ThaiNGO

Save the Children International is looking for a Senior Education Specialist 

JOB TITLE:  Senior Education Specialist 

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Thailand Country Office             LOCATION: Bangkok, Thailand 

Type of Contract: Fixed term contract for 2 years 

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: 

Level 3 - the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people. 

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Senior Education Specialist is responsible for leading Save the Children’s Education Programme in Thailand. This includes developing multi-year thematic strategies and annual plans, designing and building programmes and securing the grants, developing strong external relations, and producing and utilising high quality and well-articulated project evidence and research for learning, for advocacy and for the continued development of the Education portfolio. 

The Senior Education Specialist is also responsible for promoting programme quality. S/he will ensure cross functionality, coordination, standardization of program implementation in different projects, and that quality of program are of nationally/internationally accepted and recommended standards. S/he represents Save the Children values and principles in interactions with staff and external audiences. These values and principles include commitment to the mission of Save the Children, team orientation, quality management and leadership development, introducing systems and procedures to strengthen staff motivation and productivity.  

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to:  Director for Program Development and Quality

Dimensions: Save the Children Thailand works with refugees, migrants, conflict-affected communities, and ethnic minorities to increase access to and the quality of their education. As the largest thematic program in Save the Children Thailand, education plays an important role in our value addition and our contribution to our organizations global breakthroughs for children. We are looking for a Senior Education Specialist who will provide technical advice and oversight of our entire education portfolio, working with Save the Children staff and our partners to deliver high quality, evidence based programming, and advocating for children’s education rights with government and other stakeholders. 

Staff directly reporting to this post: None

Budget Responsibilities: None 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :

In line with Save the Children’s dual mandate, these key areas of accountability apply to work in emergencies and in development settings.

Strategic Programme Development

• With the PDQ Director, lead the strategic development and quality implementation of the Education programme, including development of strategic plans and the portfolio of projects, research and initiatives required to achieve of strategic objectives and outcomes.
• In close coordination with programme implementation colleagues, identify potential Education partner organizations and make sure that selection of new partners is in accordance to Save the Children’s partnership guidelines.
• Facilitate annual operational planning and regular internal programme planning and review meetings for the Education team, as well as related inputs to quarterly and annual reports.
• Document and communicate programme achievements against agreed strategic objectives and milestones for a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Actively communicate and coordinate with other sector specialists and relevant technical advisors and project coordinators to ensure integrated approaches across themes.
• Serve as the Education thematic focal point for regular liaison and communication with relevant Save the Children technical advisor staff. Identify technical support requirements, inclusive of field visits, as and when necessary.
• Support all relevant external representation requirements for the Education sector.

Strategic Fundraising

• Oversee strategic fundraising to support implementation of the Education Strategic Plan and related Advocacy Plans. This includes funding for projects, research and advocacy to support policy change objectives.
• Analyze donor priorities and positions on issues related to Education.
• Develop and maintain contacts with current and potential donors, partners and key technical agencies, in coordination with the PDQ Director. Support donor meetings and visits.
• Identify institutional and other funding opportunities.
• Build relations and understanding of account management processes and support from each SC Member.
• Contribute to the development and regular updating of an SCI Thailand fundraising plan.
• Build on technical knowledge, research and current/previous programming to lead development of Education proposals in close coordination with the implementation team. This includes all aspects of proposal development, such as concept notes, grant amendments, etc.
• Secure sufficient funding to maintain or expand the Thailand country office’s education programs. 

Policy Analysis, Policy Engagement and Advocacy for Policy Change

• With the support of the Advocacy Coordinator, develop and implement Save the Children’s Education advocacy work. Direct advocacy efforts (objectives, messages, targets, approaches), and manage the achievement of each specific objective.
• Develop policy briefs and position papers related to the Education Programme. Support networking and articulating Save the Children’s position, policy and strategy in national forums and meetings.
• Ensure that the voices of children guide advocacy and policy change objectives and related activities.
• Keep abreast of national and global debate in Education and relevant sub-themes (e.g., children without appropriate care or prevention of physical and humiliating punishment), analyse and share with senior staff.
• Represent Save the Children in relevant working groups, task forces, seminars and related fora in the thematic area; and among donors, UN agencies, International NGOs, and national and sub-national government counterparts in coordination with the Advocacy Coordinator.
• Play an active role in Save the Children’s regional “Children on the Move” initiative. 

Programme Quality and Effectiveness

• Ensure all projects and research is technically managed to a high standard. Project Coordinators will have dotted lines to the Education PDQ team so that they receive strategic guidance, technical oversight and support. Work closely with the implementing team to support projects throughout the project cycle.
• Provide training and oversight to ensure proper understanding of cross-cutting issues among technical managers and advisors (e.g., gender, child protection and safeguarding) and integration of same in projects under thematic area.
• Conduct regular field visits to provide supportive supervision to all Education programs.
• Review all Education donor reports to ensure high quality.
• Support evidence-based learning for programme development and advocacy. Ensure that lessons learned are properly documented, effectively disseminated and, where appropriate, incorporated into wider advocacy initiatives.
• Develop Quality Benchmarks for all core education activities.
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure Education work is contributing to all objectives across these priority quality areas. Contribute to the development of an M&E framework for the Education programme that monitors the impact of projects and progress towards strategic operational and advocacy objectives.
• Support implementation of strategies to integrate resources and lessons of large stand-alone projects in the thematic area; support cross-fertilization of good practices. 

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (SCI 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 

Essential

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of education programme design, implementation and evaluation
• Experience of undertaking, commissioning and managing applied education research
• Experience of education sector policy development and influencing
• Experience of senior level representation
• Experience of working with implementing partners in a consortium and of building coalitions to affect change
• Experience of developing and negotiating successful partnerships with institutional donors
• Ability to write clear and well-argued research and policy reports
• Excellent communication skills with a high level of written and spoken English
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
• Postgraduate qualifications in a related field 

Desirable

• Technical experience in programs that focus on improving access to education, particularly community outreach, enrolment and retention of primary school students
• Knowledge and/or experience of ethnic minority education
• Knowledge and/or experience of designing and implementing programmes that use mother tongue based multilingual education
• Experience developing and successfully implementing an advocacy plan
• Experience working in Thailand and/or Myanmar
• Master’s Degree in a related field 

Equal Opportunities

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Health and Safety

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Save the Children offers competitive remuneration package.

Deadline for submission of application is on 9^th January 2017           

To apply, please send your application and CV to HR & Admin Manager at email address: hr.thailand@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply for a Senior Education Specialist._(Name of candidate)”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”