Global Partnership Education Programme Coordinator -Damascus

Country: Syrian Arab Republic Organization: International Rescue Committee Closing date: 15 Aug 2026 Background/Context: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is the Grant Agent for Syria's Global Partnership for Education (GPE) System Capacity Grant (SCG). The programme supports the Ministry of Education to strengthen sector leadership, planning, coordination, monitoring and institutional performance. It focuses on developing the systems, evidence and partnerships needed to lead education reform, including the Education Sector Analysis, Enabling Factors Analysis, Partnership Compact, Emergency and Strategic Education Plan (ESEP), and coordination through the Local Education Group (LEG). GPE Management Model The GPE System Capacity Grant is managed through an IRC Programme Management Unit (PMU), under the leadership of the Programme Director, which provides programme management, finance, grants, procurement, human resources, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. The Programme Director, Programme Coordinator and Programme Officer are embedded within the Ministry of Education to facilitate joint implementation, strengthen institutional ownership and provide hands-on accompaniment. The Programme Director provides strategic leadership, senior level engagement and overall accountability; the Programme Coordinator leads day-to-day technical coordination and implementation management across SCG workstreams;, and the Programme Officer supports operational delivery, documentation and administrative follow-up. Job overview: The Education Programme Coordinator leads the coordinator for technical support provided through the GPE System Capacity Grant. Embedded within the Ministry of Education and working closely with the Programme Management Unit (PMU), the role coordinates technical assistance provided by consultants and specialist inputs across the Ministry's Technical Directorates. The Coordinator ensures that technical support is aligned with Ministry priorities, coordinated across workstreams and translated into practical institutional improvements. The Coordinator reports to the GPE Programme Director and supervises the Education Programme Officer. The role works closely with the PMUto coordinate consultant inputs, technical reporting,programme learning, and implementation across SCG workstreams. The Coordinator serves as a key technical thought partner to the Programme Director and relevant MoE counterparts, helping interpret emerging evidence, identify technical and institutional implications, and shape appropriate implementation responses. The Coordinator translates the Programme Director’s strategic direction into sequenced workplans and coordinated implementation, while escalating strategic, technical, and institutional issues requiring senior-level engagement. Responsibilities: 1. Technical Leadership and Implementation Management • Lead day-to-day technical coordination and implementation management across all SCG outcomes and workstreams. • Translate the approved programme strategy and annual workplan into sequenced technical activities, milestones, responsibilities and deliverables. • Ensure coherence and integration across SCG-supported activities (the sector diagnostics, EFA, Partnership Compact, ESEP, Technical Assistance Plan, monitoring framework and Local Education Group (LEG) coordination processes.) • Ensure the use of education data and evidence for sector planning, budgeting, monitoring, reporting and adaptive decision-making, • Monitor progress against technical workplans, identify dependencies and bottlenecks, and recommend adjustments to sequencing, scope or delivery modalities. • Ensure that programme delivery remains aligned with MoE priorities, GPE requirements, approved grant documents and the SCG’s systems-strengthening principles. • Support the development of consultant terms of reference, workplans, technical outputs and delivery schedules. • Provide regular technical and implementation updates to the Programme Director and relevant MoE focal points, and escalate strategic, institutional or delivery risks requiring senior-level action. • Work closely with the Programme Officer to ensure that technical priorities are supported by timely operational arrangements, documentation and follow-up. • Work with the PMU to prioritize technical support requirements based on Ministry priorities and implementation needs. 2. Programme Delivery Provide technical support for the delivery of the SCG, including • Education sector and system diagnostics. • Emergency and Strategic Education Plan (ESEP). • Partnership Compact. • Enabling Factors Analysis. • Technical assistance workstreams • Joint Annual Reviews. • LEG and ESEP Working Group. Ensure delivery remains aligned with Ministry priorities and GPE requirements. 3. Technical Assistance and Institutional Strengthening • Coordinate appropriate capacity-strengthening modalities to relevant MoE departments and Education Directorates, which may include technical advisory support, training, mentoring, coaching, peer learning, learning-by-doing and embedded support. • Where appropriate, directly facilitate or deliver training, workshops, coaching and mentoring to MoE counterparts in response to capacity-strengthening needs identified through the diagnostics and Technical Assistance Plan. • Support MoE departments and Technical Directorates to translate technical recommendations into practical systems, processes, tools, SOPs, operational plans and routine institutional practice. • Ensure that technical assistance is evidence-based, demand-driven and aligned with ESEP priorities, Ministry needs and partner support. • cross-directorate and inter-ministerial coordination 4. Coordination • Support cross-directorate and inter-ministerial coordination, including role clarification, information-sharing, joint planning and alignment across relevant MoE directorates and government entities. • Support the co-chairing of relevant working groups/task teams under the LEG/ESEP working group in collaboration with the Programme Director • Maintain alignment between technical work undertaken across different Ministry directorates. • Work with the PMU to monitor progress against technical priorities and adjust support where required. • Coordinate technical reviews of programme outputs before submission to the Ministry. • Monitor delivery of consultant outputs against agreed technical standards. 5. Learning • Analyze lessons emerging from programme implementation and recommend improvements to programme design and Ministry systems. • Produce technical summaries, lessons learned and briefing papers. • Recommend adjustments to programme activities based on implementation evidence. • Contribute to programme reporting and knowledge products. Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development: • Supervise, and build the capacity of team members in both technical and managerial areas. • Coach, mentor, and support staff through clear expectations, regular feedback, and documented performance reviews. • Provide measurable development plans focused on technical growth, knowledge sharing, and career guidance. • Manage time, attendance, leave, and performance reviews to ensure adequate coverage and compliance. • Promote staff care and well-being, model healthy work-life balance, and support appropriate interventions. • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and program reflection sessions to assess progress and inform program design. • Uphold IRC Global HR Policies and support staff career development where appropriate. Job Requirements: Education: Master’s degree in education, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Psychology, Human Development, Social Work, International Development, Public Administration, or a related field. A bachelor's degree with substantial relevant professional experience in education systems strengthening, institutional development or technical assistance may be considered in lieu of a master's degree. Work Experience: • Minimum 8 years of experience in education sector reform, education systems strengthening or institutional development. • Experience working with Ministries of Education or other government institutions. • Experience supporting education policy, sector planning or organisational reform. • Experience coordinating technical assistance, institutional reform or education sector programmes funded by international development partners. Demonstrated Skills and Competencies • Ability to coordinate technical inputs across multiple consultants and workstreams. • Ability to analyze complex technical information and translate it into practical recommendations. • Strong drafting skills, including reports, briefing papers and technical guidance. • Ability to facilitate technical discussions and build agreement across stakeholders. • Ability to manage competing priorities and meet programme deadlines. • Experience using programme monitoring information to improve implementation. Language/Travel: • Travel: Minimum 20% • Language: Arabic & English are required. Key Working Relationships: • Position Reports to: GPE Director • Position directly supervises: GPE Programme Officers, technical consultants • Key Internal Contacts Programme Management Unit, Regional Education Technical Advisor, technical consultants. • Key External Contacts: Technical Directorates leads in the Ministry of Education, local directorates, local partners, international organizations within the education sector, and relevant donors. Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation. Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the country where this position is based and are currently residing outside of your home country, you may be eligible for an attractive relocation package. Eligibility is determined based on IRC's operational needs and specific role requirements. IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs. Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery. How to apply https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/esUtgxMjES