Regional Technical Manager in Kenya

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.  We seek qualified candidates for the position of Regional Technical Manager in Kenya.

 

Position Description:

To be responsible for ongoing reporting to the Regional Manager and the Portfolio Manager and for the technical monitoring of the Girls’ Education Challenge projects in their regions. To work closely with the in-country monitoring teams and the education monitors specifically.

The Regional Technical Manager will:

• Co-ordinate the Country Education Monitors covering the countries their region;
• Provide review, oversight and quality assurance of work carried out by the in-Country Education Monitors;
• On an ongoing basis, to flag the progress of projects and respond to all questions related to the technical performance of the funded projects that might be received from the Portfolio Manager;
• Consolidate the lessons learned from all projects in their region;
• Facilitate Peer to Peer learning between projects in their region;
• Respond to requests for information and provide feedback on technical issues raised by the Recipients; through the Country Education Monitors;
• Be the main liaison point with the DFID education advisors in their country and any other country in their region if needed;
• Keep the relevant Regional Manager and the Portfolio Manager informed of project progress through regular monthly, in particular if there are any concerns or risks to projects proceeding as planned;
• Coordinate regional networking amongst their portfolio of projects to share lessons learned and best practices;
• Review the performance of the in-country education and financial monitors;
• Deal with country specific issues such as interactions with government agencies, as required.
• Work closely with GEC regional manager to develop regional-level work plans.
• Work closely with the GEC regional manager to arrange for and provide training (when required) to the national-level NGOs and organizations in quarterly report writing and reporting of progress as per the GEC format.
• Communicate remotely and in person with the implementing projects to discuss progress, challenges, areas or topics of uncertainty, and reporting;
• Serve as the primary point of contact for technical matters for the organizations implementing projects
• Conduct project site visits on a regular basis
• Work closely with GEC UK based education expert and technical team to ensure the UK is informed of project progress and any education related issues that require escalation.
• Collaborate with DFID and PwC education advisors to identify projects that require internal evaluations or reviews, in addition to, but particularly for the projects that the Evaluation Manager will not assess, to identify and resolve issues prior to the external evaluations that will assess the overall performance of the GEC.
• Operate on a schedule determined with the recipient with frequency adjusted depending on programmatic complexity, performance and levels of risk;
• Provide an extra perspective in cases where progress is not as expected, where bottlenecks arise requiring a local solution, in case of disputes and to detect and rectify, at an early stage, any deviation from agreed work-plans, indicators and budgets; and
• Help identify further sources of information, support or training;
• Liaise, as appropriate, with DFID country offices on all technical matters related to GEC;
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be requested from time to time.

 

Minimal Requirements:

• An advanced university degree in international development or education;
• At least 15 years experience of working in the education sector;
• Experience and knowledge of development partners in general and of the education sector in particular in selected country;
• In depth knowledge of the broader education systems in selected country;
• In depth knowledge of the country and its different communities;
• Experience of working on education programmes which have supported/targeted girls;
• Previous experience of working in education programme management;
• Experience of working in the education sector in challenging contexts;
• Strong project monitoring and reporting expertise;
• Knowledge of inclusion issues;
• Understanding of interventions to promote gender equality;
• Knowledge of Project monitoring including participatory monitoring;
• Demonstrated excellent writing and communications skills and to be able to disseminate lessons learned effectively;
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish effective working relations with different stakeholders;
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).
• In depth knowledge of girls education in the relevant countries;
• Experience of regional co-ordination work;
• Extensive M&E experience, including knowledge of DFID log frames;
• Knowledge of learning measurement;
• Knowledge of community involvement in education;
• Understanding of interventions to promote gender equality/use of gender analysis;
• Knowledge of the local language in the country.

Interested candidates may register online through FHI 360's Career Center at www.fhi360.org/careercenter or through the Employment section at www.fhi360.org. Please submit CV/resume and cover letter including salary requirements. Please specify source in your application.

 

AA/EOE/M/F/V/D