Education Specialist

Organization: Right To Play International

Department/Division: Program Quality and Impact

Work location: Lebanon: Beirut, North and South

Authorized to work in: Lebanon

Target Start Date: Oct-November 2024

Contract Duration: 2 years fixed agreement – Renewed based on performance and budget availability

Closing Date: September 16, 2024

BACKGROUND:

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity using play. By harnessing play, one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in a child’s life, we helped 2.3 million children last year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases like HIV and malaria and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the only global development organization focused exclusively on using play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease and inequality.

Established in 2000, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has operations in 22 countries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Education Specialist reports directly to the Program Manager. He/she is responsible for providing technical advice and guidance on the development and implementation of education programs in line with the Country Strategic Plan and Right To Play’s global theory of change. The incumbent supports Right to Play strategy development, lead on the technical design and implementation of education programs and have a crucial role in representation within the education sector in Lebanon as well as managing strategic partnership and policy engagement. He/she works to integrate Right To Play’s methodologies into education planning and delivery, , as well as the activities of Right To Play’s strategic and implementing partners. This includes developing materials and resources as necessary, in collaboration with the Global Program Quality and Impact team, Global Education Specialist and other internal relevant stakeholders. The incumbent alsoprovides technical input tothe Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer on the development of education-related performance measurement frameworks, baseline assessments and evaluations. He/she plays a leadership role in policy engagement with external stakeholders. The Education Specialist is also responsible for analyzing education related results from Right To Play’s interventions and bringing innovative knowledge to organizational approaches.

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PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

#1: Strategy and Program planning, implementation and delivery (60% of time):

• Contribute to the development and delivery of Right to Play Lebanon Strategy by providing technical input and operationalizing the strategic priorities related to education
• Lead the design and development of education program strategies in close coordination with the Global Education Specialists to ensure alignment with RTP’s global theory of change.
• Leads technical planning and monitoring of RTP’s education program(s) in line with the Country Strategic Plan, the Ministry of Education plans, and donor requirements.
• Supports Country Office Program Manager in developing education focused & integrated project proposals and concept notes for new projects.
• Identifies and develops new partnerships with education-focused NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and communities.
• In coordination with Country Office Program Manager, and programs staff ensures that issues of gender equality, inclusion, child protection and safeguarding, accountability, risk and vulnerability are addressed and monitored throughout all education programs.
• Leads in developing curricula and resources for basic education programs (pre-primary and primary) as needed, working in collaboration with the Global Program Quality Team.
• Builds networks with Education Specialists in other countries to support cross-learning with other RTP country programs in the region and globally.
• Stays abreast of new developments and opportunities to develop new initiatives to improve education outcomes for children in the country.
• Provides technical leadership on the procurement and/or development of appropriate teaching and learning materials, training manuals and education resources.
• Develops and promotes support-materials for incorporating activity-based learning methods for teachers.
• In close coordination with the MEL and Global Program Quality team, conducts need assessments in support of designing training for education departments, teachers and RTP strategic and implementing partners, where applicable.
• Works closely with teacher training and curriculum development institutions to integrate RTP methodology into curriculum, textbooks and class room teaching.
• Regularly develops lessons learned and best practices and shares them with the programs team, stakeholders and the Regional Office, ensuring that program lessons are being used to promote improved program delivery
• Collaborates with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer (MELO) to develop appropriate systems, tools and procedures for the monitoring and evaluation of education programs such as diagnostic and pre-post assessment tools for activities and training, classroom monitoring tools….etc.
• Oversee the application of technical knowledge during trainings and sessions with different target groups to better inform our programs and the development of resources

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#2: Representation, advocacy and policy engagement (25% of Time):

• In close coordination with the Program Manager and the Country Director, leads RTP’s advocacy and policy effort in the education sector by participating in national coordination forums as applicable national strategic planning for the education sector, relevant technical working groups and other key coordination platforms.
• Represents RTP in various platforms and maintains positive relationships with governments and other relevant stakeholders regarding RTP activities.
• Regularly updates stakeholder analysis for the education sector and ensures that RTP is engaging with and is visible to the most influential actors in the sector.
• Coordinates research and advocacy interventions related to the program at national and international level, using data from school-level interventions to advocate for national-level policy development/implementation, in close coordination with the MELO.
• Leads and develops RTP’s analysis and best practices in education programming in the country and disseminates through documents and position papers with education stakeholders and within RTP at the regional and global levels.
• Provides technical inputs to global strategies, policies and resources related to education programming to ensure that country experience and realities are well-reflected.
• Oversees the engagement plan of sub-granted partners and leads on the technical & thematic development accordingly
• Increases presence on digital learning platforms (online learning)
• Promotes knowledge of RTP mandate and values through responsible representation of RTP amongst all stakeholders and potential partners involved in education work and local and national working group

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#3: Capacity Building Support (10% of Time):

• Ensures that country staff (mainly Project Manager and Coordinators) are properly supported with the technical knowledge and skills necessary to deliver education program interventions.
• Conducts regular visits to the field to provide technical support to program teams.

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#4: Performs other duties as assigned (5% of Time)

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EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

• Master’s degree in education or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 5 years’ experience in designing and implementing education programs in humanitarian and/or development settings. Experience in providing technical guidance on basic education programs and liaising with government officials, good understanding of the education sector in Lebanon and demonstrated skills in program design and planning, report writing, networking, representation, partnership building and working with NGOs.
• Significant experience in designing and delivering training and/or the development of education materials and resources.
• Track record in successful business development/fundraising in the field of education

COMPETENCIES / PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Superior organizational skills and ability to multi-task on a constant basis
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to build rapport with staff, partners, government officials, donors and community leaders
• Ability to adapt and work under pressure meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Creative and flexible with problem solving skills
• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy
• Ability to represent oneself as an effective Right To Play ambassador to high level officials
• Strategy planning skills for education initiatives
• People management particularly influence management

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Technical knowledge in thematic areas including, play-based psychosocial support (including music, sports, theatre, etc..), child participation, Case management.
• Understanding of active learning approaches, particularly play-based learning
• Knowledge and understanding of best practices in basic education programs, including technical experience in teacher training and resource and curriculum development
• Skills and knowledge in social and emotional learning
• Understanding of community development processes
• Strong MS Office and program management tools and procedures
• Knowledge and experience with programmatic approaches related to life skills or social emotional learnin
• Knowledge and experience in education research, quantitative and qualitative methods

LANGUAGES:

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (An Asset):

• Experience in quality improvement
• Experience in strengthening civil society organisations
• Experience in coaching
• Knowledge/experience in child protection, gender mainstreaming and/or governance
• Knowledge of adult learning
• Knowledge of international donors

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

The opportunity to work with a passionate, innovative and collaborative team where you have the ability to make things happen. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). In addition, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package.