Play Matters Technical Lead at The International Rescue Committee Full-time Job

Play Matters Technical Lead

IRC Tanzania is seeking a PlayMatters Technical Lead in Tanzania for a five-year project that is currently in its 3rd year of implementation, PlayMatters, funded by the LEGO Foundation. This position will be a part of the larger PlayMatters initiative to increase play-based learning opportunities for nearly 1 million pre-primary and primary school aged refugee and host community children impacted by the humanitarian crises in East Africa and living in Ethiopia and Uganda. This project aims to build childrens social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative skills through play in their homes, schools, and communities and will be implemented in partnership with War Child, Plan International, Behavioural Insights Team and Innovations for Poverty Action.

The PlayMatters Technical Lead in Tanzania will be responsible for coordinating across these partners and IRC Tanzania staff to ensure the project delivers high impact programming for children. In addition, the PlayMatters Technical Lead will be responsible for ensuring design and implementation of project activities engages other key stakeholders required to achieve results such as government officials, the UN and other humanitarian coordination actors, as well as other implementing agencies outside of the consortium. The PlayMatters Technical Lead will ensure that the project achieves the expected results in Uganda and is implemented in accordance with the donor agreement, donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality of assistance standards. The PlayMatters Technical Lead will report to the IRC Tanzania Education Coordinator. The PlayMatters Technical Lead will jointly work with the regional management and technical team to also ensure a coordinated and cohesive program approach across Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda, to jointly learn and ensure results across the three countries.

Job Responsibilities:

Consortium Technical Leadership

• In collaboration with the Country Director and Project Director, facilitate and coordinate project management through the Country Steering Committee (CMC).
• In collaboration with the Deputy Project Director, lead the Project Management Committee (PMC) in line with the approved partnership terms of reference.
• Represent and coordinate the PlayMatters project with Government stakeholders, UN agencies and other humanitarian actors in Tanzania and ensure internal and external dissemination of information about project progress.
• Lead and coordinate technical planning, implementation, and monitoring of PlayMatters project activities in IRC and among consortium partner organizations.
• Establish, manage, and maintain relationships with key system actors to advance evidence-based policy discussions to integrate Learning through Play within existing education and humanitarian systems
• Jointly work with the PlayMatters regional team to provide strategic and technical leadership and define country level activities to achieve the greatest impact toward project goals and objectives.
• Develop, review, and monitor, in coordination with key country, regional project staff and partners, annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track.
• Maintain active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions.
• Regularly communicate and coordinate with the Regional PlayMatters Project Director, Deputy Director, Technical leads on technical and project management issues.

Program Management

Work Planning and budgeting

• In consultation with the grants department, regional project management and technical teams, provide leadership in work planning, work plan review processes within IRC and among partner organizations.
• In consultation with finance department, consistently track and review project budget performance in IRC and lead discussions among consortium partners on budget performance versus actual, value for money alongside progress on targets
• Oversee technical direction and project delivery to ensure activities are in line with the project wide performance framework and work plan and meet all standard operational policies and procedures.
• Oversee management of partners/sub-grantees in Uganda and provide financial and operations support that optimizes resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor
• Coordinate technical PMC staff participation in outcome reference group meetings and ensure that decisions made in these reference groups are communicated and implemented in the PMC agenda.
  

Research Monitoring Evaluation Accountability & Learning (RMEAL)

• Lead the development and tracking of Key performance indicators for project progress monitoring and learning
• Conduct regular visits to project sites, as possible, to provide technical assistance and ensure proper implementation and monitoring of project activities.
• Support field staff to use project data to track progress and engage in meaningful course correction discussions at regular and frequent intervals; as well as ensure data is tailored to facilitate similar discussions at the country and regional senior management level.

Reporting

• Contribute to monthly, quarterly, and annual donor reports through both formal and informal debriefings and written inputs.
• Lead in proper utilization data and evidence using simple tracking tools e.g., dashboards to inform on project progress, learning opportunities for informed decision making at implementation and regional level.

Human Resource Management

• Build capacity of staff on project strategy, planning, budgeting, reporting, approaches, and Learning through Play Methodology
• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility
• Lead planning for and conducting timely performance management discussions and reporting for staff
• In consultation with the country and RPT HR and technical teams, conduct timely human resource planning and recruitment based on prevailing needs.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Advanced degree from an accredited university in education, international development, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience managing education programs for refugees or crisis-affected populations.
• Experience managing large-scale, multi-million-dollar, complex, multi-partner projects.
• Experience working alongside government, UN and other humanitarian actors in development and emergency contexts
• Demonstrated success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Fluency in English required.

Reports to: IRC Tanzania Education Coordinator.

Working Environment: The PlayMatters Technical Lead will work in the IRC Tanzania office in Kasulu and be provided regular administrative and logistics support to perform his/her responsibilities

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Warning :Please note that the IRC does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fee). IRC does not request any information related to bank accounts. If asked of any payment please contact [email protected].

Requisition ID: req36452

Job Title: PlayMatters Technical Lead

Sector: Education

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Flexible

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the worlds worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.