Save the Children has been awarded a multimillion grant from the United States Department of Agriculture- USDA, under the McGovern Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, to implement a second phase of PALAM/A (Promoting Autonomy for Literacy and Attentiveness through Market Alliance) FY23 Project. The core principle of the $32.5million FY23 PALAM/A (PALAM/A, or bridge in Tamil and Sinhala) project is to bridge the constraints of sustainability of the ongoing governments’ national school meal program and support primary grade learning and dietary practice outcomes in Sri Lanka.
ROLE PURPOSE:
The District Technical Manager- Education is responsible for leading the implementation of district level program activities in the literacy work stream which aim to improve the learning outcomes of primary grade children. This will be based on Save the Children’s common approaches (including – Literacy Boost, numeracy boost, enabling teachers, SEL toolkit, SNAP etc) and enhancing school health, hygiene and nutrition practices working with the provincial education authorities and zonal education offices to ensure coordination and alignment with the provincial/district level educational objectives and priorities.
The role of the post holder is to work with the provincial and respective zonal level education officials (including the provincial primary director, zonal primary directors, and ISAs) to strengthen the capacity of primary grade teachers whilst collaboratively working to ensure and strengthen community engagements for learning outcomes promotion. In addition, the role would be responsible for administrative aspects supported by the Education Facilitator (seconded by Sarvodaya) to ensure the smooth delivery of projects in the district and also the technical aspects to ensure the quality of program delivery.
The role holder reports directly to the Senior Technical Manager - Education and will work closely with the MEAL coordinators at the field to generate evidence of quality implementation through case studies, capturing best practices/learning, and ongoing monitoring assessments. The role includes collaboration with other senior managers, technical advisors, and external stakeholders as necessary to ensure sustainability.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Senior Technical Manager – Education
Staff reporting to this post: N/A
Indirect: Partner staff
Budget Responsibilities: N/A
Role Dimensions:
The role is responsible for leading the implementation of program activities to improve learning outcomes emphasizing the importance of early grade literacy skills of primary grade children. in both school and communities. . The role will work with the provincial and zonal education authorities to ensure coordination and alignment of GoSL education objectives and local level education programs. The District Technical education managers will establish collaboration with local partners to avoid duplication. He/She will be responsible to implement the PALAM/A II project activities in the Literacy work stream promptly, ensuring quality and integration among other streams including school health & nutrition, construction, and the school meals.
The position will also support maintaining relationships between Save the Children & Provincial Education Ministries and Zonal and Divisional Education Offices.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Quality implementation of Project activities as per the activity plan and coordination with Senior Technical Manager – Education
Project Management and Quality:
- Supports the Senior Technical Manager – Education to coordinate the effective implementation of program activities to improve the literacy of early grade school-age children and learning outcomes, focusing on SC common approached including Literacy Boost, numeracy boost, enabling teachers and SEL toolkit by ensuring coordination at Provincial Ministry of Education and Zone Education levels through open, timely, intentional and clear communication.
- Responsible for project activity planning and implementation of literacy promotion activities along with School Health and Nutrition Promotion activities in coordination with zonal education officers aligning to their ongoing training schedules in the district.
- Support Senior Technical Manager – Education to develop Teacher professional development modules, materials, tools and activities to ensure technical rigor of implementation.
- Under the guidance of the Senior Technical Manager – Education to implement activities to ensure technical enhancement in classroom instruction and increased quality.
- Under the guidance of the Senior Manager - Health & Nutrition, coordinate school health, nutrition and hygiene initiatives in collaboration with relevant provincial and zonal level health & education officials.
- Initiate and participate in advocacy initiatives at the district level to improve learning outcomes for students.
- Provide required technical assistance and coordinate to ensure quality and sustainable community actions toward literacy promotion.
- Mobilization of In-Service Advisors (ISAs), Teachers, Education Officials, SDS members, etc. and facilitate conducting trainings to build capacities on literacy, numeracy, SEL instruction and school health and nutrition promotion, coaching, monitoring and evaluation methodologies, in schools and communities.
- Support to foster a culture and practice that improves teacher professional development.
- Ensuring ongoing coaching and mentoring processes to develop the capacity of primary ISAs and demonstrate the effectiveness of more regular teacher professional development and coaching.
- Co- facilitating provincial/district level teachers' training programmes with primary In Service Advisors (ISA)
- Facilitate classroom observations in collaboration with zonal primary directors and ISAs.
- With the technical guidance of Senior Technical Manager – Education, facilitate to establish and maintain virtual peer learning platforms to share best practices, success stories, questions and technical matters among the primary teachers and ISAs.
- Ensure that all project components meet quality standards (i.e. appropriate application of literacy, numeracy and SEL instruction; sufficient, varied, and contextually relevant books in reading corners in the classrooms).
- Identify and build strategic linkages, relationships, collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in implementation and advocacy at the district/provincial levels.
- Ensure safer programming through safeguarding risk assessment, applying safeguarding policies & procedures and strengthening stakeholders including the beneficiaries on safeguarding reporting protocols in implementing project activities relating to the literacy workstream such as organizing teacher training workshops, children’s reading clubs and community awareness programs, literacy festivals etc.
- Ensure that your staff is providing all beneficiaries of your program with ongoing, age-appropriate verbal or written information in relevant languages about Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.
- Accountable to develop a holistic approach to ensure disadvantaged children are prepared to succeed in school, including encouraging community engagement.
MEAL System and Approaches.
- Coordinate evaluation assessments at the provincial and zonal levels with the MEAL team.
- Work closely with M&E team on M&E initiatives.
- Regular school visits to monitor the implementation of the quality of Literacy workstream activities .
- Support Senior Technical Manager – Education in effective documentation of data on improved learning outcomes, overall program successes, innovations and promising practices related to improved learning outcomes and dissemination through appropriate mechanisms.
- Produce timely, accurate, compliant and quality data.
Representation at Provincial and District Levels:
- Support to maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with other organizations who are linked to the Education Programs in the Province/district levels.
- Support to maintain good relationships with Province, Zonal and Divisional Education Officers and Schools as well as key stakeholder including health authorities.
- Represent Save the Children in provincial/district clusters and other platforms as per the guidance from Senior Technical Manager – Education
People Management
- Ensure all direct report staff understand their responsibilities and have clearly defined performance objectives including plans and activities to develop their professional capacities.
- Encourage a team culture of learning, creativity, and innovation
- Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure the availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff and implement the talent review programs
EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
- A bachelor's degree in education, International Relations, Development studies or a similar field. A postgraduate degree or a master’s degree in a relevant field will be an advantage.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in education which should include teaching experiences or working in the development sector.
- Proven strong project management experience.
- Strong background in Primary Education/basic education programming with a focus on literacy.
- Demonstrated ability to implement community participation strategy to improve basic education participation and learning outcomes
- Strong skills in networking with education sector stakeholders in the field as well as other networks of educators or organizations.
- Passion for working with most deprived, marginalized children and community groups.
- Experience in formal/non-formal education programming, designing, implementing and evaluating, especially including inclusive education practices.
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and negotiate clearly and effectively at all levels taking into account cultural and language differences.
- Strong results orientation with the ability to challenge existing mindsets.
- Ability and willingness to travel to project locations in difficult conditions.
- Willingness and ability to ride a motorbike and having a valid motorbike license is a must.
- Excellent spoken and written skills in English and Tamil. Language capability in Sinhala would be an added advantage.
- Excellent computer literate (including working knowledge of Microsoft Office)
- Proven ability to lead a diverse team, provide clear direction, delegate tasks, and ensure efficient collaboration among team members and stakeholders.
- A good understanding of the mandate of Save the Children, commitment to and understanding of child rights, the aims and principles of Save the Children, and its humanitarian standards such as Child Safeguarding and the Code of Conduct.
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