Regional Coordinator North East at Plan International

Plan International in partnership with Instiglio and the Jacobs Foundation will implement the Education Outcome Fund Programme (EOF) under the Ghana Accountability and Learning Outcomes Programme (GALOP). The programme aims to improve the quality of education in low performing basic education schools and strengthen education sector equity and accountability in Ghana. The Programme will run for a period of 4 years and will be implemented across 3 regions in Ghana (North East, Savana and Bono East) and 11 districts. The Project will support a total of 240 communities/schools.

The Regional Coordinator will work with the Project Manager and District and Project Coordinators on all community level activities, including monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and working with parents to ensure pupils’ regular participation in Programme activities.

Accountabilities

Community Engagement  

• Coordinate 2 District Coordinators and 6 Project Coordinators to strengthen School Management Committees and Parent Teacher Associations to engage selected schools to establish a more inclusive, resourceful and informed support network for parents
• Develop strategic relationships with local stakeholders (including Regional and District Directorates of Education, Local Assemblies, schools’ leadership and parents) in project districts to secure support and cooperation
• Contribute to produce the community engagement training content including adult learning strategy and other materials as required, including reports and briefing documents, and other publications
• Plan and implement intensive community outreach activities to impart pro-girl and pro-education attitudes within communities
• Support parents, pupils and communities to maximize the expected educational benefits and long-term behavioural changes
• Lead community mobilization and sensitization in the districts to ensure community readiness and continual commitment to Programme activities
• Exhibit competence in Community Engagement and coach and supervise District Coordinators to ensure quality delivery and performance

Monitoring and Reporting

• Provide feedback and strategic advice on community engagement to the Project Manager
• Leverage the use of technology to gain efficiencies and enhance two-way communication between Project team and beneficiaries
• Support tracking the progression of pupils as they transitioned to the next level of education
• Conduct routine follow up visits to meet with parents and guardians whose wards have not attended school regularly
• Undertake routine monitoring and collect school registers for attendance data entry
• Support the identification of local role models
• Conduct routine checks on school security
• Input and collect data within time
• Monitoring lesson delivery

Staff Relation and Recruitment

• Responsible for appraisal and Performance Management procedures for District Coordinators and provide targeted support to District Coordinators and Assistants
• Coach and supervise District Coordinators to ensure quality delivery and performance
• Support Programme Manager in identification of talents and recruitment process to fill gaps in the workstream
• Ensure close collaboration with other Programme Team members for efficient project delivery

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Qualifications & Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent and holding relevant professional qualifications. Master’s degree will be an added advantage
• Excellent knowledge of methods and channels for engaging with a wide range of stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds
• A comprehensive knowledge of child protection best practice, policies and procedures
• A comprehensive knowledge of good communications and engagement practice and of how to translate practice into innovative and effective solutions
• Significant experience of working in community engagement and/or communications, and on potentially sensitive projects
• Budget management experience
• Significant project management experience, including experience of managing community projects (experience of education projects is desirable)
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders, including hard-to-engage communities, local government, district education, and academic institutions
• 4 years of experience of working in community engagement and/or communications, and on educational projects

Key skills & Competencies

• Outstanding communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to engage and build relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Strong organisational and planning skills, the ability to prioritise in the face of competing demands, and proven success in delivering work personally (and through others) to tight deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills, enabling the post holder to influence at all levels and to work effectively as part of a team
• Computer literacy enabling the effective use of the Microsoft suite of packages including Outlook
• Ability to work collaboratively with other experienced professionals including school principals, assistant principals, teachers, and other colleagues
• Ability to maintain discretion regarding confidential matters

Personal Attributes

• Good communication skills
• An interest in education issues and research.
• Flexible attitude to working environment and ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work under little or no supervision for long hours
• Good team player and a forward-looking person

Desirable

• University degree in Education
• Teaching experience
• Accreditation in school leadership and teacher training
• Experience in Inclusive education in the education sector in Ghana in mainstream and non-mainstream settings
• Experience providing capacity building to Primary and Junior High School teachers
• Familiarity with primary teaching, pedagogy and assessment frameworks
• Experience with the state education system/curricula in Ghana.
• Proven experience in curriculum design for English and Maths and gender-specific training