Technical Lead - Childhood Development Activity

Technical Lead - Childhood Development Activity

Description

Title: Technical Lead

TEAM/PROGRAM: Childhood Development Activity

LOCATION:  Addis Ababa

GRADE:  1A 

POST TYPE: National

Contract length: Until Sep 2026 with possibility of extension

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.

Risk and Compliance: 

The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption policy and code of conduct. The key responsibilities include understanding and complying with the SCI policies and procedures, not committing any act of fraud, bribery, or corruption, understanding risks in their area/role, and implementing mitigation measures, report any suspected fraud, bribery, or corruption immediately, declare conflicts of interest in accordance with internal procedures and complete mandatory training related to ethics and anti-fraud measures

ROLE PURPOSE: 

Save the Children is seeking a Technical Lead candidate for an early childhood development and education (ECDE) program in emergency context in Ethiopia (hereinafter referred to as the Childhood Development Activity). This position will collaborate with key stakeholders in early childhood education including the Federal Ministry of Education, Regional State Education Bureaus, Woreda Education Offices, Colleges of Teacher Education, Ethiopia Education Cluster, NGOs (International, National and local) and other critical partners to ensure high quality ECDE development and programming. The Technical Lead will oversee teams of experts both in SCI and partners, build the capacity of and provide high quality technical support to local implementing partners, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities, and ensure the program complies with the policies and regulations of Save the Children and the LEGO Foundation. The Technical Lead’s technical and management expertise will ensure the delivery of high quality programming.

The Technical Lead ensures program implementation of high impact, proven interventions that meet stated goals and reporting requirements. The role manages the implementation of program activities and collaborates effectively with the CDA MEAL and Research and Operations staffs to ensure efficient operational support for the project team. Specifically, this person is a key part of the senior management team of CDA and sets high standards for planning, training of the technical team, program implementation and consistent monitoring of program activities. He/she also analyses and improves organizational processes, and workflow to enhance quality, productivity and efficiency that will benefit the program.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Director of Education in Emergencies (DEiE)

Staff reporting to this post: Senior Advisors for Teacher Education and Community Engagement

Role Dimensions: Save the Children works in all regions in Ethiopia with a current staff complement of approximately 1,500. Over the 4-year period, CDA work in Afar, Amhara, Tigray, Oromia and Somali regions implementing a high quality and impactful early childhood development and education in emergencies initiative benefitting approximately 500,000 children of ages 3 to 6+ years.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• In collaboration with the DEIE, ensure that the Childhood Development Activity (CDA) is delivered according to the contractual requirements of The LEGO Foundation and the Government of Ethiopia i.e. all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timeline and budget, reports are submitted as per agreed schedules and any other requirements or criteria are fulfilled.
• Represent the Activity at meetings with The LEGO Foundation, Government of Ethiopia, partners, and other stakeholders when required.
• Oversee technical outputs of all partner organizations through regular field visits and facilitate work planning and regular technical meetings for all consortium partners.
• In collaboration with DEIE, coordinate the preparation of Activity reports, including quarterly and annual reports, and contribute to success stories and other project reporting and documentation.
• Provide technical and managerial leadership in the areas of capacity building, quality teaching and learning, community and family participation, monitoring/evaluation.
• In collaboration with the Research and MEAL Lead, ensure program quality assurance and impact assessment through monitoring and evaluation of interventions, and sustained knowledge gathering and sharing through periodic evaluations.
• Supervise the technical team, consult with technical partners and other relevant national stakeholders and beneficiaries as necessary. 
• Collaborate with in-country technical advisors and headquarter-based technical staff to ensure the Activity is implemented according to program design, industry best practices and regulations.
• Facilitate scenario-based planning for the CDA and provide leadership for the planning and implementation processes, modifying and adapting plans accordingly.
• Coordinate the design and routine update of detailed annual work plans and ensure these are used by the team appropriately to monitor progress towards completion and achievement of program objectives.
• Ensure that reports for donors, Government of Ethiopia, and Save the Children are prepared as required, ensuring these are of the highest quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor. Be fully aware of the grant compliance regulations of Save the Children as well as The LEGO Foundation.
• Work closely with the Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation (LME) team to develop a research plan, analyze project data, identify key challenges, and use them to inform policy analysis and revision.
• Manage and motivate direct reports to achieve their work plan objectives, and to contribute to the achievement of the overall program goals.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders, other implementing partners, and Government of Ethiopia in the fulfilment of Activity goal and objectives.
• Provide consistent and high quality technical support to implementing partners using direct face-to-face methods as well as remote support.
• Monitor country-level CDA activities, identify challenges and work with teams to resolve challenges in a timely manner.
• In collaboration with the Research and MEAL Lead, ensure key project results (including outcomes of special/planned studies, monthly, quarterly and annual reports) are communicated to the DEIE in a timely manner.
• Create and maintain an environment for learning, sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to emerging problems within the Childhood Development Activity.
• Identify performance gaps within the technical team and provide appropriate capacity building for both core team and partner staff.
• Coordinate closely with the SC offices in Ethiopia, as well as at the regional and global levels and partners in technical matters.
• Facilitate periodic technical meetings and ensure a summary of progress and challenges are prepared and presented with follow-up actions as required.
• Liaising with DEIE and CDA Finance Manager, ensure proper Activity management by ensuring that all planned expenditures are on track in strict compliance with the agreed budget lines and LEGO Foundation and Save the Children’s financial regulations.
• Ensure that KPIs for program operations are met and work closely with other functions to achieve project milestones.
• Lead all planned IR 1.1 activities for both Save the Children and IPs aligned with the other three IRs and track the ongoing implementation against the quality standard indicated for all designated activities, which also includes the school feeding services, liaising with the CO Health and Nutrition team as per the designated LOE. 
• Liaising with the Country office Head of Safeguarding, Child Protection and Migration Thematic Lead, ensure the standards of safeguarding and protection are met for the Activity.
• Render technical support in MHPSS cross-cutting components inclusion, liaising with SC US/member office technical staff supporting the Activity. 

Safeguarding:

• Understand the provisions of the Safeguarding Policy, encompassing Child Safeguarding, Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (PSEA) as well as the Code of Conduct and Local/Country Procedures. Conduct oneself in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy and PSEA, in personal and professional lives – which entails reporting any suspicions of safeguarding concern, including child and vulnerable adult abuse. 
• Ensure that all project activities carried out are considered in relation to prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse and handling of serious complaints in line with the safeguarding policy.
• Promote the message of safeguarding to colleagues in other organizations and government ministries, children in their own and beneficiary families, and community members in general and be vigilant about observing possible child abuse/harm in their personal and professional lives.
• In collaboration with safeguarding team, ensure regular risk assessments is conducted to identify potential safeguarding issues within the program’s scope and risk mitigation plan is implemented to prevent abuse and exploitation

GENERAL:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, communications guidelines, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties, as assigned by DEIE
• Support and contribute to information and communication flows between emergency responses and humanitarian programming, and a variety of internal departments, teams, functions and external stakeholders (including situation reports, dashboards, and trackers).

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our 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 others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

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

COMPETENCIES

Save the Children Values are: Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity. To meet the value system, the post holder is expected to demonstrate the following Competencies on ongoing basis:

Leading

• Leading and Inspiring Others: Demonstrate leadership in all our work, role models our values and articulates a compiling vision to inspire to achieve our goals for children
• Delivering results: Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account to deliver our ambitious goals for children, continually improving own performance or that of the team/ organization.
• Developing Self and Others: Invest time and energy to actively develop self and others to help realize their full potential and to build the organization capability for the further.  

Thinking

• Problem solving and decision making: Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organization and making appropriate judgements.
• Innovating and Adapting: Develop and implement innovative solutions to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing uncertain work and global environment. 
• Applying technical and professional expertise: Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organization.
• Engaging (align with Collaboration, Creativity, Networking: Builds and use sustainable relationship to support the work of save the children  
• Working effectively with others Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.
• Communicating with Impact: Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust with others

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master’s degree (or higher) in education, early childhood education, developmental psychology or related field.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrated experience in leading multi-year project, and experience in leading partners in the achievement of project milestones.
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in managing early childhood and education projects in an emergency context, and a minimum of 3 years of LEGO Foundation funded early childhood/education projects.
• Effective strategic planning, program evaluation, and project management skills.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize outputs of special studies and communicate results as succinctly as possible.
• Proven experience of building and working effectively in teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical specialists in a consortium approach, and with strong skills to work effectively with private sector and non-state actors in the expansion early childhood education.
• Enriched experience working with local government structure, donors, and other actors engaged in the expansion of early childhood education in Ethiopia.
• Familiarity with The LEGO Foundation project management, and reporting procedures and systems.
• Strong management skills, leadership qualities, professional reputation, ability to create synergies where applicable, interpersonal skills, and written and oral presentation skills to fulfill the diverse operations and managerial requirements of the project description.
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communications skills.