Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The upcoming LEARN to Read activity will provide technical assistance to states of the Nigerian federation with the greatest need to improve learner reading outcomes to expand their early grade reading in languages children use and understand. Nigerian students will also enroll in, regularly attend, and stay in school, particularly in grades 1 through 3. The activity will take an integrated approach by working with and through the systems of select states, local government education authorities (LGEAs), and schools to effectively leverage their financial, human and materials resources to increase equitable access to education and to improve students’ reading outcomes.

Position Description:

The Senior Budget Planning Specialist (SBPS) will lead capacity building efforts for State and LGEA actors in budget planning and allocation and resource mobilization under the State Education Account, to support improved early grade reading results. The SBPS will work with counterparts to mobilize and/or leverage resources, based on sound data and justification, from UBEC, BESDA and other sources to pay for recurring education inputs required for effective EGR interventions at the LGEA and school levels.  This includes helping government counterparts to find cost savings and financing efficiencies when acquiring reading services, respond to EGR learning emergencies and address the EGR needs of marginalized groups. The SBPS will assist states to develop a data driven annual budget report aligned with the SEA, Budget Performance Tool and Mid-term Sector Strategy. The SBPS will assist States to develop budget execution plans and report on those plans annually, with recommendations for the subsequent years.

The candidate for the position of Senior Budget Planning Specialist shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Master’s Degree or doctorate in education financing, economics of education, education planning or related field.

Skills and Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience working with large education budgets, preferably on donor-funded initiatives;
• Knowledge of Nigerian state budget systems for education;
• Experience working with Nigerian State and Federal officials in educational budgeting and finance preferred (experience in similar contexts will be considered; and
• Proven record of capacity building in budgeting, finance, and reporting.

Language:

Professional proficiency and fluency in written and spoken English. Basic fluency in written and spoken Hausa is preferred, but not required.

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.