Save The Children Job Vacancy: Director - Myanmar Education Consortium, Yangon

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.9 billion dollars last year to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises.

Following a major transition, our international programmes are now delivered through a merged operation with c15,000 staff, managed through seven regional hubs and reporting to a relatively small, central office. We're changing to become more efficient, more aligned, a better partner, a stronger advocate, a magnet for world-class people and relevant for the 21st century.

Contract length: 2 years, accompanied

The Role
After decades of isolation and conflict, Myanmar is undergoing a period of remarkable political, economic and social change. Since 2011, reforms have been rapid and ambitious – including an expansion of civil and political rights and progress towards resolving more than 60 years of internal armed conflict. The recent democratic national election and peace process underway represent an unprecedented opportunity to secure lasting change that could improve the lives of millions of people in the country.

The Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC) is a national program designed to respond to these rapidly evolving changes occurring in the education sector and the overall country context. MEC supports complementary (non-government) education systems – ethnic and monastic schools – with the goal of supporting the transition to a more inclusive, coherent national education system. The program adopts a systems strengthening approach – working in partnership with local stakeholders to improve learning outcomes in complementary systems and to promote broad participation in national education reforms, addressing policy issues that limit children’s education opportunities.

Working in a highly dynamic environment, including in conflict affected areas, and addressing politically sensitive issues, the program has been designed with a high level of responsiveness and flexibility. The strategy draws on lessons from Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation, Thinking and Working Politically and peace building approaches to build a strong learning approach and a program which continually responds to the changing environment.

The Director will need to build strong relationships across ethnic, religious, government and civil society leaders, to embed understanding of political and conflict dynamics in the program team, to build trust between stakeholders and to advocate for positive change. The program is built on strong partnerships with local organisations and working with local partners to develop practical and innovative programs, to support local leadership and to develop the capacity of partner organisations. The successful candidate will need to be able to manage a complex organisation, to promote a culture of learning and being able to adapt to changes in the operating environment. The program is supported by an Education Adviser. Experience in education will be an advantage but is not a pre-requisite.

The Director will be responsible for the effective and efficient implementation of MEC program, including a $30 million budget and the management of a predominantly Myanmar national team of 25 people. The Director reports to the program Steering Committee, which includes donor and fund manager representatives (currently Australia, UK, Denmark and Save the Children) and is responsible for strategic oversight of the program. MEC is managed by Save the Children. Plans are currently in development to extend the program to 2020.

Skills and Experience

Essential
  • At least 10 years’ experience in developing countries, or on social development programmes
  • Master’s degree in relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Excellent leadership and management skills in a complex organisational setting with proven track record of people and team management and a proven ability to forge consensus and drive action.
  • Ability to lead strategic development and change processes and strong experience in developing systems strengthening approaches.
  • Demonstrated experience in building relations, finding common ground and influencing different stakeholders including government, non-state actors, civil society and development partners
  • Experience working in policy engagement and facilitating political change, including political economy and governance approaches
  • Experience in building partnerships with and capacity building of national organisations
  • Ability to effectively establish a learning culture within an organisation
  • Experience managing large, grants-based programs
  • Excellent, interpersonal and communications skills
Desirable
  • Knowledge of key issues and strategies to promote improved learning outcomes including experience of managing large education programs
  • Experience in Myanmar, South East Asia or other relevant context of sub-national conflict
We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

To see a full a job description, please visit our website at HERE

Please apply in English using your CV and cover letter as a single document, including your salary expectations for this role.

Closing Date: 04 October 2016

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