Job Summary

The Project Manager will be a key resource person to lead the overall project. S/he will be responsible for guiding the successful adoption and adaptation of the envisaged LMS, establishing resource centers at selected universities, building the capacities needed to smoothly run and sustain the LMS and managing partnership internally and externally.     In partnership with experts from the four project partners, the candidate is responsible for preparing, implementing, monitoring and reporting of a consolidated annual project plan.  S/he will play a key role towards the realization of the infrastructure, human resources, organizational capabilities (services) and contents needed for the envisaged digital learning system. The candidate will closely work with experts from ASU, MoE, and target universities. The position may have an external interface with the Education and training authority, Telecommunication Service Providers, relevant ministries of Government of Ethiopia and other partners in the higher education sector. S/he will be a key member of the MoE EthERNet directorate team. The position requires multiple technical and management competencies in the areas of e-learning project management, partnership facilitation and organizational capacity development.  The ideal candidate is one who demonstrates authoritative understanding of e-learning within the context of Ethiopian Higher Education; its contribution to the quality, affordability and accessibility of education and the ultimate implication of enhancing employ ability and entrepreneurial skills of graduates. S/he should be an active team leader and player among experts with different backgrounds and share knowledge to others.

Roles and Responsibilities

Learning Management System

• Responsible for managing the implementation of the envisaged LMS at target universities as per ASU guidelines. Oversee key processes of requirement identification (hardware, software and human resource), adaptation, configuration, user testing, feedback, go-live and scale-up/future requirements for the LMS.
• Based on the requirement study and in partnership with project partners and participating universities, the candidate is responsible for devising appropriate implementation strategies to translate user’s needs into the OpenEdx requirements and LMS solutions.
• Responsible for closely coordinating the preparation of universities to meet human resource; network architecture, computer, and software systems infrastructures for the new LMS.
• Together with management of the MoE and target Universities, establish a university level task force that steers the transition to the new learning management system.
• Responsible for the establishment of five resource centers and cluster-based remote access. This includes preparation of a feasible plan (harmonized with overall project plan) and guiding implementation for the realization of the five resource centers.
• Together with project partners, ensure appropriate ICT and telecommunication infrastructure, human resource capabilities and other key resources are allocated for successful operation and sustain the resource centers.

Partnership management

• Serve as  a  key  resource  person  within  the  ministry  to  draw  strategic  partnerships  among different departments within the ministry and target universities on issues related to the envisaged learning management system.
• Responsible for mobilization/ networking of other partners working in the higher education sector for possible harmonization and additional resource pulling.
• Closely work  or  mobilize  core  stakeholders  (e.g.,  Education  and  Training  Authority  (ETA), telecommunication service providers, INSA, MInT to complement the successful implementation and scale up of the e-learning program.
• Responsible for fostering university partnership network to leverage resource centers at cluster level.
• Responsible for a smooth working relationship among project team and project partners by playing a proactive facilitative role in addressing issues and differences.

Institutionalization and Capacity building

• Responsible for creating full understanding and ownership of the learning management system at the target universities and beyond.
• Supervise  planning   and   implementation   of   capacity   building   for   university   ICT   system administrators, university administration and registrars, resource center manager, instructors, and students for effective utilization of the LMS.
• Ensure appropriate organizational capabilities are in place for helpdesk support, troubleshooting and addressing network and hardware related problems.
• Play an active role in reviewing existing and developing new enabling policy and regulatory landscapes that aid sustainability and scale-up of the learning management system
• Assist in  designing  appropriate  governance  and  advisory  structures  that  speed-up  smooth implementation  of  the  project,   enable   institutionalization   within   appropriate   units  and allocation and mobilization of resource
• Ensure the appropriate guidelines are in place regarding the Implementation of eLearning and LMS

Project and team management

• Responsible for consolidated planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the project using standard project management formats and tools.
• In consultation with project partners and target universities, establish different task forces for timely and smooth operationalization of the project plan.
• Supervise performance and development of project team.
• Initiate regular (monthly, quarterly, and yearly) progress follow-up meetings among all partners and other meetings on need basis.
• Facilitate exchange and learning among project Partnership and outside by integrating and disseminating new learning.
• Develop  or  adopt  various  project  management  tools  and  frameworks  that  could  foster harmonization among project partners and improve reporting and monitoring standards.
• Acts as a lead and / or support for key people processes-recruitment and induction, training and development, performance management, benefit and compensation and employee relationship.
• Introduce different team building programs and provide leadership by example, on the job coaching, training and development that enhance the capacities and synergies of project staff.

Additional Roles

• Undertake other related roles from MoE and other project partners as and when needed and ensure complementarity with the new e-learning program.
• Responsible for  capacity  building  of  the  relevant  MoE  and  university  team  and  ensuring  full teamwork and integration of project work within the mainstream functions of the ministry and universities.
• Actively participate in e-learning related national and regional initiatives to network, learn and harmonize.

Job Requirement

Competencies

Technical competencies

• Hands-on experience in e-learning learning management system, associated infrastructure/resource center, skills and organizations needed to manage.
• Profound understanding of system design and implementation
• Profound understanding  of  digital  education-labor  market  link  (demand-oriented  education supply)
• Good knowledge of digital content development of higher education courses and programs
• Solid understanding of the Ethiopian higher education system (key policies, strategies, regulations)
• Sound understanding of stakeholders’ management, priorities, and interests within the context of Ethiopian higher education.
• Outstanding technical and organizational skills in project management in the context of higher education.
• Mastery in facilitating and fostering partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership and management competencies

• Hands-on and pro-active approach with demonstrated adaptability and flexibility relevant to the context.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Outstanding skills in planning, organizing, and reporting
• Value differences and diversities while demonstrating constructive assertiveness in leading people towards a result.
• Fast learner, decision-maker and problem solver
• Ability to perform under pressure with minimal supervision and able to handle multiple tasks at a time in a calm and organized manner.
• Ability to listen and synthesize ideas from wide ranging perspectives and able to come-up with a
• consolidated and implementable plan from such a process.

Education, Experience, and language

• Master’s  degree and above in computer  science/computer engineering,  information systems/technology and related fields.
• Having a certificate/degree in education management or pedagogy is a plus
• At least ten years’ hands on experience in ICT system and/or project management and/or e- learning management system, of which five years is managerial level
• Proven working experience with international partners and understanding of cross-cultural working norms
• Proficiency in Spoken and Written English is a must
• Benefit and compensation
• Highly attractive with possible career development opportunities

Type of employment :  Project (2022 – 2027)

Duration : One Year with possible extension up to five years

Duty station:  Addis Ababa with frequent travel to regions