Education Technical Advisor

WCUK is recruiting an Education Technical Advisor to bring technical expertise and input to its current and planned programmes in Iraq. Currently, WCUK is running an informal education project in Ninewa Governorate in Iraq, and over the coming months the programme will significantly expand its education programming in other locations. 

The Education Technical Advisor will support the development and delivery of War Child UK’s education programme, provide strategic input in clusters and design education projects relevant to the context in KRI and Iraq in general. This will include Education in Emergencies but not limited to it. Leading WCUK’s engagement with the Ministry of Education at different levels and the relevant coordination forums, the Advisor will position War Child UK in Iraq to be seen as a strategic partner in improving access and quality of education for children in Iraq. The Advisor will split their time between the various educational programmes in Iraq, ensuring high quality technical input at all stages of the programme cycle.

Technical input, content development and training (50%)

• Identify needs and provide technical assistance and training to Project Officers, field staff and partners in the preparation, roll-out and implementation of education-focused programmes.
• Work with Ministry of Education and other technical partners involved in the education programme.
• Review, revise and update existing Learning Support materials ahead of future implementation.
• Provide on-going technical advice to all Education programmatic technical staff and local partners when required.
• Ensure proactive technical coordination and collaboration among implementing partners;
• Train project and partner staff on education methodologies, best practices and relevant standards related to education programme delivery.
• Oversee the quality of the programme activities, through technical support extended to service delivery.

Result: War Child UK education programmes in Iraq are of high quality and implemented by competent and well trained staff.

External representation and liaison (25%)

• Ensure technical buy-in and support from all stakeholders including the Ministry of Education at different levels in collaboration with WCUK Iraq, WCUK teams in London, WCH global teams and EIE network.
• Ensure effective collaboration with the DNGO office, which oversees all NGO implemented programmes in Iraq, including inputting technical details into reports and information requested.
• Identify important education focused findings and results and share these widely on a regular basis.
• Represent the organisation in relevant (inter)national events, networks and sector groups related to education.
• Regularly attend the Education Cluster meetings and other sub-groups meetings to ensure close coordination with other (I)NGOs and actors. Present key programmes and findings in the relevant forums on a periodic basis.

• Engage in technical discussions with MOE in Iraq and ensure continual Ministry buy-in to War Child UK programmes.

Results: Various stakeholders and partners are actively and positively engaged with the projects and programme and contribute to deliver the best results possible;

Monitoring, Reporting and Learning (15%)

• Work closely with the national Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) team to ensure coherence between M&E approaches to successfully monitor educational outcomes, outputs and overall impact.
• Advise and assist Project Officers and PMs on matters related to partner compliance in technical programming.
• Prepare and review narrative reports for education technical content and education programmes.
• Collaborate with War Child UK's London-based global Child Protection, Education-in-Emergencies and MEAL Advisors and Officers to ensure coherence of technical quality and adherence to international standards.
• Support beneficiary accountability through complaints and feedback mechanisms
• Develop ToR and conduct education programme evaluation.
• Support learning from assessments and evaluations by developing learning papers through and sharing lessons learned and best practices from programmatic interventions to improve quality,
• Increase awareness and support replication, sustainability, and expansion of project successes.

Result:Findings and (sub) results of the Programme are shared and used for learning purposes both in War Child as well as in the educational sector.

Programme Development and Continual Improvement(10%)

• As required, identify and lead the technical design of new programme opportunities in close collaboration with the Programme Managers and relevant support staff in HQ.
• Work closely with relevant colleagues in the programme development process including consultation with stakeholders and conducting needs assessment.
• Design and develop quality project proposals and concept notes at short notice

Result: Timely and appropriate funding sources are secured to cover longer term upscaling ambitions of education programmes in Iraq.

War Child’s office is a lively and fast-paced environment made up of a team of extremely dedicated staff & outreach workers. We’re looking for someone who can fit in well and bring their creativity, dedication, professionalism and a positive attitude to the team and organisation in general.

Experience:

• University degree in disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education, Education in Emergencies, Social Sciences, or a field(s) relevant to international development assistance.
• Expertise in areas such as Ed-tech/e-learning, teacher training, curriculum and/or educational materials development, educational management, and educational monitoring and information systems; technical knowledge in PSS/life skills is an asset.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.
• Basic knowledge of Arabic / Kurdish language will be an added value.
• If the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources may substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.

• Several years of technical experience implementing or advising on Emergencies in Education and basic education projects in contexts similar to Iraq or Middle East.
• Previous employment or extensive collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Education, national education partners and networks is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated teaching and training design and delivery experience required, based on INEE and other international standards. 

Key Competencies:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, particularly mentoring skills with a diverse team;Project and budget design experience.
• Strong writing and demonstrated critical thinking skills;
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to collaborate and form effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven sound judgement, decision-making and problem solving skills with a can-do, results driven approach to work.
• Flexibility to change and create for continuous improvement and to contribute towards a culture of innovation along with knowledge impact.
• Positively receive feedback for performance improvement/ or inputs for improving programme design.

• Monitoring and evaluation skills and experience;
• Computer skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook);

 Desirables

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience working in education programming, specifically in Iraq;
• Familiarity with International Education in Emergencies Standards, such as the INEE Standards and Child Protection Minimum Standards.

Working Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)

Probation: 3 months

Start date: ASAP

Travel: Within Iraq as required, occasional visits to the region and UK

Salary: Grade 5 (£31,158 to £35,020), negotiable/based on relevant experience. Plus, in-country allowance of 40 USD (Per Diem/Daily living allowance) when in country of post).

Leave: 30 days p.a. pro-rata

Benefits: As per War Child Terms and Conditions: Rest & Recuperation, Accommodation, Emergency Travel & Medical Insurance etc.

• Download the War Child Application Form or request it from recruitment@warchild.org.uk. The completed Application Form must reach War Child at recruitment@warchild.org.uk by 18 December 2016.
• Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis due to the urgency to fill the post. Due to limited resources, War Child HR will only contact the shortlisted candidates.
• First stage interviews will be held on week commencing 5th January, 2017.
• Any offer made post the second interview will be conditional on receipt of 3 favourable written references, (from your most recent/current employer, any other previous employer and a character reference). War Child reserves the right to call the referees, in case clarification is required post the receipt of complete reference forms.
• The successful applicant will be expected to undergo a police check from a country of permanent residence, a medical check, be compliant and sign up to War Child’s Child Safeguarding Policy prior to a final offer being made.

WCUK is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates’ backgrounds to apply.