Senior Programme Officer

Job description:

Support technical delivery in output 2 (Teaching and Learning) and Output 4 (Gender and Inclusion):

• Support in-country engagement on Outputs 2 and 4 activities.

• Work closely with Output 2 and 4 Leads to deliver activities on time and to a high standard.

• Build positive relationships with MBSSE and partners to ensure effective transition of LWL work.

• Develop workplans and manage budgets within Output 2 and 4 workstreams.

• Oversee coordination and planning of workshops and training events including SQAOs and Principal professional development activities ensuring that technical and operational plans are joined up and timely support is provided by the operations team.

• Work with the System Actors including MBSSE, Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Output 2 and 4 Leads, Advisers, and Deputy Team Leader to draw evidence from delivery about teaching and learning practices, and Gender and Inclusion practices.

• Coordinate with SSEIP2 Regional and District Officers to support the implementation of district-led activities.

• Provide support to Output 2 and 4 Leads as required to ensure effective delivery of activities within the Outputs.

• Regular reports to LWL project management on programme activities and progress through monthly technical meetings and updates to monthly calendar.

• Review and contribute to quarterly reports.

• Quarterly reporting on key programme development indicators

• These deliverables are flexible to respond to changes in the scope and needs of the wider secondary school improvement programme.

Candidate Specification:

Skills

• Experience of planning, designing, and running a workstream independently, ideally within a development programme context

• Experience in delivering activities related to improve teaching and learning in schools as well as Gender and Inclusion within an international education development context.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team to coordinate across the wider programme and with government and other development partners, building collaborative relationships.

• Experience supporting others to use digital data collection.

• Experience analysing data and evidence to generate reports and provide key information for decision making in the education sector.

• Fluent use of core computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), email, Dropbox, WhatsApp,

• Ability to create synthesised reports, both formal written documents in Word and PowerPoint presentations with exhibits

• Ability to create and maintain detailed work plans, down to hourly logistics as needed (e.g., training workshops, team travel to districts)

• Ability to understand and create activity budgets and cash flows.

• Strong communication skills to communicate clearly and succinctly both in written form (e.g., email updates) and verbally.

• Willingness to learn and adopt Mott MacDonald norms, procedures, and systems.

• Commitment to uphold the highest standards of ethics, personal and professional conduct, and lead by example on safeguarding, safety, financial integrity, inclusion, and respect for others.

Language

• English (professional proficiency)

• Krio (fluent spoken)

Qualifications

• Tertiary degree in a relevant area

• Significant practical experience overseeing delivery of front-line programmes (ideally but not necessarily education) in Sierra Leone, across districts

• Some education specific experience, either as a teacher, through relevant degree studies, or through work with NGO or government run programmes

Job Profile:

The SSEIP2will build on the work of the first phase: Sierra Leone Secondary Education Improvement Programme (SSEIP), also called Leh Wi Lan (Krio for “Let’s Learn”), on behalf of FCDO.

The programme will support the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) to improve learning outcomes for boys and girls at secondary level and to increase the enrolment, retention and well-being of girls and children with disabilities in school. 

We expect that the programme will work at national scale to deliver outputs including:

• Strengthening monitoring, supervision, and support for schools by district office

• Strengthening leadership for inclusive learning in schools.

• Delivering School-based Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for improved learning outcomes, inclusion, and safety.

• Strengthening systems for inclusive education for children with disabilities.

• Strengthening the response to Gender Based Violence and challenge harmful norms.

Increasing access to quality comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and remove barriers to retention for adolescent girls. The team will consist different technical and programme support leads who work together closely to ensure coordinated and streamlined delivery as one programme team under the overall direction of the Team Leader.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We put equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team and personal commitments. We embrace agility, flexibility and trust.