Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Vacancies 2012

Job vacancy: Teacher Community Assistant Initiative Manager Regional Coordinator

Job Description

Innovations for Poverty Action
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Teacher Community Assistant Initiative (TCAI) Regional Coordinator.  The TCAI is a project conducted in collaboration with the Ghana Education Services (GES), the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Youth Employment Program (NYEP) and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) to improve the quality of education in Ghana by providing teachers in P1-P3 with assistants who will be in charge of teaching the basic skills to the lowest performing students, and will be trained specifically for this purpose.  The impact of this project is going to be rigorously evaluated by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab and Innovations for Poverty Action (www.povertyactionlab.org and www.poverty-action.org).

The TCAI Project Coordinator will be part of a team of four Regional Coordinators. Each Regional Coordinator will be in charge of providing overall management support for the implementation of the TCAI, in one zone of the country comprising of about 11 Districts and 100 schools. The position will include a variety of activities and responsibilities, ranging from overseeing the logistics of the Initiative, coordinating with implementing actors on the ground, participating in the training of Teachers and Assistants, to monitoring the quality of the Initiative Implementation.

The Regional Coordinator will be based in Koforidua and will be in charge of TCAI activities in the Eastern region and one other region to be decided, and report to the TCAI National Coordinator. The Regional Coordinator will be expected to travel at least 70% of the time to oversee the TCAI activities across Ghana.

The role provides a unique opportunity to gain management experience, to participate in a new initiative that aims to improve the quality of education in Ghana, while also being closely involved in a cutting-edge research project.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Continuously assist the TCAI National Coordinator and the project stakeholders in the development and management of the overall Initiative
• Provide logistical support and assistance to the TCAI Coordinator
• Assist in finalizing the Assistants’ recruitment and deployment logistics and timeline
• Assist in finalizing the logistics and timeline for distributing materials to the Assistants
• Oversee and audit the Assistants’ recruitment
• In collaboration with the GES Districts Directors, finalize the timeline and logistics for the training of Assistants and of Teachers
• Oversee and audit the implementation of the Training of Assistants
• Oversee and audit the Assistants’ deployment
• Oversee and audit the materials distribution process
• Oversee and audit the supervision and monitoring process
• Continuously monitor the intervention and ensure that the monitoring process is well implemented
• Regularly visit District Representatives and collect their feedback on the Initiative implementation
• Ensure that the implementation on the ground is aligned with initial implementation plans, and with the evaluation research design

The commitment sought for this position is a minimum of one year with the possibility of a renewal. The position will start on January 15 2012.
 

Required Skills or Experience

• A Bachelors or Masters’ Degree in education, administration, economics, public policy, social sciences, or related fields
• Experience in the education field (at least 3 years), preferably in Ghana
• Some teaching experience
• Management experience (at least 3 years), preferably in Ghana
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience setting up administrative and financial management processes
• Flexibility, self-motivation, team spirit and an ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies and to work independently
• Fluency in English, excellent writing and communication skills
• Knowledge of at least one Ghanaian local language
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Willingness to travel frequently in remote areas
• Ability and willingness to work effectively in cross-cultural environments
• Excellent knowledge of Excel
• Some experience designing curriculum programs and teacher training programs preferred
• Some experience working for, or in partnership with the Government of Ghana, preferred

How To Apply

Please send your CV, contact information for three references and your cover letter to [email protected] and write “TCAI Project Coordinator” in the subject line. Please provide the contact of at least three references. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.