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.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) began its operations in Afghanistan in 1988, launching relief programs for individuals displaced by the Soviet invasion. Currently, the IRC is active in eleven provinces, providing essential life-saving services as well as long-term development and resilience programs. These efforts focus on several key areas: Education, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition, Integrated Protection, and Environmental Health.
IRC’s Education programmes have benefited over 77,000 learners. The organization is strategically positioned within the education sector in Afghanistan, where it coordinates and co-leads several strategic technical working groups. IRC implements for donors including GPE and ECHO, and has extensive and multi-year expertise and presence in the Afghanistan education sector, both in development and humanitarian education programming.
Scope of work
IRC is seeking a Technical Lead (TL) for an upcoming FCDO Education Programme in Afghanistan titled ‘Health and Education in Afghanistan – Response and Transition (HEART)’. This recruitment focuses on the Education component, which aims to protect and enhance access to quality and equitable primary education (including both public education and CBE), as well as to improve teaching and learning outcomes, particularly in foundational skills.
The Technical Director will be responsible for the overall technical development oversight, quality assurance, and technical management of the education component under the HEART programme, in line with IRC, FCDO, and international best practices. They will work closely with the Project’s Team Lead, Deputy Team Lead, Finance Lead, and MERL Lead, as well as consortium partners, to ensure the successful execution of the programme design and the achievement of impact targets and objectives. The Technical Director will also directly manage and supervise the technical project staff working on deliverables, including content, training, curricula, and technical SOPs and guidance.
The recruitment is contingent upon the successful award of the programme, and the selection of the final applicant is subject to FCDO’s approval.
Responsibilities
• Develop and implement a technical work plan to achieve all agreed technical objectives with the donor.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight to consortium members, ensuring the effective operation of all relevant internal technical working groups, along with consistency and quality control in technical tools and technical education approaches for effective and high-quality program delivery.
• Lead and supervise the project’s technical team across all consortium members, focusing on leadership and capacity building among the technical staff, as well as consistency and fidelity in delivery.
• Oversee technical planning and relevant communications for the program.
• Lead the adaptation, development, and implementation of technical resources to suit the needs of teacher and learners.
• Facilitate technical coordination and collaboration among consortium partners, other education projects within IRC, and engage with broader education stakeholders, education cluster and other key technical working groups within the specific and or other large scale education programs, to ensure alignment of project technical activities with education sector priorities and strategies.
• Provide technical direction for the development and adherence to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) plans throughout the program’s various phases to capture expected performance and results.
Requirements
• A minimum advanced degree (master’s) in Education, or a related field, PhD in education will be an asset.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in technical leadership roles for educational programs in developing countries, with at least three years of internal experience.
• Previous program implementation experience in Afghanistan is highly preferred.
• Proven technical expertise and experience in managing and overseeing national-level or country-wide large scale education programs.
• Strong diplomatic, leadership, and management skills, with the capacity to coordinate a diverse team towards achieving common goals.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with donors, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators, government officials, and staff at all levels of the organisation.
• Experience working on FCDO programs is essential.
• Familiarity with the Afghanistan education system is crucial.
• Ability to multitask and manage concurrent activities and deadlines effectively.
• Willingness to travel within the country, as appropriate and permitted.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Proficiency in at least one local language is highly preferred.
Please note that the JD is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the programme is released and as the opportunity develops. This position will be contingent on the outcome of the bid.
**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.