Colombia: Education Thematic Coordinator
Country: Colombia
Closing date: 29 Jan 2014
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.
We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.
Following a major transition, our international programmes are now delivered through a merged operation with c14, 000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We’re changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people an d relevant for the 21st century.
The role
The Education Thematic Coordinator is responsible for identifying, designing and managing the educational projects for Save the Children in Colombia as part of the Country Program Educational Plan. This includes providing technical advice, training and capacity building, financial control, and resource management in a consistent manner with our overall objectives.
He/she will be expected to lead on sectoral assessments, project planning, coordination, and support fundraising, recruitment and procurement. In most circumstances, the post-holder will be expected to mentor and/or capacity build existing country programme staff.
He/she will also be responsible for the management of the Protecting Children’s Education in Southwest Colombia Project developed by SC in partnership with The Norwegian Refugee Council and funded by DFATD. This pr oject aims to promote and protect the right to education of vulnerable children and youth in 21 conflict-affected municipalities in the departments of Cauca and Nariño. This project intends to improve the quality education of 120,000 children and youth, to access primary and secondary education for some 80,000 out-of-school children and youth and to strengthen capacities of the Secretariats of Education and municipal administrators to provide relevant educational services in target population.
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal job description and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
Qualifications and experience
Essential:
* Relevant program development experience in Education in an international organization environment, including proven experience in strategic planning, representation and policy work.
* Solid skills in all aspects of program development including planning, monitoring, and evaluation of programs / projects and preparing education proposals.
* Proven competence in management / development, personnel resources and implementation of policies, procedures and related systems.
* Demonstrated experience in the development and creation of new programs, including proposal development focused on education.
* Experience and demonstrable knowledge of effective financial control, budgetary control and grant management.
* Ability to analyse multiple sources of information, evaluate options and to plan strategically.
* Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills
* Written and verbal fluency in English and Spanish is mandatory.
* Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff ensuring they have clear objectives and receive appropriate comments on their performance.
* Excellent skills of representation and advocacy.
* Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
* Experience of working in sensitive intercultural environments
* Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
* Understanding of Save the Children vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives, values and essential standards.
Desirable:
* Understanding of the social, political and economic context of Colombia and it´s education context.
* Experience in providing technical support (capacity building) to authorities and local / national counterparts.
* Experience in emergency response (internati onal context)
* Experience in fundraising
We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
To see a full a job description, please visit our website at www.savethechildren.net/jobs
Please apply in English using your CV and covering letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role.
How to apply:
Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to:
lgarcia.69177.3830@savethechildrenint.aplitrak.com
