Early Childhood Education Officer

Background: Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, governance, and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. 

Summary: Creative Associates is seeking a qualified Early Childhood Education Officer for the USAID-funded Basic Education Activity in the West Bank and Gaza (WBG). This initiative aims to enhance educational services for Palestinian children in Kindergarten (KG 1) through Grade 2, enabling them to thrive and reach their full developmental potential. Through collaboration with private sector entities, non-formal organizations, and community-based partners, the project seeks to strengthen early childhood educational opportunities and provide high-quality pre-primary education across the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Key focus areas include enhancing foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social-emotional learning, building resilience in teachers and students, and facilitating pathways between non-formal and formal education.

The Early Childhood Education Officer will support the implementation of the project activities, helping to improve the cognitive, social, and emotional development of Early Childhood Education in private and nongovernmental schools. The officer will ensure the effective delivery of high-quality preschool education by working closely with local partners, providing field support, and coordinating teacher training programs. This role requires extensive fieldwork, monitoring, and collaboration to support the successful delivery of ECE programs aligned with Creative’s vision for quality education in West Bank and East Jerusalem, and may coordinate with technical staff in Gaza, as needed.

**Please note this is a local recruitment, and only citizens from Palestine will be considered**

Reporting & Supervision:

The Early Childhood Education Officer will report directly to the IR1 (Early Childhood Education Component) Lead.

Responsibilities:

The Early Childhood Education Officer will work closely with and report to the IR1 Lead to support the implementation of activities aimed at improving the cognitive, social, and emotional development of preschoolers in private and nongovernmental schools. This includes enhancing the quality of early childhood education services and ensuring that preschool teachers meet accreditation standards. The role involves frequent field visits, coordination with project partners, and monitoring to ensure the quality implementation of project activities under IR1.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Field Monitoring and Support

• Conduct regular field visits to observe, assess, and ensure the quality of early childhood education activities implemented by project partners.
• Assessing the learning environment and its appropriateness for early childhood development.
• Identifying and sharing innovative teaching practices observed during field visits.  
• Conduct regular field visits to assess the quality of preschool education services provided by partner schools, focusing on improving cognitive, social, and emotional competencies.

• Provide on-site support to partners to ensure activities align with project objectives, quality standards, and strategic goals for early childhood education.
• Document observations, challenges, lessons learned and best practices during field visits, sharing insights with the IR1 Lead and team for continuous improvement.
• Observe and evaluate teachers’ and CBOs’ ongoing performance in delivering early childhood education activities.
• Ensure that all assessments, follow-ups, and weekly progress reports are completed in a timely manner.

Implementation Tracking and Reporting

• Follow up on the progress of early childhood education activities against project timelines and deliverables, ensuring effective implementation across partners.
• Prepare detailed reports on activity implementation, highlighting successes, challenges, and areas for improvement, ensuring that all activities contribute to IR1 objectives.
• Review and ensure timely submission of progress reports from partners.
• Support documentation for all related activities and ensure that all program records are accurate and up to date.

 Partner Coordination and Support

• Collaborate with partners, including nongovernmental schools and community-based organizations, to ensure smooth implementation of early childhood education ECE activities aligned with IR1 objectives.
• Assist in organizing and facilitating coordination meetings, workshops, and training sessions with education stakeholders, ensuring a unified approach to improving preschool services.
• Participate in training non-government early childhood teachers, and partners trainers, enhancing their capacity to offer effective early childhood education programs.
• Coordinate with local NGOs, community-based organizations, and education stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of high-quality, non-formal ECE services.
• Support the preparation and delivery of training sessions & capacity-building efforts aimed at enhancing the skills and qualifications of preschool teachers, and community organizations involved in delivering ECE services.
• Support preschool teachers in implementing developmentally appropriate practices and activities that promote cognitive, social, and emotional growth whenever needed.
• Manage the procurement of teaching and learning materials, as well as all other IR1 procurements. Follow up on distribution and ensure that all relevant documentation is in place in accordance with Creative's rules and procedures.

 Quality Assurance

• Monitor the quality of implemented preschool education activities against established project standards.
• Assist in developing and maintaining quality assurance tools, guidelines and processes for early childhood education activities.
• Provide feedback to improve program interventions, ensuring activities support the overall cognitive, social, and emotional development of preschoolers.
• Provide samples of individualized programs and lesson plans in specific curriculum areas as part of differentiated instruction.
• Support the implementation of successful early childhood education activities, ensuring all activities and sessions adhere to safe learning principles.
• Participate in developing and implementing a continuous improvement plan based on Quality standard finding

 Data Collection and Analysis & Management

• Collect relevant data during field visits to inform project monitoring and evaluation.
• Support the administration of assessments related to preschoolers' development in coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation team, ensuring data-driven decision-making to improve IR1 outcomes.
• Assist in analyzing data to assess the effectiveness of early childhood education activities,
• Work closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to monitor the quality of implementing early childhood education activities & inform project adjustments and improvements.
• Ensuring data privacy and protection, especially when dealing with information about young children.

Stakeholders Communication

• Communicate regularly with teachers, partners, and community members regarding the progress and needs of ECE activities.
• Contribute to regular reports, summarizing progress challenges, successes, and areas needing improvement.
• Other related tasks or duties may be assigned.

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Qualifications and Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, Early Childhood Development, or a related field. A master’s degree is an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years of prior work experience and a minimum 2 years of experience working in the field of early childhood education, with a preference for experience in private or nongovernmental settings.
• Proven experience in teaching, preschool teachers' training, monitoring educational activities, and improving education quality.
• Experience designing and delivering early childhood education programming, including facilitator training and development.
• Solid experience in assessing, analyzing results, designing, implementing, and following evidence-based interventions.
• Experience working in developing and/or humanitarian contexts within the Education sector and understanding the local context in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.
• Significant experience integrating PSS/SEL, inclusive practices, and interactive approaches in of developing early childhood education strategies and materials.
• Experience in using assessment and measurement tools and developing materials for measuring early childhood education learning outcomes.
• Experience in curriculum development for early childhood education.
• Experience in parent education and family engagement programs

Skills and Competencies and Competencies:

• Strong understanding of cognitive, social, and emotional development in early childhood.
• Strong understanding of inclusive education principles and practices.
• Proven experience collaborating with private and non-governmental schools and preschools.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective engagement with teachers, parents & diverse stakeholders.
• Proficient in data collection and analysis for program monitoring and evaluation
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

Language:

Fluency in Arabic and working proficiency in English (written and spoken).

Please submit your CV and Cover Letter indicating the position title in the subject line to: [email protected] The deadline for receiving the applications is Thursday 17 October 2024 by 4:00 pm (Ramallah Time).

Only finalists will be contacted.  No phone calls, please.

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.