Education Manager, P4, Beirut, Lebanon, FT, #107154

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

 For every child, hope

UNICEF started to work in Lebanon in 1948 and established its office in 1950. For more than 70 years we’ve been working closely with the Government of Lebanon, other UN agencies, international and local NGOs, universities, and more than 100 partners to meet the needs of disadvantaged children in Lebanon. Responding to life-saving needs and ensuring equal access to quality public services, the impact of our work is felt in every aspect and every sphere of society. To learn more about our work, please refer to: https://www.unicef.org/lebanon/what-we-do

UNICEF’s Education program aims at improving the quality of education in the public sector. It focuses on the improvement of the socio-economic status of marginalized and vulnerable. To  learn more about our Education Programme in Lebanon visit: https://www.unicef.org/lebanon/education

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Chief, Education, the Education Manager supports the Chief in managing the section, playing a key role  in bringing innovation to the development and preparation of education programmes. The Education Manager provides authoritative technical guidance and operational support throughout all stages of programming to facilitate the management and delivery of results on strengthening national education systems to improve learning outcomes and to promote universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive primary/early childhood education, especially  for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society. The Education Manager contributes to the achievement of concrete and sustainable results according to plans, allocation, results based-management  approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

1. Management and advisory support to the Chief

• Provide advice to the Chief in establishing the annual work plan, including developing strategies, determining priorities, and performance measurements.
• Coordinate work progress monitoring and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards, and report to Chief critical  issues for timely action.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to colleagues in the section on all aspects of programming and implementation to enable them to achieve performance objectives
• Perform the full duties of the Chief in his/her absence.

2. Programme development and planning

• Advise the Chief on the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for the education programmes to ensure that current and comprehensive data on education issues is available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy, advocacy, intervention and development efforts on education programmes.
• Advise the Chief in setting priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans. Keep abreast of development trends to enhance programme
• management, efficiency and delivery.
• Participate in strategic programme discussion on the planning of education programmes. Formulate, design and prepare programme proposals for the  sector, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programme and coherence/integration with the UN Framework, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.

3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results

• Plan and collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN  system indicators to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results for the assigned sector on education programmes.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with the government and other counterparts to assess  progress and to determine required action/interventions to achieve results.
• Prepare and assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths and weaknesses in programme management.
• Identify lessons learned and use knowledge gained for development planning and timely intervention to achieve goals.
• Actively monitor programmes/projects through field visits and surveys, and exchange information with stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Manage the optimum and appropriate use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets) confirming compliance with organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
• Prepare regular and mandated programme reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of programme progress.

4. Advisory services and technical support

• Provide technical advice to key government officials, NGO’s, UN system and other country office partners on policies, strategies, best practices and approaches on education and other related issues to support programme development planning, implementation and delivery of results.
• Coordinate and ensure the availability of technical experts (with Regional Office/HQ) to ensure timely support throughout all stages of programming.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for combating poverty and all forms of discrimination against women/children by advising on and advocating strategies and approaches to promote universal access to quality, equitable and inclusive education for children in the country.
• Prepare policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and consideration.
• Participate in country discussions on education emergency preparedness, programming and contingency planning to ensure proactive and appropriate responses are in place to meet the onset of emergencies nationally or other designated locations.

5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable education programme initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices on education management and information systems.
• Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures, and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Organize, plan and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders to promote sustainable results on education related programme s/projects

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: education, economics, psychology, sociology or another relevant technical field.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in programme planning, management, and/or research in education is required.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in UNICEF is considered as an asset.
• Familiarity/ background with emergency is considered as an asset.
• Good education sector planning knowledge/ability, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors  (e.g. ECD, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Inclusive Education), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components and  processes, as well as governance issues.
• Strong background in programme management/results-based management and financial management is a distinct advantage.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (preferably French and/or Arabic) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

Core competencies

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (II)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (II)
• Works Collaboratively with Others (II)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (II)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (II)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (II)
• Drives to Achieve Impactful Results (II)
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity (II)

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

If the position is an Elevated Risk Role: