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Regional Early Childhood Development Advisor , ChildFund

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“We work in 31 countries, assisting approximately 15.2 million children and their family members, regardless of race, creed or gender. Our distinctive approach focuses on working with children throughout their journey from birth to young adulthood, as well as with families, local organizations and communities globally to create the environments children need to thrive.

When you work with ChildFund International, you will continuously raise the bar by doing more, doing it better, measuring your progress and communicating your results so that others are inspired to join us in our efforts.”

The Regional Early Childhood Development Advisor position for the Americas seeks to lead and support processes to expand and improve the quality, increase the visibility and mobilize the resources of our integral Early Childhood programs at the regional and country level in accordance with ChildFund Core Intent and Outcomes.

Supports global strategic initiatives in area of expertise and will provide guidance and support in the process of continuous program improvement, institutional capacity, promotion of regional strategic relationships, as well as provide key support in resource mobilization initiatives.

This support will be provided to the National Offices (NOs) in the Americas, and actively collaborate with the international office and other regional program specialists, as well as external counterparts. This position reports to the Regional Program Manager and coordinates with other regional office program team members and other regional office staff.

Main Responsabilities

  • Leadership in the development and assurance of the quality of strong core programs in all its components - lifecycle of children, communities, and other stakeholders, which supports the accomplishment of ChildFund's core intent and outcomes and the area of excellence.
    • Ensure all activities support the initiative to expand and improve the quality of early childhood development interventions in accordance with the organizational program approach principles, standards and theory of change.
    • Support and participate in the development of relevant, effective and high impact early childhood development programming standards and guidelines; communicating such to stakeholders.
    • Provide leadership in contextualizing and developing focused high-impact early childhood development programs.
  • Building of regional strategic relationships that facilitate visibility, resource mobilization and assure that technical standards are met.
    • Develop regional and national partnerships with like-minded organizations, and community agencies in order to offer the best early childhood development initiatives and expand the breadth of support available.
    • Develop new programs through grant acquisition, including project and proposal development, standard setting, tools development for capacity buidling, setting and monitoring milestones.
    • Maintain and strengthen collaboration with international donors and practitioner agencies and academic institutions. Represent ChildFund in relations with external entities including PVOs, USAID, other public donors, and international organizations.
  • Support the development of program skills and competencies that support achievement of the core outcomes.
    • Build National Office and Area staff capacities to embed Early Childhood development program in all strategic plans and programming actions.
    • Development of strategies, methods and tools to enhance competencies of stakeholder to carry on processes and programs.
    • Assist in the identification and selection of consultants or partnership needed for program support in the field.

Required Skills

  • Excellent oral and written skills in English and Spanish with ability to clearly and concisely communicate ideas and strategies to a variety of audiences - required.
  • Strong understanding of current methodologies and standards associated with early childhoood development.
  • Demonstrated success in designing, monitoring and evaluating ECD programs.
  • Extensive experience and knowledge in utiizing linkages with NGOs, Universities, USAID, Advisory groups for the purposes of increased technical knowledge, visibility and resource mobilization.
  • Ability to identify appropriate resources, including human resourcess, to achieve results and to prioritize resource allocation given time and financial constraints.
  • Effective skills in cross cultural communication and ability to clearly articulate expectations. Readiness and ability to analyze, understand and take into account different cultural contexts and concepts of ECD.
  • Ability to write strong program proposals.
  • Portuguese oral and written skills desirable.
  • Ability to travel at least 40% of the time.

Experience Required

  • Advanced degree in education, early childhood development or equivalent.
  • 7+ years of related experience in Early Childhood development, program management and institutional development. Experience beyond country of residence is recommendable.
  • Broad experience in several early childhood development programming areas.
  • Preferably 3 years in senior leadership position.
  • Location: Flexible - home based or Regional Office in Panama
How to apply: