Chief of Party (Director), Education Consortium

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Position Title: Chief of Party (Director), Education Consortium
Location: Bangkok
Country: Thailand
Deadline Date: 12 November 2024

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
Save the Children is a global organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in need. Established in 1919, it employs approximately 25,000 people worldwide and operates in over 100 countries. The organization focuses on providing healthcare, education, and child protection to children affected by crises. Save the Children advocates for children's rights and aims to ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels. The organization is committed to achieving three breakthroughs by 2030: preventing child deaths from preventable causes before the age of five, ensuring all children receive a quality basic education, and eliminating violence against children.

Job Overview:
The Chief of Party (CoP) will lead a multi-donor funded education program aimed at improving learning opportunities for hard-to-reach children in Myanmar. This role involves building strong relationships with development partners and local leaders to understand and navigate the political and conflict dynamics affecting education. The CoP will oversee a budget of approximately $20 million per year and manage a national team of 71 people. The position requires strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and effective program management to ensure the successful implementation of the program, which is set to run until May 2028, with potential extensions. The CoP will also be responsible for promoting a culture of learning and adaptability within the organization, ensuring that the program remains responsive to changes in the operating environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Chief of Party will be responsible for leading the strategic direction and implementation of the education program, ensuring effective governance and management arrangements. Key responsibilities include: leading regular meetings with the Steering Committee, representing the consortium to donors, managing a senior management team, fostering a strong team culture, and ensuring the program is appropriately resourced. The CoP will also facilitate stakeholder engagement, conduct political economy and conflict analysis, engage in policy discussions, and build networks with other organizations. Additionally, the CoP will oversee program development, administration, and supervision, ensuring adherence to partnership values and principles, and integrating key program approaches such as conflict sensitivity and gender equality. The CoP will maintain oversight of performance, reporting, budget management, and risk management processes.

Required Qualifications:
Essential qualifications include at least 12 years of senior leadership experience in international development, with a minimum of five years in developing countries. Candidates should have at least five years of experience as a Chief of Party, Team Leader, or Director, and possess a Master's degree in education, international development, management, or a related field. Demonstrated experience in partnership with local organizations and supporting locally-led development is crucial. Strong leadership and management skills, the ability to promote a learning culture, and experience managing large grants-based programs are also essential. Desirable qualifications include experience managing large education programs, leading multi-donor funds, and knowledge of mother-tongue-based multilingual education strategies.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Master's degree in a relevant field such as education, international development, or management. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of the role and the challenges faced in the education sector, particularly in developing contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 12 years of senior leadership experience in international development, with at least five years spent in developing countries. Candidates should have substantial experience in leadership roles, particularly as a Chief of Party or similar, and should be familiar with the challenges and dynamics of working in the Myanmar context or similar environments.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is essential for communication and reporting purposes. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Myanmar would be advantageous and beneficial for stakeholder engagement and program implementation.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and is hosted by Save the Children, with a contract duration until May 2028, with potential extensions based on additional donor grants. The role involves significant responsibility, including oversight of a substantial budget and a large team. The organization emphasizes the importance of child protection and has a rigorous selection process that includes background checks to ensure the safety of children. Employees are expected to adhere to the organization's global anti-harassment policy.