Programme Manager

Location:                  Lusaka, Zambia

Contract:                  12 months, potential to renew subject to funding

Hours:                       Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Reporting to:          Senior Programme Manager

About the role:

Education Partnerships Group (EPG) have recently been awarded a grant to support the Ministry of General Education (MoGE) in Zambia under the USAID-funded CATALYZE programme. EPG will work closely with the MoGE to review, prioritise and develop education policy in three core areas: regulation, accountability and public/private partnerships that are highlighted in the Government’s Education Sector and Skills Plan (ESSP) framework. In the first year we will build a team in Lusaka; undertake diagnostic work to map the policy landscape; and engage the MoGE and other key stakeholders to identify policy reform priorities.

The Programme Manager will play a key role in establishing EPG’s work in Zambia. This includes: supporting the set-up of an EPG office; cultivating and maintaining trusted relationships with senior Ministry officials and other key stakeholders; designing and delivering contextually-relevant advice and support to Government partners on education policy reform design, planning, implementation and monitoring; reviewing and drafting policy-related documents; coordinating and overseeing research and policy development work by commissioned partners and consultants; managing one Associate; overseeing all elements of project management; contributing to monitoring, feedback and evaluation mechanisms; and liaising with donors and funding partners. This project has strict reporting requirements that will require timely delivery and attention to detail.

The right candidate will find EPG an exciting and entrepreneurial environment and see this role as an opportunity to build a team and programme strategy together with internal and external stakeholders, which will ultimately have a positive impact on improving children’s learning in Zambia.

Indicative responsibilities:

• Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with senior Ministry officials, maintaining regular contact and check-ins through in-person visits, meetings, workshops, and electronic communication;
• Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders and Development Partners, including but not limited to major bilateral and multilateral donors, UN agencies, donor implementing partners and consultancies, national NGOs, advocacy groups;
• Lead on monthly and quarterly reporting to the funders, engaging with partners as necessary to coordinate on reporting, and participate in monthly and quarterly partner meetings on progress;
• Lead on setting up an office in Lusaka for EPG, with the potential to leverage ministry partnerships to have an embedded office space in the MoGE;
• Conduct interviews with MoGE officials and key development partners to inform a diagnostic of the Zambian education sector;
• Gather information for a diagnostic on the education sector, and contribute to analysing the gathered information and drafting of the diagnostic piece;
• Liaise with partners, including wider Catalyze partners, on a regular basis, and ensure efficient project delivery and reporting, which has strict and specific requirements on a monthly and quarterly basis;
• Work directly with senior officials in the MoGE and related agencies to design and deliver policy-related technical assistance aimed at shaping and strengthening the education system;
• Where required, support the establishment and/or refinement of policy development, delivery and/or monitoring systems within government, including the creation of coordination structures, decision making and project monitoring systems and problem solving interventions;
• Where required, contribute to the design, delivery or commissioning of a range of policy-related work including the revision of existing policies, drafting of new policies, policy guidelines and standard operating procedures, including effective stakeholder management;
• Where required, oversee qualitative research projects and coordinate commissioned quantitative research, support associated analysis, development of policy recommendations and devise strategies to support government partners to ensure such evidence is used to inform policy change and education service delivery;
• Work in close partnership with the wider EPG global team to ensure efficient and high-quality delivery of all technical assistance projects and the exchange of insights and learning across projects;
• Drive regular project and programme team meetings;
• Be accountable for regularly updated project workplans, budgets and monitoring frameworks;
• Collaborate with colleagues to nurture new funding partnerships and deepen existing partnerships interested in EPG’s work;
• Participate in the development of EPG through regular team meetings, knowledge exchange and professional development.

Candidate requirements:

• A Master’s degree in Public Policy Administration, Social Sciences or a related field;
• Considerable professional experience in the public policy process, including policy analysis, review, design and implementation;
• A track record of high-level relationship building and management with senior Civil Servants and/or thought leaders in the public sector or civil society;
• Considerable professional experience in the design and delivery of policy-related projects, including strong strategic thinking and analytical skills;
• Strong written communications and presentation skills in English;
• Experience in research and evaluation design and an ability to analyse and interpret data;
• Strong interpersonal skills with a sense of humility and willingness to work with diverse team members, often remotely
• Commitment to EPG’s core values o Responsive | we start from a place of “yes”
  • Accountable | we accept ownership and healthy conflict
  • Rigorous | we create and meet high expectations
  • Inclusive | we seek diversity of perspectives and experiences
  • Respectful | we are quick to listen and empathize

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Please disregard the UK based questions as they do not apply to you.