Education Specialist for North Central America and Mexico

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Position Title: Education Specialist for North Central America and Mexico
Location: Tegucigalpa, Ciudad de Mexico, Ciudad de Guatemala, San Salvador
Country: Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization that has been providing assistance to people forced to flee for over two decades. Established in 1946, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, employing around 15,000 staff members. The organization focuses on delivering life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of vulnerable individuals affected by crises. NRC is committed to protecting the rights of displaced persons and advocating for increased humanitarian funding and engagement to generate structural changes in protection and assistance. In North Central America and Mexico (NCA&M), NRC has been active in providing education, legal assistance, livelihoods, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, protection from violence, shelter, and WASH services to those affected by violence and displacement. The organization collaborates with various stakeholders, including local, national, and international organizations, to address the growing needs of displaced populations in the region.

Job Overview:
The Education Specialist for North Central America and Mexico is tasked with setting the strategic direction and ensuring quality assurance/control for the Education Core Competency (CC) within NRC. This role involves mentoring and training staff, developing the education portfolio in the country, and establishing minimum standards and relevant tools and procedures. The Education Specialist will also be responsible for fundraising, managing donor relations, and representing NRC at relevant forums. The position requires a dynamic professional who can contribute to the development of educational strategies aligned with regional and global priorities, ensuring compliance with NRC policies and procedures. The role is critical for enhancing the technical capacity of the team and ensuring high-quality project implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Education Specialist will develop the Education Core Competence strategy and technical guidance, ensuring alignment with regional and global strategies. Responsibilities include contributing to fundraising efforts, developing and revising funding proposals, budgets, and donor reports, and identifying trends in technical standards and donor priorities. The specialist will follow up on compliance with contractual commitments within the Education CC, provide technical direction and project implementation support, and ensure high technical quality and synergies in project implementation. Additionally, the role involves mentoring and training staff, building the technical capacity of the team, and conducting large-scale trainings. The Education Specialist will also be responsible for documenting results related to the position's responsibilities and maintaining knowledge of leadership skills and profiles.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as social sciences or related disciplines, with an advanced academic qualification being an added advantage. A master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field is preferred. The position requires a minimum of 4 years of experience in a technical expertise area within a humanitarian or recovery context, including managing complex education programs, implementation, program development, fundraising, and budget development. Candidates should have technical education expertise, understanding of the IASC humanitarian architecture, and experience representing an agency in national coordination mechanisms. Knowledge of the NCA&M humanitarian context and experience with start-up and scale-up projects in emergency contexts are essential. Familiarity with SPHERE and INEE minimum standards, psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support programming, and youth and adolescent programming is also required.

Educational Background:
The ideal candidate should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as social sciences or education, with a master's degree or equivalent being highly desirable. The educational background should reflect a strong foundation in the principles and practices of education, particularly in humanitarian contexts. Advanced qualifications in related disciplines will be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to contribute effectively to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in the education sector, particularly within humanitarian or recovery contexts. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing complex education programs, including implementation, program development, fundraising, and budget management. Experience in designing and delivering capacity-strengthening initiatives, including remote coaching and mentoring, is essential. Additionally, candidates should have experience working in complex and volatile contexts, demonstrating the ability to adapt and respond to challenging situations effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in both Spanish and English is mandatory, with strong written and verbal communication skills in both languages. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Tegucigalpa, with potential duty stations in Ciudad de Mexico, Ciudad de Guatemala, or San Salvador. The contract is a national contract, and travel may be required up to 40% of the time. The salary and benefits are based on NRC's grade 9 salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions. NRC is committed to diversity and equal opportunities, encouraging applications from individuals of all backgrounds. The organization emphasizes a culture of empowerment, innovation, and responsibility, providing employees with opportunities to contribute ideas and take initiative.