Program Manager II - Education Specialist
Rwanda - Kigali
Requisition # I273
Note: This position is contingent on funding and candidate selection is contingent on donor approval.
Background:
CRS’ mission in Rwanda is to contribute to a peaceful and productive society through development programs and peacebuilding activities. CRS began operations in Rwanda in 1960 and currently manages a portfolio of approximately $11 million across a number of different sectors, including education; agriculture; savings and internal lending (SILC); HIV/AIDS care and treatment; and community reconciliation and healing. Projects are funded by several agencies of the USG, foundations, and by CRS private funds.
CRS is seeking an Education Specialist to manage a five year literacy and learning program funded by the United States Agency of International Development (USAID). The Literacy, Language and Learning project’s overall objective is to improve learning in Rwanda by strengthening early grade literacy in Kinyarwanda and English and early grade numeracy.
The program includes three core objectives: a) improved quality of teaching; b) improved availability and use of teaching and learning materials; c) and support for English. The program also includes two cross-cutting sub-components: a) strengthened Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) capacity to implement activities to improve the quality of education; and b) improved equity in education.
CRS will lead the cross-cutting subcomponent on improved equity in education as well as components related to student dropout, teacher motivation, and improvement of teaching and learning conditions in school. CRS will also be responsible for implementation at the school and community level for some program activities led by other consortium members such as the distribution of reading materials.
The Education Specialist will have a dual role, acting as technical advisor within the consortium and to MINEDUC for all technical issues related to equity, student dropout, teacher motivation, and improving teaching and learning conditions in schools. S/he will also oversee all CRS responsibilities under this subgrant, providing strategic and operational leadership and overseeing program planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, budget management, and reporting. S/he will work closely with MINEDUC, other consortium member leads, and partners to ensure successful program implementation. S/he will also ensure that program activities inform and support overall MINEDUC efforts to improve teacher motivation, improve teaching and learning conditions, and promote equity in education.
Technical Advisor Responsibilities:
• Develop and support a strategy to address the most important equity and gender issues in Rwanda basic education.
• Oversee implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies to improve teacher motivation and improve learning conditions in schools.
• Apply best practices and support policy development related to Parent-Teacher Council involvement in improving learning in schools.
• Develop strategies to address main reasons children drop out of primary and lower level secondary school and develop interventions to address these.
• Collaborate with communities and analyze potential school income generation initiatives practices to generate income and keep school fees and operational costs low.
• Collaborate with MNEDUC staff to develop a strategy to scale up of the teacher motivation initiatives.
• Provide ongoing technical support and guidance regarding equity, dropout, and teaching and learning issues and ensure that technical and programmatic problems are resolved in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Liaise with CRS education technical staff at regional and headquarters levels to ensure that promising practices and effective strategies are incorporated into project design and implementation and ensure education interventions are in line with agency program quality principles and standards.
• Lead the research, documentation and sharing of lessons learned.
Program Manager Responsibilities:
• Represent CRS to the prime and other consortium members, the Government of Rwanda, donors, and partners.
• Oversee planning, implementation, budget development/negotiation/management for all CRS education activities under this subgrant.
• Participate in consortium/donor planning for baseline, mid-term, and final evaluations and contribute to highly effective M&E systems.
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to the prime.
• Ensure dissemination of reports, results, promising practices within and outside CRS as appropriate.
• Develop and oversee implementation of strategy for working with local partners and communities.
• Act as hiring manager for all staff recruited on this education program.
• Coordinate all technical staff working on this education program and supervise their work for this education program.
• Liaise with all administrative and financial staff supporting this education program to ensure effective financial and grants management.
• Manage performance of all staff working on the education program and ensure they have adequate training and resources.
• Manage relationships with local partners implementing this education program, ensuring good coordination, communication, and performance. Ensure capacity building for local partners.
Key Working Relationships
Internal: CRS/Rwanda Senior Management Team; department and unit heads; programming staff; regional and HQ technical advisors.
External: Consortium partners; Government of Rwanda, USAID and other international organizations operating in the education sector.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Personal/Professional Skills:
1. Ability to work independently, but also coordinate and manage an effective team.
2. Strong organizational and time management skills.
3. Ability to represent CRS effectively and communicate and work well with diverse partners (donors, international organizations, Church, government, local and community-based organizations).
4. Ability to effectively prioritize among competing priorities.
Qualifications:
1. Master’s Degree in Education, International Development, or related field required.
2. Minimum of seven years experience of high quality and strategic Education program implementation in a developing country required.
3. Demonstrated experience designing and/or implementing equity in education programs.
4. Robust experience with project and grant management, including planning, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting. USG grants management helpful.
5. Previous experience working with Education issues at the community level, preferably in the African context.
6. Demonstrated effectiveness in managing staff and in project management.
7. Capacity to work closely with, understand, and support local partners. Experience in capacity building of partners preferred.
8. Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and French.
9. Strong computer skills, including MS Office, Word, Excel, and Power Point.
10. Previous experience with USAID-funded projects and with working in a consortium preferred.
11. Experience in monitoring & evaluation desirable
12. Experience in Rwanda desirable.
EOE/M/F/D/V
Requisition # I273
Note: This position is contingent on funding and candidate selection is contingent on donor approval.
Background:
CRS’ mission in Rwanda is to contribute to a peaceful and productive society through development programs and peacebuilding activities. CRS began operations in Rwanda in 1960 and currently manages a portfolio of approximately $11 million across a number of different sectors, including education; agriculture; savings and internal lending (SILC); HIV/AIDS care and treatment; and community reconciliation and healing. Projects are funded by several agencies of the USG, foundations, and by CRS private funds.
CRS is seeking an Education Specialist to manage a five year literacy and learning program funded by the United States Agency of International Development (USAID). The Literacy, Language and Learning project’s overall objective is to improve learning in Rwanda by strengthening early grade literacy in Kinyarwanda and English and early grade numeracy.
The program includes three core objectives: a) improved quality of teaching; b) improved availability and use of teaching and learning materials; c) and support for English. The program also includes two cross-cutting sub-components: a) strengthened Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) capacity to implement activities to improve the quality of education; and b) improved equity in education.
CRS will lead the cross-cutting subcomponent on improved equity in education as well as components related to student dropout, teacher motivation, and improvement of teaching and learning conditions in school. CRS will also be responsible for implementation at the school and community level for some program activities led by other consortium members such as the distribution of reading materials.
The Education Specialist will have a dual role, acting as technical advisor within the consortium and to MINEDUC for all technical issues related to equity, student dropout, teacher motivation, and improving teaching and learning conditions in schools. S/he will also oversee all CRS responsibilities under this subgrant, providing strategic and operational leadership and overseeing program planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation, budget management, and reporting. S/he will work closely with MINEDUC, other consortium member leads, and partners to ensure successful program implementation. S/he will also ensure that program activities inform and support overall MINEDUC efforts to improve teacher motivation, improve teaching and learning conditions, and promote equity in education.
Technical Advisor Responsibilities:
• Develop and support a strategy to address the most important equity and gender issues in Rwanda basic education.
• Oversee implementation, monitoring and evaluation of strategies to improve teacher motivation and improve learning conditions in schools.
• Apply best practices and support policy development related to Parent-Teacher Council involvement in improving learning in schools.
• Develop strategies to address main reasons children drop out of primary and lower level secondary school and develop interventions to address these.
• Collaborate with communities and analyze potential school income generation initiatives practices to generate income and keep school fees and operational costs low.
• Collaborate with MNEDUC staff to develop a strategy to scale up of the teacher motivation initiatives.
• Provide ongoing technical support and guidance regarding equity, dropout, and teaching and learning issues and ensure that technical and programmatic problems are resolved in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Liaise with CRS education technical staff at regional and headquarters levels to ensure that promising practices and effective strategies are incorporated into project design and implementation and ensure education interventions are in line with agency program quality principles and standards.
• Lead the research, documentation and sharing of lessons learned.
Program Manager Responsibilities:
• Represent CRS to the prime and other consortium members, the Government of Rwanda, donors, and partners.
• Oversee planning, implementation, budget development/negotiation/management for all CRS education activities under this subgrant.
• Participate in consortium/donor planning for baseline, mid-term, and final evaluations and contribute to highly effective M&E systems.
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to the prime.
• Ensure dissemination of reports, results, promising practices within and outside CRS as appropriate.
• Develop and oversee implementation of strategy for working with local partners and communities.
• Act as hiring manager for all staff recruited on this education program.
• Coordinate all technical staff working on this education program and supervise their work for this education program.
• Liaise with all administrative and financial staff supporting this education program to ensure effective financial and grants management.
• Manage performance of all staff working on the education program and ensure they have adequate training and resources.
• Manage relationships with local partners implementing this education program, ensuring good coordination, communication, and performance. Ensure capacity building for local partners.
Key Working Relationships
Internal: CRS/Rwanda Senior Management Team; department and unit heads; programming staff; regional and HQ technical advisors.
External: Consortium partners; Government of Rwanda, USAID and other international organizations operating in the education sector.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Personal/Professional Skills:
1. Ability to work independently, but also coordinate and manage an effective team.
2. Strong organizational and time management skills.
3. Ability to represent CRS effectively and communicate and work well with diverse partners (donors, international organizations, Church, government, local and community-based organizations).
4. Ability to effectively prioritize among competing priorities.
Qualifications:
1. Master’s Degree in Education, International Development, or related field required.
2. Minimum of seven years experience of high quality and strategic Education program implementation in a developing country required.
3. Demonstrated experience designing and/or implementing equity in education programs.
4. Robust experience with project and grant management, including planning, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting. USG grants management helpful.
5. Previous experience working with Education issues at the community level, preferably in the African context.
6. Demonstrated effectiveness in managing staff and in project management.
7. Capacity to work closely with, understand, and support local partners. Experience in capacity building of partners preferred.
8. Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and French.
9. Strong computer skills, including MS Office, Word, Excel, and Power Point.
10. Previous experience with USAID-funded projects and with working in a consortium preferred.
11. Experience in monitoring & evaluation desirable
12. Experience in Rwanda desirable.
EOE/M/F/D/V
How to apply
To apply, visit www.crs.org/about/careers
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