Project Manager - Education

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Job Overview: 

Playful Education Pathways in Ethiopia (PEPE) is a transformative, three-year initiative led by IRC in partnership with Luminos Fund, Emmanuel Development Association (EDA), and other local actors. PEPE aims to strengthen cost-effective, government-supported alternative learning pathways for out-of-school children (OOSC) in conflict-affected regions of Amhara and Tigray. The initiative blends crisis-responsive, play-based learning with accelerated education models to support the Ethiopian education system’s resilience and recovery, with a strong focus on girls and marginalized learners.

Major Responsibilities:

The Regional Project Manager will support the implementation of community-based/home-based learning through supporting the subgrantee to deliver high quality pathways. This role requires strong operational leadership, contextual understanding, and coordination with local education authorities, community structures, and supporting implementing partners to ensure inclusive, resilient, and scalable education program implementation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Implementation & Oversight

• Ensure day-to-day management of project activities in the assigned region to ensure that all interventions are implemented in line with project goals, timelines, and quality standards. Provide overall guidance and supervision to implementing partners to maintain effective coordination and operational efficiency.
• Ensure timely and quality delivery of community-based/home-based learning interventions by overseeing planning, logistics, and monitoring processes. Support local partner to maintain a child-centered, inclusive, and participatory learning environment.
• Monitor progress against planned targets and indicators in close collaboration with RMEL Manager. Conduct regular field visits, data reviews, and reflection sessions to assess performance, identify challenges, and recommend corrective actions. Utilize monitoring data to inform decision-making and improve program delivery.
• Coordinate with partners, local education offices, and community stakeholders to align implementation with regional education priorities, strengthen collaboration, and ensure smooth integration of project activities into existing structures.
• Ensure proper budget management through effective tracking of planning, execution, and close monitoring of financial performance in relation to physical activity implementation. Align expenditures with approved budgets, work plans, and donor requirements.  Regularly review expenditure reports to identify variances between planned and actual spending to ensure corrective measures are taken promptly. Flag potential risks that may affect budget utilization or program implementation and proactively work with finance team to resolve issues in a timely manner.

2. Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as the primary focal point between IRC and local partner. Ensure alignment with planned priorities and facilitate smooth implementation of project activities in close collaboration with local partner. This includes participating in joint planning, coordination, and review meetings, as well as documenting regular program updates on coordination forums.
• Facilitate effective coordination among key partners such as Luminos Fund, EDA, and other local implementing organizations to promote synergy and capacity sharing, avoid duplication, and ensure consistent delivery of program interventions. Actively contribute to partner coordination forums, share best practices, and support joint problem-solving efforts to enhance overall program efficiency and impact.
• Support local partner to actively engage community leaders, caregivers, and volunteers to build strong local ownership and promote the sustainability of project initiatives. The support includes organizing community mobilization sessions, strengthening local education committees, and encouraging active participation of parent-teacher-student associations and community members in supporting children’s learning and school reintegration efforts.

3. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Oversee work planning and day-to-day performance to maintain high operational standards and alignment with program objectives.
• Conduct regular coaching, performance reviews, and capacity-building sessions to strengthen staff competencies. This includes identifying individual and team capacity gaps, organizing targeted training and mentorship opportunities, and fostering professional growth through constructive feedback and performance development plans.
• Promote a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning within the team of local partners by encouraging open communication, knowledge sharing, and teamwork.

4. Crisis Modifier Activation

• In close collaboration with local partner, monitor local conflict dynamics and early warning indicators to identify potential risks that may affect program delivery, school operations, or community safety. Maintain close communication with local authorities, community representatives, and partner organizations to gather real-time information and ensure timely reporting and analysis of emerging issues.
• Coordinate rapid response actions to sustain learning continuity during shocks such as conflicts, displacement, or natural disasters. This includes activating response plans, facilitating relocation of learning spaces when needed, and mobilizing community and partner support to minimize disruptions to children’s education.
• Support preparedness planning and integration of resilience strategies across program activities by strengthening the capacity of staff, partners, and communities to anticipate, adapt, and respond effectively to crises. Promote conflict-sensitive approaches, inclusive participation, and long-term resilience planning to enhance the stability and sustainability of education interventions in fragile contexts in close collaboration with Addis-based technical staff.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL)

• Support data collection, analysis, and reporting in close collaboration with MEAL teams to ensure that program performance is accurately tracked against indicators and targets. This includes supervising data collection at the field level, verifying data quality, and ensuring timely submission of accurate reports to inform evidence-based decision-making.
• Contribute to documentation of lessons learned, success stories, and best practices by regularly reflecting on implementation progress and challenges. Actively participate in project cycle meetings, reflection sessions, and knowledge-sharing forums to strengthen the regional learning and inform future program design.
• Ensure effective feedback and accountability mechanisms are in place, allowing communities, learners, and other stakeholders to share their perspectives and concerns. Work closely with MEAL teams to ensure that feedback is systematically recorded, analyzed, and used to improve program responsiveness and relevance.
• Facilitate regular joint monitoring visits with partners, local education offices, and community structures to assess the quality and impact of learning interventions. Use findings to guide adaptive programming and ensure continuous improvement in service delivery.
• With RMEAL team, support capacity building of partners on MEAL tools and approaches to strengthen data-driven planning, reporting, and accountability practices across all program levels.
• Promote a culture of learning and evidence-based adaptation by encouraging teams to use monitoring results and feedback data to refine approaches, improve outcomes, and enhance program sustainability.

6. Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure full adherence to IRC and donor policies, safeguarding standards, and financial procedures by promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, and transparency across all program activities. Regularly orient partners on compliance requirements, code of conduct, and child safeguarding protocols to minimize risks and uphold organizational values.
• Prepare/draft and submit high-quality progress reports that capture key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned in alignment with program indicators and donor requirements. Collaborate with technical teams to ensure that reports are data-driven, evidence-based, and reflect accurate program performance.

Safeguarding Responsibilities:

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

Job Requirements:

The Project Manager should have strong background in Education in Emergencies program management expertise and experience. They need to have good understanding and experience of the humanitarian context to design and implement emergency response interventions. 

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, International Development, Social Sciences, or related field.

Preferred experience & skills:

• Four years of experience in managing education or Education in Emergencies (EiE) program in humanitarian context.
• Three years of experience working on alternative learning pathways for out-of-school children
• Demonstrated qualifications, experience, or advanced training in project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of education in emergencies programs.
• Proven capacity to supervise, and coach staff and work with partners

• Having strong team spirit and willingness to work under pressure

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall communication ability to be clear and concise in all communications
• Strong time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders and partners at regional levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change in proactive and positive manner.

Language Skills: 

Proficient in English and knowledge of local languages of our intervention area is an advantage

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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