Learning and Scaling Lead, Sierra Leone

Job Posting Organization:
The Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) is a global initiative that aims to transform how education and skills are financed and delivered. EOF partners with governments, donors, investors, and implementers to create more effective, equitable, and accountable education systems. The organization is part of a global movement to improve education financing, ensuring that investments lead to real learning and employment outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children and youth. EOF operates under the auspices of UNOPS, which supports various initiatives aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across more than 130 countries.

Job Overview:
The Learning and Scaling Lead will play a crucial role in supporting the Government of Sierra Leone's Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in enhancing foundational learning outcomes, particularly in literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills. This position involves developing and implementing a learning, scaling, and evidence synthesis agenda that translates program evidence into actionable insights and policy recommendations. The successful candidate will work closely with the Country Lead to ensure that educational programs are aligned with national priorities and effectively address the challenges faced in achieving minimum proficiency in foundational skills. The role emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making and collaboration among various stakeholders to foster improvements in the education sector.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Government Systems’ Strengthening and Institutionalization: Support the Country Lead in providing recommendations to MBSSE leadership on policy decisions and reforms related to foundational learning and early childhood education outcomes. Contribute to sector planning and reviews of Foundational Learning and ECCE outcomes. Document lessons related to workforce development, service delivery models, inclusion practices, supervision systems, and quality assurance mechanisms. Support the development of transition and institutionalization plans. Draft policy briefs, learning notes, and strategic recommendations. Interpret and apply evidence in planning and decision-making processes. Contribute evidence inputs to national policy discussions and technical working groups.
• Technical Advisory: Provide technical inputs to MBSSE directors and other partners when designing or implementing foundational learning and ECCE policies and programs. Promote piloting and testing of innovative approaches. Translate global research into practical policy guidance. Conduct analyses of scale potential, cost drivers, implementation models, and sustainability options. Identify barriers and enablers to scaling successful interventions. Convene stakeholders from government, civil society, donors, research institutions, and implementing partners.
• Programme Design and Implementation: Support the design and scaling of activities under the Foundational Learning Compact. Ensure programs are cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable. Facilitate continued learning about data and evidence use in foundational learning and ECCE interventions, including annual reviews of progress. Promote a culture of data-driven improvement. Lead the collection, synthesis, and interpretation of implementation evidence. Collaborate with Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research partners to analyze quantitative and qualitative data. Identify emerging lessons, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner Coordination: Act as a focal point for all partners supporting foundational learning. Contribute to ensuring alignment of donor-funded programs with national priorities, engaging on cross-sector evidence and collaborative action.
• Capacity Development: Build the capacity of government counterparts to use data and evidence in routine decision-making, moving the system towards improved learning outcomes.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, Business, Economics, Political Science, Finance, or a similar field is required. A Master’s degree in one of these areas is desired.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in education, skills-for-employment, development, and/or policy programs. Experience working with national and/or provincial governments, preferably within the education, skills-for-employment, or broader development sectors. Experience in education and/or skills-for-employment policy and systems strengthening, including pathways for program scale-up and sustainability is essential. Experience should ideally include evidence generation, policy analysis, system reform, or scaling innovative practices. Familiarity with innovative financing mechanisms, particularly outcomes funds, performance management frameworks, or large donor-funded programs is an asset. Proven track record of producing high-quality analytical reports, policy briefs, and evidence-based recommendations is also required.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Public Policy, Education, Business, Economics, Political Science, Finance, or a similar field is required. A Master’s degree in one of these areas is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of the complexities involved in education and development policy.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in education, skills-for-employment, development, and/or policy programs. Candidates should have experience working with national and/or provincial governments, ideally within the education sector or related fields. Experience in policy and systems strengthening, particularly in education and skills-for-employment, is crucial. Familiarity with innovative financing mechanisms and a proven ability to produce high-quality analytical reports and policy recommendations are also important.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified as mid-level with an ICS Level of 1

• The contract type is ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular, and the contract level is LICA 1
• The posting start date is August 7, 2026, and the end date for applications is August 30, 202
• The duration of the contract is ongoing, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from a wide range of candidates, including women and individuals from underrepresented groups.