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 IRC’s Education and Early Childhood Development program has provided support to Syrian and Lebanese communities through inclusive access to early learning opportunities, formal and non-formal quality education, and caregivers’ engagement, through inter-sector and innovative approaches reaching thousands of children and caregivers across the country.

Reporting to the Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) Coordinator, the Senior EECD Technical Manager ensures that the design, content, technical implementation and monitoring of the IRC’s EECD programming are in line with appropriate technical guidelines and meet high quality standards. The position is responsible for the integration of EECD content and approaches across a diversity of delivery platforms, oversees the adaptation and development of content, educational materials and training packages, as well as quality execution of capacity strengthening plans. The position plays a key role in ensuring harmonization of best practices across different programmatic components, geographical areas and implementing partners, and in representing the EECD program in technical and sector coordination fora.

The Senior EECD Technical Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the excellence and consistency of caregiver and child-focused programs.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Scaling and Business Development:

 Participate in program design and new proposal development that address the gaps and needs.Lead an evidence-based EECD scaling and partnership portfolio at the country level, overseeing phases from design to planning through implementation to closure, including review and reflection, coordination and closing meetings. Facilitate collaborative design and planning meetings, roundtables and events, to ensure that scaling goals address the partners’ EECD needs and objectives.

Development and adaptation of technical materials:

 Support in the development of an education strategy for the Lebanon country program; Lead the technical review, adaptation and development of curricula, educational materials and technical tools for caregiver and child focused programs;Directly supervise and structure the work of curriculum development consultants;Support the development or selection of strategies, technical materials and tools for pilots and initiatives related to cross-sector integration of EECD activities in country;Keep abreast of new developments of context, technical design, strategies and best practices in the Education and ECD fields, conduct desk reviews when needed.

Quality of program implementation:

 Develop benchmarks and standards in coordination with the IRC’s Technical Units and the Ahlan Simsim Regional Technical Lead, to monitor overall program quality and implementation of caregiver and child focused programs; In collaboration with regional and country-based Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) teams, implement efficient monitoring and evaluation of the program’s quality, ensuring lessons learned and feedback loops inform program adaptations and decision-making;Analyze technical gaps and assess program impact at the community level, focusing on the quality and effectiveness of content-related activities/services;Provide timely status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverables, challengesConduct regular field observations and monitoring of activities and share recommendations to improve the quality of program implementation;

Training and capacity strengthening:

 Oversee the development of training packages and workshops, and the execution of capacity strengthening plans for staff, EECD facilitators and partner organizations. Lead the design, planning and implementation of Training of Trainers (ToT), teacher trainings and capacity strengthening workshops to strengthen program delivery and technical competencies;

Representation and communication:

 Represent IRC and the EECD and program at strategic meetings and events, serving as the technical focal point in sector coordination and advocacy fora and activities that require co-design of materials in collaboration with implementing partners and government authorities;Establish and nurture partnerships and relationships with relevant key stakeholders, including governmental bodies/ministries, national EECD experts and other strategic actors.Contribute to the design and development of advocacy messages, goals and plans, and communication materials to increase the visibility and impact of the EECD programs;Support the preparation of high quality and timely donor reports in collaboration with EECD colleagues and other relevant IRC departments;

 Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: EECD Coordinator

Position directly supervises: None

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: IRC Operations and Support Departments; ECD Technical Units (HQ/Region), Policy, Advocacy and Communication team, MEAL and Partnership teams, Ahlan Simsim Regional Team, IRC Sector Coordinators

External: Relevant government officials and entities, local NGOs and INGOs, UN agencies, local Education & ECD stakeholders

Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor of Arts or Master’s degree in Education, Special Education or other related field;3 to 5 years of professional experience working in the education sector, including teaching, teacher training, and material development (training and curriculum);Strong understanding of educational and ECD context and needs in Lebanon;Experience in working on advocacy with focus on policy change or implementation, application of scaling literature and systems change processes.Demonstrated experience in developing and facilitating trainings and workshops tailored for teachers/Education and ECD facilitators and ToT;Experience strengthening the capacity of local organizations in technical and organizational development areas;Demonstrated understanding of project management and monitoring and evaluation tools;Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties;Demonstrated strength in strategic thinking, innovation, and problem-solving, complemented by excellent interpersonal communication, analytical writing, planning, organizing, and team-building skills.Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook;Autonomy and ability to work with minimal supervision;Flexibility, commitment, work ethics and team spirit;Fluency in Arabic and English, and French.

Working Environment:

Standard office work environment with frequent travel to field implementation sites. Position is based in the IRC office in Beirut, Lebanon 
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.