PlayMatters Technical Education Advisor

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a prominent humanitarian and development organization that has been operational for over 90 years. The IRC's mission is to assist individuals whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by conflict and disaster, helping them to survive, recover, and regain control over their futures. The organization has a presence in more than 40 countries, including Uganda, where it has been active since 199

• The IRC in Uganda focuses on supporting refugees, vulnerable host communities, and various institutions, including government bodies, community-based organizations, civil society, and the private sector. The IRC implements programs across five sub-regions and six refugee settlements, addressing sectors such as health, protection and rule of law, women’s protection and empowerment, economic recovery and development, and education. Additionally, the IRC emphasizes cross-cutting programming that strengthens systems and ensures accountability to affected persons.

Job Overview:
The PlayMatters initiative is a four-year education program running from 2026 to 2030, aimed at enhancing the well-being and holistic learning outcomes of children aged 3-12+, particularly those impacted by conflict and crisis in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda. The initiative focuses on strengthening education systems to provide quality education services through active teaching and learning methods that incorporate play. The PlayMatters Technical Education Advisor will play a crucial role in providing technical leadership and support for the adaptation, development, testing, and enhancement of teacher-focused active teaching and learning content and approaches. This position requires collaboration with global, regional, and country-based technical teams from IRC and its partners, ensuring that educational content is co-designed with relevant system actors. The advisor will also lead ongoing content reviews and adaptations to align with PlayMatters objectives, working towards scaling the initiative within government systems and ensuring that educational content is contextualized and evidence-based.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The PlayMatters Technical Education Advisor will be responsible for several key areas:

• Content Development: Ensure the definition of Learning through Play is understood and implemented across all partners and locations. Provide guidance on designing and implementing strategies for reviewing, selecting, adapting, co-creating, testing, and improving active teaching and learning content. Support multimedia enhancements and track the use and adaptations of content to identify trends and areas for improvement.
• Implementation and Quality Improvement: Guide country teams in integrating active teaching and learning content into programs, ensuring they are evidence-based and scalable. Support quality improvement through supervision, coaching, and monitoring.
• Scaling and Sustaining Programming: Collaborate with the Policy and Advocacy team to align content and program models with local standards and ensure integration into education policies. Identify opportunities for co-design processes with system actors and expand the reach of PlayMatters beyond the grant period.
• Representation: Provide updates to PlayMatters senior management, assist in report writing, and participate in strategic education forums to raise the profile of the project and influence policies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in education, Child Development, or a related field, or have equivalent experience. A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in education, particularly focusing on active teaching and learning methodologies, is required. Candidates should have extensive experience in teacher professional development, curriculum design, and program design for large-scale initiatives. Experience in conflict and crisis settings, as well as knowledge of humanitarian programming, is essential. Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills are necessary, along with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and develop positive relationships with staff.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree in education, Child Development, or a related field. Equivalent levels of experience and expertise may also be considered. Candidates should have a strong foundation in educational methodologies, particularly those that emphasize active teaching and learning.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 5-7 years of relevant experience in the education sector, with a focus on active teaching and learning methodologies. Experience working in refugee-hosting or crisis-affected contexts is highly desirable, as is a background in teacher professional development and curriculum design.

Languages:
Fluency in written and oral English is mandatory. Knowledge of other regional languages is preferred and considered an asset for the position.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in East Africa and requires travel of approximately 25-40%. The role is full-time, and the application deadline is set for June 17, 202

• The IRC adheres to professional standards and values, including integrity, service, equality, and accountability, and is committed to creating a safe environment for all individuals involved.