Programme Manager (RISE), NO-4, Fixed Term Position, Nairobi, Kenya Country Office, #138446

Purpose of the job:

Under the guidance and general supervision of the Chief Education, with a dotted line to the Deputy Representative, Programme, the Programme Manager provides technical leadership, programme management and coordination support to advance RISE Kenya’s objective of establishing multiple, flexible and safe learning pathways to quality formal and non-formal secondary education, skills development and transition opportunities for out-of-school adolescents and youth. The role will support system capacity building, technology-enabled learning, data and evidence generation, and youth engagement to drive scalable, inclusive and sustainable education.

The Programme Manager contributes to achievement of results according to plans, allocation, results-based management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

The position will serve as Programme Manager for the RISE program signed between UNICEF and Mastercard Foundation. The position is the central coordination point across government, UNICEF, Mastercard Foundation, consortium partners, development partners, and private sector stakeholders, and carries accountability for program results, risk management, and reporting to the Program Steering Committee.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and advisory support to the Chief

2. Programme development and planning

3. Programme management, monitoring and quality control of results

4. Advisory services and technical support

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Minimum requirements

Education:

• Master's or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) in Management, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Development Economics, and any other related fields.

Work Experience:

• 8 years of relevant work experience in education systems reform, workforce development, or large-scale social sector program leadership, including at least 7 years in a program leadership or country-level coordination role.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-partner, multi-donor high-value programs at national scale is required.
• Track record of translating program delivery into policy influence and institutional change is required.
• Experience in managing multi-million program budgets is required.
• Experience with EdTech, digital learning, or technology-enabled service delivery at scale is required. and any other related fields.

Skills:

• Understanding of the overall global development context, including issues such as: poverty, economic empowerment, displacement and the impact of these factors on education, youth skilling and employability and vice-versa; and inter-sectoral approaches to address such issues in collaboration with other sectors (including Social Policy, Protection, and Innovation/Young People engagement within UNICEF).
• Knowledge of global developments in secondary education, youth empowerment and international engagement strategies, including the application of the equity lens and human rights perspectives to programming.
• Ability to support policy dialogue: translation of analytical findings and evidence into development programme and policy discussions around equity and learning with partners, including government, development partners, private sector, CSOs and academia in relevant areas.
• Fair understanding of education sector planning knowledge/ability, including the range of modalities for delivering education, linkages between different sub-sectors (e.g. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Inclusive Education, Multiple Pathways to Education), cost-effectiveness and efficiency issues, key institutional structures, components and processes, as well as governance issues.
• Knowledge of education and policy sector analysis capacity, including understanding of the core education data sets and indicators; tools for analysis of equity; determinants of student access and learning; budget, costing, and financial management in education systems; political economy; and education policy and strategic planning.
• Experience in complex and multi-sectoral programme management, including programme design, costing, monitoring and evaluation and reporting.
• Deeper understanding of gender and inequity issues in relation to education, participation and development and the application of gender/equity analysis in programme policy and planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-partner, multi-donor programs at national scale, including direct engagement with government ministries and the private sector.
• Experience in overseeing high-value program budgets.
• Experience with EdTech, digital learning, or technology-enabled service delivery at scale.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Prior experience working with UNICEF, UN, Mastercard Foundation's Private Sector engagement, or comparable UN/foundation governance and reporting systems is strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a developing country is considered an asset.
• Experience working with the private sector and foundations is an advantage.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with our Values Charter: UNICEF VALUES

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others