EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

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.

Project Description

Started in January 2019, the USAID Let’s Read Project is a 6-year, $48.9 million project in the five target provinces of Eastern, Muchinga, Southern, Northwestern and Western Zambia that works to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending Grades 1-3, providing appropriate teaching and learning materials; continuous professional development; and tracking learner performance through standardised assessments as a means of supporting the Ministry of Education’s Primary Literacy Programme (PLP)  reading interventions in Zambian public and community schools.

The USAID Let’s Read Project is a 6-year, $48.9 million project in the five target provinces of Eastern, Muchinga, Southern, Northwestern and Western Zambia that works to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending pre-primary (kindergarten/ECE) through to Grade 3 and provide professional development for teachers to support reading interventions in Zambian public and community schools.

Position Description

The Provincial Office Manager (POM) will be based in Chinsali, Muchinga Province, and will ensure effective implementation of all technical components of the project at the provincial level), establishing strong relationships with provincial education and other relevant stakeholders, and working closely with District Resource Center Coordinators (DRCCs), Zonal Inset Coordinators (ZICs), and Head Teachers to ensure coaching of teachers around literacy, and with Provincial Education Officer (PEO) office staff in support of the same.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

General:

• Clearly articulate the realigned USAID Let’s Read Project activity to MoE provincial and district staff, and field project staff
• Supervise and provide mentoring and support to, the members of the provincial staff team
• Provide general oversight of the implementation of all activities at the provincial and district level and supervise provincial team staff
• Work closely with the provincial and district education offices and coordinate all project activities
• Abide by EDC policies and procedures 

Technical:

• Provide leadership in Planning, Implementing and Reporting of project activities
• Serve technically in any of the following technical areas: teacher professional development or monitoring and evaluation
• Facilitate ongoing technical discussions with the Provincial, District and Zonal Education Offices
• Direct the implementation and ensure compliance, quality assurance, coordination, integration, and, where applicable, sustainability of program activities at the Provincial and District levels
• Work closely with other Let’s Read teams in admin/finance and ME&L to ensure smooth, compliant, and timely activity implementation
• Supervise and coordinate data collection for project indicators and prepare reports
• Contribute to the design and/or completion of technical resources by serving as resource person, workshop facilitator, technical writer, or lead documenter (as may be assigned)
• Facilitate cross-cutting issues by engaging in facilitation of policy discussions
• Provide timely inputs to periodic project reports and Outreach and Communications activities, as appropriate

Administrative/Management:

• Proactively assist in problem-solving/troubleshooting program delivery issues as they arise, in close coordination with other project staff
• Prepare and maintain quarterly activity plans aligned with approved work plans in coordination with team
• Maintain all project information (program, M&E and finance)
• Serve as the signatory for province specific project bank account and take responsibility for withdrawals of funds and managing expenses
• Provide regular and timely updates on the status of work plan implementation, identify potential issues, and recommend relevant actions to Senior Leadership team in Lusaka
• Review and approve all Provincial Office finance and accounting documents in line with EDC and USAID policies and procedures
• Review the budget for Provincial Office operations and monitor expenditures in collaboration with the Finance and Compliance Director
• Oversee the management of Provincial Office inventory to ensure all inventory listings are accurate and up to date as per USAID and EDC guidelines
• Supervise the management of  Provincial Office administration, ensuring that all vendor leases are monitored, tracked and obligations paid on time
• Collaborate with the Finance and Compliance Director to ensure that all vendors are paid on time
• Work with the Administration and Finance Officer(AFO) and other technical personnel to ensure there is coherence in project implementation
• Ensure that all project  documentation are audit ready
• Other duties, as assigned.

Reporting and Organizational Relationships:

The Provincial Manager reports to the Deputy Chief of Party.

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in education or related field.

Skills and Experience:

A minimum of eight years’ professional experience in development projects;

A minimum of 4 years’ demonstrated experience managing education programs is strongly preferred;

Demonstrated experience working with government agencies, actors, and other stakeholders at the national and state levels;

Knowledge of/experience with USAID-funded projects;

Demonstrated capacity to work effectively with teams;

Excellent people skills at all levels, ability to work well under pressure, negotiate diplomatically, and the ability to work well in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary work environment

Working knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel and preparing effective presentations and reports;

Ability to travel throughout the province assigned.

Demonstrated capacity to lead workshops, trainings, and strategic planning sessions; and

Experience in financial management best practices is highly desired.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of (and proficiency in) Icibemba language highly preferred.

To Apply:  Use smart recruiters link and submit your application no later than August 11, 2023. Please include the position title in the subject line. 

Note that local applicants are encouraged.