Education Program Manager

 

Position Title:Education Program Manager
Position Type:Regular Employment -full Time
Location:Gaza Office
Duration:Nine months and half
Department:Education Program

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps is a non-profit, non-governmental international humanitarian and development organization, registered in the United States and Scotland with offices in more than 40 countries around the world, including the West Bank and Gaza, where the organization has been active in implementing relief and development programs for over a decade.  Mercy Corps ‘West Bank and Gaza’ has staff based in East Jerusalem and Gaza City offices that implement programs throughout the Palestinian territories.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has implemented education projects in Gaza as part of its Cash for Work program since mid-2006 with funding from a range of donors. Mercy Corps is currently implementing new education program, an integral part of the current programs, aims at enhancing formal and non-formal education for children and youth through tutoring programs, provision of materials and other assistance. The program is implemented throughout the Gaza Strip, through community organizations that have relevant experience in education, accelerated learning, e-learning and neighborhood-after-school-activities.  

Main Responsibilities:
A-Program Planning, Implementation and Development:
-Be fully responsible for all aspects of the management of all education programs.
-Ensure timely implementation of the program to the high standards delivering the highest possible quality.
-Ensure all program activities are implemented in accordance with technical and budgetary requirements including compliance with Mercy Corps and donor requirements.
-Work cooperatively with Mercy Corps staff, local community, partner NGOs, PA bodies and other parties.
-Ensure involvement or formation of Community Committees in areas where psychosocial programs are implemented.
-Conduct regular field visits to the project sites, and ensure regular coordination meetings with the partner CBOs and NGOs are conducted.
-Lead, in coordination with a curriculum development specialist, the development of a Gaza-specific accelerated learning curriculum for use by CBOs, which focuses on excellence trainings for English, leadership/life skills and computer literacy.
-Ensure contracts with national and international partners are completed to high standard as well as payment procedures, incl. documentation, approval and actual payment.
-Ensure that accurate and up-to date programmatic documentation is maintained.
-In cooperation with education program teams and Designing & monitoring evaluation department, establish structures and procedures which facilitate monitoring and evaluation of all program activities.
-In cooperation with the Designing & monitoring evaluation department, ensure that relevant evaluation strategies are implemented in a timely and high quality manner, and that they deliver results in accordance with academic standards of publishing quality.  
-Reports regularly on project implementation/ progress to the Program Director, and prepares draft reports and other project documentation required by donors.  
-Generate verbal and written translations of pertinent project documentation as needed/required.

B-Staff Performance Management
-Participate in the recruitment and selection of new staff as required, drafting position descriptions, co-coordinating and participating in the selection process.
-In cooperation with the Program Director, ensure effective performance management of all project staff through regular meetings and effective follow-up of work plans and implementation.
-Coordinate and manage all project staff and provide any necessary administrative or programmatic support to the team.

C-Fundraising and Representation
-Participate in fundraising initiatives, drafting concept papers and funding proposals, collection of required data and information to meet with the needs of existing and potential donors.
-Ensure effective networking and coordination with local and international organizations working in the educational field.

D-Other Duties
-Performance of work beyond normal office hours as required, without additional compensation.
-Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
-Any other duties as required by the Program Director.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
The Program Manager is responsible for directing the works of Program Officers

ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Program Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: HR, Finance, Logistics, Procurement, compliance, DM&E, well as staff of other programs implemented in the Gaza Strip
    
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
-University degree and/or post-graduate degree (preferred) in education, social sciences, development studies, project management or related field.
-At least five years of experience in relevant work, particularly in the Palestinian NGO sector and with international organizations (INGO and/or UN), in the Palestinian territories.
-Understanding of the social, political, and economic context of Palestinian territories, especially the Gaza Strip.
-Excellent administration and management skills
-Excellent writing skills in English and Arabic.
-Proficiency in MS Office.

SUCCESS FACTORS:
-Excellent communication and coordination skills, with strong personality.
-Excellent planning and administration skills.
-Initiative, self-reliant and cooperative.
-Excellent time and organizational management skills.
-Excellent ability to work under pressure and carry out multiple tasks.


Qualified persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a one page cover letter and their CV by e-mail to                  

no later than Thursday, May 31, 2012.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Please indicate in the email subject; Education Program Manager.
No application will be accepted if the email subject is not mentioned in the email subject line.
Please apply separate application for each position you are interested in.