In the DRC, at the national level, only 8% of children aged 7 to 14 have a functioning reading level, and 1% can calculate (MICS 2018), while the attendance rate at the provincial level ranges from 57% to 92%. Among all these children, there are disparities in access, quality of education, experiences in and out of school, and demands and risks in communities. Sexual violence, early marriage or childbirth, mine work, and recruitment and use for armed groups are among the most severe risks for children in the DRC.

The Technical Director will lead the programme team on an anticipated five - year USAID-funded Child and Youth Education Response Activity (CYERA) program in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The position will be based in Goma, DRC. The program focuses on increasing access to responsive education services for crisis- and conflict-affected Congolese children and youth as well as improving the delivery of quality, gender- and crisis-responsive foundational education instruction for communities of Ituri, North, and South Kivu.

The Technical Director is responsible for overseeing the technical delivery of education programming to crisis- and conflict-affected children and youth to increase education opportunities and programs that deliver quality instruction responsible to the social and emotional needs of teachers and educators affected by crisis and conflict. S/he is responsible for ensuring the technical and methodological soundness of activities, and in collaboration with the project technical team and partners, support the design of service delivery strategies. S/he incorporates best practices to ensure program results area achieved.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

General Management

• As a senior member of CYERA team, exemplary demonstrate behaviours corresponding to the mission, vision and values of Save the Children and verification of their correct application by staff during the entire intervention.

• As a senior member of CYERA team, creation of a favourable and productive work environment; execution of the workplace and diversity program for national office staff during the intervention.

• Contribution to general activities of the national program.

• Access global technical policies, procedures and resources that will support the project technically or operationally.

• Execution of the duties involved in the position, in a manner that reflects Save the Children's commitment to programming that is safe for children, in accordance with our code of conduct and our policy for safeguarding children.

Technical Direction

• Lead and oversee, in collaboration with other technical staff including the Gender Advisor, the development and delivery of a high quality, innovative, cost effective and sustainable project with the goal increased learning opportunities for children and youth in crisis and conflict affected areas so they can acquire foundational skills and increased well-being for children, youth, as well as education staff.
• Incorporate SC’s vision and values and full adherence to Code of Conduct, including child safeguarding, prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation, and anti-fraud policies.
• On an ongoing basis, oversee the analysis of needs vis a vis Education in the three targeted provinces and surge provinces.
• Ensure the technical and methodological soundness of activities, and in collaboration with the project team and partners, support the design of education activities that take into account the current conflict and/or crises and are flexible in scale and sequencing.
• Ensure the application of best practices, including Save the Children’s approaches to teacher professional development, safe schools, accountability to children, and pedagogical practices
• Prepare high quality, accurate and timely reports for Save the Children, project partners and USAID as required.
• With the Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), ensure strong mechanisms for monitoring project management information, project indicators, and accountability to targeted children and their families.
• With the MEAL Advisor, monitor factors in the theory of change and revise the theory change as necessary to be responsive to new evidence or circumstances.
• Working with MEAL and others, define a strong research and learning agenda for CYERA.
• In collaboration with the team, develop policy briefs, position papers and best practice as and when required, in collaboration with the partners, collaborating agencies, and others, as needed.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Education and key USAID implementing partners and other donors and key stakeholders, including through the national Accelerated Education Working Group. Based on collaboration and in consultation with USAID, refine and adjust technical approaches and annual work plans.
• Maintain an up to date and in depth understanding of national policies, strategies and other initiatives and developments by the Government of DRC relating to accelerated education, conflict sensitive education, teacher professional development and teacher payroll, and support civil society strengthening to hold duty bearers accountable to policies.
• Ensure coordination of all activities through Education Cluster at various provincial and national levels.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, International Development or related field is required; Master’s degree in Education preferred.
• Minimum five years’ experience with progressively increasing responsibility for designing, managing, and implementing complex education programming in developing countries involving multiple stakeholders and implementing partners
• At least three years of experience providing technical leadership on large-scale USAID funded projects and designing and implementing education programming, preferably in West Africa
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in building Ministry of Education capacity to provide safe education opportunities in formal and non-formal school settings.
• Ability to collaborate and liaise with senior MoE officials, other USAID implementing partners, other relevant education sector programs, and senior members of the donor community
• Proven track record managing a project team composed of technical experts from multi-cultural backgrounds and fostering team work
• Strengths in inspiring and enabling other through training, and capacity building to realize objectives
• Ability to gain support from staff across teams and to build the capacity of others;
• Sound strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to think creatively and innovate and to set priorities, manageable work plans and evaluate progress;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Creative problem solving skills with the ability to work effectively in resource-constrained environments is important
• Experience with and commitment to approaches of accountability to populations, including children, affected by crises or conflicts.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in French and English.
• Demonstrated ability to influence change at an operational and strategic level.
• Sensitive to political and cultural issues, and able to demonstrate patience, tact and diplomacy.
• Ability and willingness to be very flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes dangerous working circumstances.
• Commitment to SC goals and principles. A perfect understanding, in particular, of SC's mandate and the priority given to children, and the ability to ensure that it remains at the heart of the assistance we provide.

Preferred Qualifications

• Language skills in Swahili, Nande or other eastern languages of the country are an advantage.
• Knowledge of gender equity and transformative concepts

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.