be expected to provide senior-level guidance and advice to the USAID Senior Development Advisor, as well as lead key design, management, and monitoring efforts for the education portfolio.
Staff Mentoring and Professional Development Planning:
· Provide mentoring and onboarding of new Education Team members by maintaining regular consultations with staff members as needed. Provide on the job training for activity managers in the areas of digital transformation, private sector engagement, and improving the overall quality of education portfolio.
Activity Management:
· The incumbent serves as a principal and expert advisor on education as well as manager of various projects/activities in the education portfolio for contracts/grants supporting these projects/activities.
· Advise the Acting Education Office Director and other senior Mission management on the political, economic, and social developments affecting education and educational development in X country.
· Provide technical input and leadership to company contracting representatives on day-to-day activity implementation; support work plan development and revisions; review partner progress reports and third-party monitoring reports and highlight issues/actions for contracting representative.
· Participate on regular meetings with implementing partners; provide inputs into quarterly financial review and portfolio review meetings; draft success stories and high-level bullets for weekly and monthly newsletters or ad hoc requests as needed.
· Participate in and help prepare materials for weekly Education portfolio discussions with USAID senior management, including the discussion of portfolio challenges, outreach opportunities, strategic planning processes, and design progress updates.
· Contribute to the development and review of implementation plans, annual work plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans.
· Ensure that program reports/deliverables are received and reviewed in a timely manner, monitoring them for accuracy and completeness, and providing constructive feedback to partners to improve performance.
· Analyze reports and sectoral data to identify technical and policy implications for consideration by the Education Office.
· Monitor implementing partners’ spending through their budgets. their vouchers and invoices, and progress against their annual work plans.
· Provide technical direction/guidance within the scope of the awards approved work plans, including ensuring implementing partner compliance with all award terms and conditions, and applicable Agency policies and regulations.
· Conducts site visits to monitor implementation and progress, and to identify delays or difficulties requiring resolution. Recommends authoritative solutions for the resolution of such problems, which might include compliance with requirements for the approval of site selection or require solutions for specific social, political, or cultural concerns that impact program achievements.
· Establish and maintain routine communication with the AOR/COR and Alternate, as applicable, and provide updates on award performance and activities to ensure continuity of oversight and support for projects.
· Coordinate with AORs and as needed take the lead to draft, author, edit, review, and update documentation for education activities, including the preparation of internal documents (various memoranda, spreadsheets, databases, checklists, etc.) as mandated by Mission and USAID regulations, and in support of general administrative and collaboration, learning, and adapting activities.
· Monitor the financial status of the education awards on a regular basis, including completing quarterly accruals and incremental funding actions, to ensure award compliance with Agency regulations for financial management.
· Serve as a mentor for other staff members to build their project and activity management skills, transferring management responsibilities over time.
EDUCATION, REQUIREMENTS, AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
· We are looking for experienced personnel to hire for short-term or long-term periods in the US or MENA region. Some positions are on-site, and others are remote.
· The Senior Education Advisor is open for U.S. citizens capable of being granted and maintaining a U.S. Government security clearance at the “secret” level and for non-U.S. citizen’s facility access.
· The incumbent must be willing and able to travel to the MENA region as needed for his/her position. Professional experience working in the MENA region or demonstrated ability to quickly grasp and learn a new region.
· The selected incumbent for this position will demonstrate clear evidence of knowledge of relevant technical and regional areas.
Education/Required Qualifications:
· Graduate level degree in education or 7-10 years of relevant field or equivalent experience in education program management, degree in a field related to education and/or international development, Business Administration, Business Management, liberal arts, humanities, social policy, or international relations is required. relevant advanced degree (Master’s or doctorate) in a social sciences field related to the position description.
· A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in educational development, training, education in the Middle East context, or a related area, preferably working for an international donor organization with programs fostering development of education.
· A minimum of five (5) years of progressive levels of authority and responsibility managing programs, resources, and personnel in education programming.
· A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in planning and program design, program planning and budgeting, and monitoring and evaluation of education and training activities is preferred.
· Strong technical skills, including experience in at least two of the following areas: early grade learning, non-formal education, workforce development, inclusive education, children with disabilities, increasing equitable access for out of school children and youth, access to education for conflict-affected children and youth, particularly for girls’ or children with disabilities.
· Familiarity with the Middle East development operating context
· Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, host-country counterparts, NGOs, CSOs, and/or the private sector.
· Demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, organizational, teambuilding, and representational skills.
· Excellent verbal, written interpersonal and presentation skills in English.
· Ability to coach, mentor and develop technical capacity in regional and national programs and technical staff.
· Language Proficiency: Fluent English (Level IV) reading, speaking, and writing ability is required. Arabic and French Languages would be an added asset.
Application Instructions: Please send one combined document (MS Word or PDF) that includes all the below items to: Rumph & Associates, P.C. Please be sure to label the subject line of the e-mail “Senior Education Advisor”
1. Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages)
2. Names and contact information for three (3) professional references
If you are interested in joining MENA-ISS personnel, please send us your resume and/or a friend/colleague resume to add to our team.
Whether you are American, or from the MENA region, and you feel you have the experience with USAID or US government, please send us your resume.
Rumph does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, military service, or other non-merit factor.
We foster an inclusive culture, both nationally and internationally, through equity, opportunity, and mutual respect.
Rumph and Associates, P.C. (Rumph) founded in 2007 is a minority-owned small business (headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.) Rumph is committed to providing our federal, state and local government, in addition to, private sector and nonprofit clients innovative, adaptable, quality-oriented, and cost-conscious services and integrated solutions which enable them to achieve their most desired short and long-term business goals. We produce efficient, effective and well-timed results by understanding our clients’ needs and supporting them in their efforts to obtain the most desired outcomes. We have values about our company and the way it should be run. Our values are demanding and an essential part of what we do and how we act toward our associates and our business. We believe our values are the reason behind our success and allows us to keep true to ourselves during times of growth and during challenges. http://rumphandassociates.com/
