Education Officer at Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Job Summary

The Education Officer plays a key role in project startup, monitoring implementation of project activities, data analysis and reporting, staff capacity building, and supporting project research needs

The Education Officer will coordinate with Education staff to ensure EiE activities are carried out according to proposals and measure progress, quality and impact of activities to target beneficiaries. S/he will ensure direct implementation of project activities in the selected Local Government Areas (LGAs).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take responsibility for planning and implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities related to education programing focused on improving children’s learning outcomes (literacy, Numeracy and life skills) and development through the use of evidence- based approaches.
• Facilitation SBMC training and support for the strengthening of the SBMCs.
• Support and facilitate the training of teachers in pedagogy and in service.
• Work closely with the local partners to mobilize the communities in which the project will be implemented.
• Provide weekly and monthly project reports to the supervisor
• Visit schools for data collection and school profiling in collaboration with the M&E team.
• Raise purchase requests for the project and make follow ups with the logistics and finance team to ensure timely procurement of the project materials.
• In the absence of the supervisor, act on behalf of the supervisor.
• Contribute to resource mobilization through updating JRS through the education specialist by providing updates on the needs in the communities, participate in needs assessment and provide lessons learnt and feedback to improve project quality and implementation.
• Perform any other project related duties as specified by the Education Specialist and Project Director
• Identify and communicate any issues that are delaying progress in a timely manner.
• Participate in education-related activities and meetings, and will also seek active collaboration with other players working in the education sector.
• Ensure regular monitoring of project activities in the respective schools and follow up in implementation of planned tasks, activities and agreed actions in the work plans.
• Conduct needs assessment to identify gaps in education sector.
• Ensure that the Education program is implemented in ways that are responsive to communities and children, in line with JRS principles, values and strategic plan and compliant with JRS procedures.
• Hold meetings with stakeholders including schools, local councils and other organizations serving children and community to understand their education priorities, familiarize them with the projects and its objectives and engage them in the process.
• Ensure that all planned activities are implemented on time, to quality measures and within budget as per the monthly plan. Where challenges arise, ensure that these are flagged early, communicated to the Education Supervisor and addressed in a timely manner way.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• University Degree in Education, Social Sciences, or any other relevant field
• At least three years of relevant professional experience with an international or civil society organization, including direct implementation of education programming
• At least five years of experience related to teacher professional development. 
• Experience working with displaced or otherwise marginalized communities required
• Strong verbal communication skills and effective in representation and liaison with external actors
• Excellent spoken and technical writing ability in English, including report writing 
• Good computer skills in programs including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Good leadership skills
• Good administrative skills
• Traceable references from past employers.
• Flexibility to work in a diverse multicultural team.
• Willingness to travel to remote and/or insecure locations.

QUALITIES

• Adhere to JRS values and abide by the code of conduct and other policies.
• Excellent knowledge of English and good working knowledge of a local language preferably Hausa.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and health related programmes.
• Strong coordination, communication, and advocacy skills.
• Ability to live and work in unstable, insecure environments and sometimes inhospitable conditions.
• Ability and willingness to work under tight deadlines.
• Strong computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel.

You are expected to adhere to JRS values and respect the code of conduct, you can work in a high-pressure environment, you have a good autonomy and you are able to adapt quickly to your work according to local conditions.