Organisational Context
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. Founded in 1980, the organization has a presence in 58 countries and in 2021 served around a million people directly.
An international office in Rome guides and supports the regional and country operations.
The Regional Office based in Johannesburg, which this position belongs to, is responsible for the strategic development of JRS in Southern Africa and to maximize the support to and development of Country Offices (COs) in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Angola. It also explores and creates synergies among the COs, carries out research, develops and oversees policies & procedures, gathers evidence and learning, builds capacity and facilitates donor relations.
Child Safeguarding and PSEAH Commitments
JRS has zero tolerance towards all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse and takes seriously all concerns and complaints about sexual exploitation and abuse against children and vulnerable adults by JRS personnel. JRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and has policies which outline the expected behaviour, code of conduct and responsibility of all persons acting on behalf of JRS (Staff, consultants, volunteers, interns, Pastoral team and other representatives). JRS personnel are expected to abide by these policies and guidelines.
Role
The Regional Education Coordinator (REC) shall be responsible for JRS’ education in the above-mentioned countries. S/he shall provide technical expertise and advice to education programmes in accordance with JRS policies, guidelines, and strategy. This includes assistance in planning, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, and promotion of joint initiatives and learning between country offices involved.
Special attention is paid to inclusion of vulnerable people such as people with disabilities and to ensuring that child protection and psychosocial support interventions are mainstreamed to all education programmes, in accordance with humanitarian standards.
The work entails field visits as necessary to identify and respond to specific needs, to monitor implementation of education projects, provide support to planning, prioritization, and capacity building, with a special focus on support for the country-based education staff.
While reporting directly to the Deputy Regional Director, the REC is a member of JRS’s Global Education Team (GET) and collaborates with relevant colleagues at the COs to encourage innovation and piloting of new solutions for quality education.
The REC contributes to all aspects of the project cycle through leading or participating in needs assessments, project design, and measures for quality control in the region. Finally, s/he will provide a range of advisory support, technical oversight and capacity building to Country Office Education Staff.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Vision and Planning
- Promote the vision, identity and unity of JRS in the Region
- Assist the Deputy Regional Director and Country Directors in the development and implementation of education multi-year strategies
Policy and strategy and programme development
- Ensures compliance and adherence to JRS policies, guidance, and procedures concerning education in emergencies (EiE)
- Contributes to the development of policies, strategies, tools, and new approaches with a focus on innovation and piloting
- Supports the development of country/regional strategies and implementation plans in line with JRS’ global policies and strategies
- Works with the GET and the International Office (IO) education unit to develop strategy and innovation
- Contributes to resource mobilization and fundraising related to education programming
Technical development, support, and capacity building
- Provides technical support and quality assurance to implementing teams
- Leads education competency building in the region
- Develops country programs’ expertise in design, monitoring and implementation of evidence-based education projects
- Assists countries to coordinate resources linked to quality implementation
- With the country offices, guides strategy implementation and ongoing strategic thinking on education in the region
- Supports country education teams in conducting assessments for new initiatives
- Supports efforts to fundraise for education programs in the region, based on gathered and analyzed evidence
Quality standards, data analysis, and M&E
- Ensures that Education M&E standards are adhered to in countries in line with JRS’s M&E framework
- Gathers lessons learnt from country Education programs, including documentation and dissemination of new knowledge, and ensures that lessons learnt are shared and considered for effective Education programming
- Supports monitoring, research and learning activities in the region
- Builds capacity and provides support to JRS National Education staff/focal points on education in emergencies, programme design, research, and M&E of education-related programming
Networking, representation, and relationships
- Leads cross country coordination and cooperation on education programme component by liaising with country teams
- Provides opportunities for cross-country Education knowledge acquisition, capacity, and competency development, including but not limited, to the areas of education in emergency
- Identifies potential opportunities in the region and builds, develops and maintains key partnerships, networks, and alliances for synergies to advance advocacy efforts in the field of education
- Represents JRS in regional and /or global education platforms a such as the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) and others to identify areas of synergy and learnings for improved education intervention
- Assists the Deputy Regional Director in setting policies for the JRS SAR in consultation with the Project Directors, Country Directors and the International Office
- Assists the Deputy Regional Director in the design and implementation of regional strategic planning
- Advise the Deputy Regional Director on key regional and country education issues
Qualifications and Experiences
- Master level degree or specialization in Education or other relevant areas
- At least 5 years of experience in similar role and more specifically in education in emergencies (EiE)
- A minimum of 3 years of supervisory experience, including supervision of remote teams
- Experience with programme development, proposal writing and project and budget management
- Experience/membership in education coordination mechanism locally, regionally and globally such as regional education working group, INEE
- Ability to organise and lead training workshops and develop tools for field use building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
- Excellent proficiency in English and French/Portuguese both written and verbal
- Excellent writing, editing, verbal communications skills and presentation capacities
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team in a multi-cultural, international, professional environment
- Strong analytical, strategic-thinking, and planning skills
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 package
Desirable
- Working knowledge of JRS programmes or other faith-based organisations
Required Core Values
- Good understanding of and alignment with the values of JRS;
- Commitment to JRS’ mission, vision and values to convey with enthusiasm JRS’ role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity
- High integrity, honesty and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information
- Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value.
Terms and Conditions
The contract is for a year. The JRS remuneration policy is aligned with the JRS ethos to offer effective and professional services and at the same time express solidarity with the people served. Details will be discussed with short-listed candidates.
All applicants are requested to submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English including three (3) professional references with their contact information, phone and email address.
- A cover letter describing the candidate’s desire and motivation to work for JRS and his/her qualifications and experience are a good fit for this position.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The position is only open to candidates who possess South African citizenship or other legal authorization to work in South Africa.
Email your application to [email protected]
Please note that due to an urgent need, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
No late applications will be considered.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Note: JRS has a Child Safeguarding (CS) Policy, PSEAH and Gender policies in place and expects all staff to read, sign and adhere to them.
