Early Childhood Development (ECD) Senior Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been operational in Syria since 2012, focusing on providing essential services such as protection, health, economic recovery, and early childhood development programs. The organization has a significant presence in various regions including Idleb, Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Deir ez-Zor, with ongoing expansions into Hama, rural Damascus, and Homs. With a dedicated team of over 350 employees, the IRC has built strong community relationships and trust, which are crucial for effective service delivery. The IRC's extensive experience in Syria allows it to adapt and expand its programming to meet the evolving needs of the population, emphasizing resilience and recovery initiatives. Additionally, the IRC plays a vital role in the NGO sector in Syria, actively participating in donor and coordination forums, and engaging in advocacy efforts to support its mission.

Job Overview:
The ECD Senior Manager will be responsible for providing technical leadership and strategic guidance to enhance the quality, relevance, integration, and scale of Early Childhood Development programming in Syria. This role involves supporting the design, adaptation, implementation, and continuous improvement of evidence-based ECD approaches while building the technical capacity of IRC staff and partners. The Senior Manager will collaborate with local partners, municipalities, government counterparts, NGOs, and IRC sector teams to ensure that ECD programming is contextually appropriate, inclusive, and aligned with national priorities. The position requires a strong focus on creating inclusive environments for children affected by conflict and displacement, ensuring that all children can reach their full potential.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The ECD Senior Manager will undertake a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Technical Leadership and Program Quality: Collaborate with the ECDE Coordinator and relevant technical teams to develop country-specific technical standards and guidance for ECD programming. Ensure alignment of ECD content, curricula, tools, and program models with local and national standards. Lead the quality assurance and adaptation of ECD training packages for IRC staff and partners. Provide technical guidance to ensure ECD activities are age-appropriate, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and responsive to the needs of children and caregivers affected by crisis. Work with the MEAL team to enhance ECD monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems.
• Internal and External Representation: Serve as the ECD technical focal point at the country level, representing ECD priorities in internal coordination and management forums. Actively participate in internal meetings to promote effective information sharing and evidence-based decision-making.
• Advocacy, Partnerships, and Scaling: Align scaling design with national strategies and ECD needs. Foster partnerships and maintain relationships with stakeholders to support ECD scaling and sustainability objectives.
• Integration and Mainstreaming: Identify opportunities for integrated ECD programming across sectors such as Education, Child Protection, and Health. Provide technical guidance to help other sector teams incorporate ECD approaches into their programming.
• Technical Capacity Strengthening: Develop and implement capacity-strengthening plans for ECD staff and partners, including coaching and structured training. Promote a culture of learning and collaboration within the ECD team.
• Documentation and Learning: Contribute to learning products and documentation of good practices to strengthen ECD programming and support internal and external learning.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s level qualification in Social Sciences, Education, Psychology, or a related field. Equivalent experience in a similar role may also be accepted in lieu of formal education. The position requires a minimum of 7 years of experience managing and implementing Early Childhood programs, particularly for children aged 0-8, in fragile contexts. At least 3 years of experience in a managerial role, including staff management, is essential. A passion for children's issues, particularly in child development and early childhood education, is crucial, along with proven experience in managing or supporting ECD, education, health, or child protection programs. Strong technical knowledge of ECD and education, particularly for children aged 0-8, is required, along with critical thinking skills and the ability to synthesize evidence for programming.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Education, Psychology, or a related field is required. Candidates with equivalent experience in a similar role may also be considered. The educational background should ideally include knowledge and training in early childhood development and education principles.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, specifically in managing and implementing Early Childhood programs for children aged 0-8 in fragile contexts. At least 3 years of this experience should be in a managerial capacity, demonstrating the ability to lead teams and manage staff effectively. Experience in building partnerships with local actors, particularly government officials and ministries in Education, is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Arabic is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in these languages is crucial for effective communication and coordination with various stakeholders, including local partners and government agencies.

Additional Notes:
The position may involve approximately 30% travel. The IRC encourages national or returning national candidates to apply, offering an attractive relocation package for eligible candidates. The organization emphasizes the importance of adhering to its values and principles, including integrity, service, accountability, and equality. IRC staff are expected to contribute to the sustainability and development of client responsiveness mechanisms, ensuring that the needs of clients and affected communities are prioritized in program design and delivery.