Programme Manager, Education and ECD @ Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Pakistan

The Programme Manager, Education & ECD, AKRSP will lead the field implementation of AKRSP’s Education and ECD Strategy and manage the Education and ECD team.  As part of AKRSP’s Senior Management Team, the position holder will collaborate with other technical, operational, and regional heads. S/he will be responsible for overall work planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning as well as relationships with other implementing partners, AKDN agencies, NGO, donor, and government agencies in GBC. The Programme Manager, Education & ECD, will report to the General Manager, AKRSP, and collaborate closely with the Education & ECD Leads in AKF (Pak). S/he will assist in ensuring coherence, complementarities, and synergies between programmes of AKRSP and those of AKDN sister agencies. S/he will be required to role model the expected ethical behaviour and values of AKDN demonstrating clear communication, open-mindedness, integrity, and collaboration to ensure the highest standards of professionalism and adherence to Safeguarding and the AKDN Ethical Framework.
The Programme Manager, Education & ECD, AKRSP will have overall responsibility for the field implementation of AKRSP education and ECD programmes in GBC. S/he will carry out the following tasks and responsibilities within the areas of strategic development and team leadership, programme and grant management, technical assistance, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning, communications, AKDN, donor and government relations and professionalism.
1.  Programme and Grant Management
2.  Technical Assistance
3.  Learning, Knowledge Management and Sharing
4.  Communications
5.  AKDN, Donor and Government Relations
6.  Professionalism

Education: A Master’s degree or PhD/EdD in education or ECD, preferably related to teacher education, school improvement, or educational/ECD evaluation.

Required Experience and Person Specification: A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience in Education and ECD/health & nutrition (less for exceptional candidates); preferably with some knowledge of government sectors in Pakistan/majority world countries.
 

• An excellent combination of academic and professional experience with success in  leadership/management  position in a reputable education/health organisation or NGO.
• A sound understanding of team leadership, improvement of learning / holistic ECD outcomes, professional development, assessment/evaluation and community participation.
• Successful practitioner experience in Education & ECD programmes,  including implementation and development, project cycle management, MERL and a sound understanding of budgets and financial management.
• Ability to garner technical expertise from a range of disciplines such as education, ECD, health and nutrition, agriculture, social welfare, civil society, child rights etc. Ability to balance thematic areas especially education, ECD, and health and nutrition.
• Experience and a strong commitment to community/NGO participation in social sector development innovative approaches to access, quality and MERL.
• Capacity to work independently, take initiative and manage a variety of activities simultaneously while meeting strict deadlines.
• Excellent leadership, people management, and emotional/social intelligence skills; ability to mentor and build teams from diverse backgrounds. A drive for results, resilient with very good analytical, creative and  problem-solving skills.
• Ability to relate sensitively with open-mindedness and empathy to a diverse range of people of different strata, cultures, languages, faiths, gender and abilities.
• Verbal and written fluency in English and preferably, Urdu. An understanding of regional languages an asset.  Ability to write concise reports of high quality.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality, inclusive approaches and pluralism. Integrity, rigour and passion for Education and ECD.
• Willingness and ability to undertake national and regional travel for programme support, monitoring and development.
• Commitment to  Safeguarding and the values of AKDN.