EXTERNAL ANNOUNCEMENT
TITLE: Project Assistant - Education
Contract Type: National
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Program Implementation
LOCATION: Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand
CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 year, with the possibility of extension
ROLE PURPOSE:
The Project Assistant supports the effective implementation of refugee education activities under the Refugee Education and Protection Programme, including the “Inclusive Futures: Phased Integration of Refugee Services and Economic Inclusion in Thailand’s System” and “Sustaining Safe and Inclusive Education for Conflict‑Affected Children in Rakhine and along the Thailand Cross‑Border” projects. In this phase, Save the Children Thailand (SCT) is responsible for managing, delivering, and overseeing stipend payments across designated camps while the full project team is being recruited. The post holder works closely with the existing Basic Education Support towards Transition (BEST) team and local partners to help stabilise the education workforce and safeguard continuity of learning by ensuring that all eligible refugee education personnel receive timely, accurate, and accountable stipend payments in line with agreed criteria, schedules, and Save the Children/donor requirements.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Senior Education Officer
Staff reporting to this post: N/A
Budget Responsibilities: N/A
Location: Mae Sot field office with regular travel to refugee camps
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Project Implementation:
Stipend planning and coordination
- Support the Senior Education Officer to prepare stipend plans and payment schedules based on approved staffing lists and budgets.
- Coordinate with partners, camp‑based education committees and school leaders to confirm the list of eligible stipend recipients and any changes (e.g. new hires, replacements, resignations).
- Clearly communicate stipend entitlements, eligibility criteria and basic conditions to beneficiaries and partners, and respond to related questions as needed.
Verification and documentation
- Laison with partners on collect, check and file supporting documents required for stipend payments (e.g. attendance records, timesheets, contract, ID copies).
- Verify beneficiary information (names, positions, camp/school) and ensure it is consistent across all forms and databases
- Maintain up‑to‑date hard‑copy and electronic records of stipend recipients by using standard templates and agreed filing systems.
Payment processing and distribution
- Prepare stipend payment requests, beneficiary lists and summary sheets for review and approval in line with finance procedures.
- Coordinate with the finance team to ensure stipends are disbursed on time and in the correct amounts.
- Support safe and transparent cash distribution in the field when required, including organising venues, materials, attendance lists and basic crowd management.
Monitoring, feedback and reporting
- Record and follow up on any issues related to stipend payments (e.g. missing payments, discrepancies, complaints) in coordination with Finance, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), programme staff, and partners.
- Support post‑distribution monitoring (PDM) and feedback surveys with stipend recipients, as required.
- Contribute to brief school visit and stipend distribution reports and standard operating procedures (SOPs), capturing key challenges, risks, and lessons learned.
Internal coordination, safeguarding and risk management
- Ensure all stipend processes comply with Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and immediately report any concerns or violations through the appropriate channels
- Help ensure that payments respect humanitarian and protection principles and do not expose beneficiaries or staff to unnecessary risk.
- Support the documentation and referral of any safeguarding or serious incident concerns observed during the stipend process, in line with Save the Children Internation (SCI) policies.
- Provide translation and interpretation in Karen and Burmese to English or Thai for non-Karen and Burmese speaking staff during meetings, training sessions, and monitoring visits, as required.
Coordination and support to partners
- Provide clear guidance and practical support to partners and camp‑based committees on stipend documentation, attendance tracking and reporting requirements.
- Participate in relevant coordination meetings with education partners, camp committees and local authorities to share stipend‑related updates and resolve implementation issues.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice):
Accountability:
- Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Post‑secondary education and/or relevant training in education, social sciences or a related field; equivalent experience in community education may also be considered
- Three years professional working experience, development sector preferred
- Good understanding of the refugee context and the Thai education system.
- Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
- Post‑secondary education and/or relevant training in education, social sciences or a related field; equivalent experience in community education may also be considered
- Three years professional working experience, development sector preferred
- Ability and willingness to work in a remote area and travel in the 9 camps along Thai-Myanmar border
- Knowledge of education systems of refugee along Thailand – Myanmar border
- Ability to speak and write Karen and English
- Demonstrated excellent team player, self – directed
- Ability and experience writing activity reports
- Proven ability to work independently
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrated administrative skills
- Demonstrated budgeting skills
Desirable
- Experience coordinating refugee education service providers
- Strong language skills in Karen and English; additional languages are an advantage.
- Familiarity with NGO project implementation procedures, including basic monitoring, reporting, and use of data systems (e.g. PRIME or similar).
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Save the Children International (SCI) Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the Save the Children Internation (SCI) anti-harassment policy.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with Save the Children Internation (SCI) Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Interested candidates should apply and submit a motivational letter, comprehensive CV, expected salary and details of at least 3 referees via this link: Project Assistant - Education - SCI Career Site Careers
Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
“We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse”
