PIN currently is seeking energetic, disciplined, responsible FCDO Regional Lead

Length of Contract: 1 year with desirable extension depending on the project duration

Place of Work: – Based in Hawassa Sidama Region with frequent travel to PIN’s project sites in different regions as required.

Salary: as per organization scale

Job Description

About the role: This is an exciting opportunity to help the government and people of Ethiopia strengthen the education system and work with experts in a dynamic consortium that is putting together a compelling and innovative bid for the forthcoming five-year “Transforming Education Programme in Ethiopia (TREE)”. As a Regional Lead for Sidama, SWEP, Central, South (former Southern Nations), you will be based in Hawassa under this programme with frequent visits within the region and elsewhere in Ethiopia as necessary.

You will report to the Consortium Deputy Team Lead and manage the regional based implementation team. Regular day to day liaison and coordination will be with the Education Program Coordinator and the consortium’s Technical Advisers and operations departments in Ethiopia. You will work closely with the other consortium member agencies and downstream partners and contractors, the Core Programe Management Team, Regional Education Bureaus (REBs) and other regional stakeholders as necessary.

This role is contingent on funding being secured.

Job Title: Regional Lead for Sidama, SWEP, Central, South (former Southern Nations), FCDO Transforming Education in Ethiopia (TREE).

Reports to: consortiums Deputy Team Lead, Transforming Education in Ethiopia Project (TREE).

Terms: National posting.

Requirements: Regular travel within the region in which post holder will be based and other travel within Ethiopia as necessary.

Background of the FCDO Transforming Education in Ethiopia Project:

In Ethiopia, many children are out of school or at risk of dropping out, in particular girls and other marginalized groups. Progress has been made in expanding education access for children across the country, however, since 2019 progress stalled due to conflict and instability, climate-induced shocks and the impact of Covid-19 and wider macroeconomic challenges around inflation which exacerbated existing inequalities.

In response, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aims to improve teaching quality and learning outcomes and increase access to education for girls and marginalized children through the ‘Transforming Education in Ethiopia’ project (2024-2028). The project will focus on three key components below:

• Teacher and school leader development: Improved quality of teaching and learning with a focus on continuous teacher professional development in targeted schools.
• English Language Teaching and Learning: Selected schools provide better teaching and learning in English Language as a subject, and improved use of English across the curriculum.
• Equity, Inclusion and Girls’ Education: Improved access and retention of the most marginalized children, particularly girls..

Role Purpose:

The Regional Lead for Sidama, SWEP, Central, South (former Southern Nations) will lead efforts to contextualize, implement, and oversee all project activities at the regional and community levels. The role will focus on contextualizing national policies including on school leadership, gender and inclusion, and English language with support from the technical team. They will work closely with the Regional Education Bureaus (REBs), Zonal, Woreda education offices and other relevant stakeholders to roll out policies and strengthen school leaders and teachers’ capacity. The role also includes overseeing regional teams to implement teacher professional development, capacity building workshops, and community sessions. They will engage with key stakeholders to help achieve project goals, implement, and institutionalize access to quality and safe education-related policies, and interventions.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with REBs to contextualize national and global policies and frameworks including on school leadership, gender and inclusion, and continuous professional development.
• Roll out contextualized training of trainers (ToT) for REBs, zonal and woreda education offices, school leaders and cluster supervisors.
• Lead capacity building workshops on topics such as data management, reporting, accelerated learning, gender and inclusion, and English language with support from project technical leads.
• Disseminate contextualized policies to schools and support regional teams to strengthen capacity of school leaders, teachers, and PTSAs.
• Work with REBs, zonal, and woreda education offices to implement the English costed plan for improving English teaching and cross-curricular English use with support from the English Language Specialist.
• Collaborate with MEAL staff to monitor the regional activities and contribute to the larger project MEAL strategic and implementation plan.
• Manage and coordinate regional teams ensuring provision of timely and effective support.
• Conduct regular site visits to provide technical and operational assistance and ensure effective implementation and monitoring of project activities at the regional and community levels.
• Effectively communicate regional programme implementation updates and findings to the Deputy Team Lead, programme staff and external stakeholders, to facilitate informed decision-making and coherence and coordination with other regions.
• Engage with stakeholders to ensure alignment with national policies and secure support for the programme’s initiatives.
• Working with relevant staff and other consortium member agencies, identify and mitigate risks associated with the delivery of project activities as part of overall risk management.
• Within this role, promote and help ensure adherence/compliance with the consortium organisations’ Code of Conduct & Associated Policies (including Programme Participant Protection, Child & vulnerable adult Safeguarding, Anti-Trafficking policies), Conflict of Interest Policy, Anti-Fraud Policy, and Modern Slavery Transparency Statement.
• Within this role, promote and help ensure accountability to programme participants and wider communities in line with the consortium organizations’ commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and Do No Harm principles and ensure high ethical standards throughout programme implementation.

Competencies:

As this is a key leadership position, potential candidates are expected to demonstrate significant ability in the following areas:

• Focusing on the most marginalized people
• Communicating and influencing
• Managing risk
• Leading change
• Making decisions
• Driving performance
• Leading by example
• Removing barriers to delivery
• Motivating and developing

We encourage all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or origin, disability, political beliefs, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status to apply to become a part of the organization. People in Need against all forms of discrimination and unequal power relations and is committed to promoting equality.

If this role sounds right for you, please apply with your CV and cover letter. We will respond to every applicant. Please be aware we may offer positions before the closing date. People in Need reserves the right to interview and select the chosen candidate before closing date for receipt of applications, so early application is strongly recommended.

If you have any concerns about our recruitment process and need particular assistance – for example if you have a disability e.g. a hearing impairment – please let us know and we will do our best to respond to your needs.

Recruitment for this role is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the final applicant’s selection is subject to FCDO approval.

ACCOUNCOUNTABILITY AND SAFEGUARDING including Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH)

• Carry out the duties in accordance with the PIN Code of Conduct and Key policies.
• Participate in training and awareness raising (CoC and KP, Safeguarding…).
• Implement Safeguarding measures throughout the project cycle including a risk analysis related to SEAH and Child protection for each project and develop a mitigation plan accordingly.
• Ensure that his/her team members attend training and awareness sessions and carry out the duties in accordance with PIN Code of Conduct and Key policies.
• Ensure that due diligence and/or capacity assessments of partners include an assessment of partners’ implementation of key safeguarding and risk policies/ procedure including the prevention of SEAH.
• Create and maintain a fulfilling and protective environment.

General Obligations and Responsibilities

The Employer stipulates the right to assign the Employee on any other kind of work derived from his specialization. In case of urgent work and such like the Employee may be asked to work overtime as well as during public and other holidays.

The employee shall anytime and anywhere take care of and protect all belongings of PIN within and without their care. The Employee takes over the responsibilities for all entrusted material or cash. The Employee is obliged to cover all damages or losses caused by his carelessness totally or partially, as the PIN management in each case will decide it separately. The Agreement of Liability of Assets has been signed separately.

The Employee is obliged not to purvey any information concerning any of PIN activities to outsiders (including former PIN employees, who may no more be informed about current process in PIN).

PIN is a relief and development organization whose aim is to help and assist needy people. The Employee’s position within the institution requires contacts with outside; he or she therefore conveys a certain image of the PIN. PIN expects its employees to behave in appropriate manners at all times and in all places. All members of staff should ensure their attitudes correspond to PIN principles, both during and after working hours.

Benefit

• Standard work schedule of 40 hours per week from Monday to Friday
• Per diems for working and Accommodation outside of the duty office depending on the location
• Transport Allowance
• Bank loan facilities
• 20 days of paid annual and after 5 years of work an extra paid day for every year
• Extra days of paid leaves for selected holidays
• Medical insurance, including spouse and children
• Accident insurance for all injuries during work time based on the law
• Pension contribution of 11 % from PIN
• Paternity leave of extra 2 paid days above the mandatory 3 days
• Maternity leave according to the law and extra financial motherhood support
• Monthly mobile phone hybrid tariff
• PIN supports fast career growth and internal mobility
• International environment with opportunities to learn from other PIN’s country programs
• Extensive Capacity Building program, both internal and external trainings, including the Induction training
• Internal online learning opportunities, such as access to PIN’s e-learning platform and webinars
• Annual staff retreat
• Friendly and fair work environment with small collective where everyone knows each other

About You

• Bachelor’s or equivalent qualification in education, public administration, international development, gender or related field.  Master’s is preferred.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of relevant work experience, with at least 1 year at managerial level managing and successfully delivering large-scale, complex projects at regional level in Ethiopia or similar contexts. Preference will be given to candidates with such experience in the field of education.
• Ability to provide leadership and harness the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners.
• Staff management experience, with experience in leading and motivating individuals and teams to deliver high quality activities and achieve programme outcomes.
• Experience and ability to work with and build effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including government, civil society, and communities.
• Understanding of the education delivery system in Ethiopia and familiarly with the political, cultural context and operating environment in a region and Ethiopia more broadly.
• Experience in coordinating and working with the government of Ethiopia at a regional level, specifically within the education sector is preferred.
• Prior experience of operating effectively within complex and high-risk environments and managing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deliver results in a fast-paced and complex environment.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience using data to inform decision-making and programme adjustments.
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to articulate complex information backed with evidence.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Amharic.

Desirable:

• Strong understanding of the Ethiopian education system.
• Familiarity with MoE policies and strategies and the role of REBs.