The Ugandan Jobline

Job
Title:         Project
Management Specialist (Basic Education)

Organisation: United
States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda

Salary Grade: UGX
203,022,426 – 299,294,360 per annum (FSN 12)

Reports to: USDH
Education Officer

About US Embassy:

The United States
Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for
over 30 years.  Ambassador Deborah R. Malac currently heads the U.S
Mission to Uganda.  The Mission is composed of several offices and
organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the
direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices
operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:

• United States Agency for International
  Development (USAID)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Peace Corps

Job Summary:  USAID/Uganda is seeking for qualified individuals to fill the
Project Management Specialist (Basic Education) position. This position is for
an FSN professional to advance USAID/Uganda basic education goals, as a Senior
Basic Education Specialist, and is in the Office of Education, Youth, and Child
Development (EYCD). The Senior Basic Education Specialist works closely with
other education, youth/workforce development and child protection team members
to strategically adapt USAID/Uganda’s basic education efforts to the goals of
USAID/Uganda’s Country Development Coordination Strategy (CDCS) and provides education
sector expertise on education policy reform, education management, and
effective strategies for sustainable improvements in basic education outcomes.
S/he serves as advisor to USAID/Uganda management and the EYCD office. The
Senior Basic Education Specialist focuses on national education policy
development and reform, including issues related to financing and resource
utilization, strategic planning, measurement, and classroom practice. As a
senior advisor for policy-related aspects of the Mission’s education program,
the incumbent works closely with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES)
and other donors to maximize the effectiveness of public sector financing and
to achieve planned results within USAID’s larger development objectives. The incumbent
has a leadership role in program management of the Mission’s basic education
and related awards, providing appropriate oversight, robust responses to
collaboration, learning, and adapting (CLA), and overall direction for the
basic education efforts of USAID/Uganda. The position requires significant
programmatic and technical knowledge and a thorough knowledge of international
basic education best practices, as well as major Ugandan education policy
initiatives. S/he reports to the Basic Education Unit Lead and has frequent
direct contact with senior Mission Management and/or US Embassy State
Department staff, the MOES and other donors, and with USAID/Washington
regarding matters relating to education sector policy in Uganda.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:  

Program Policy
Guidance (40% of time)

·       
The
Senior Basic Education Specialists provides EYCD and USAID/Uganda with expert
guidance on education sector reform, education sector financing, and education
administration.

·       
Works
closely with the EYCD Basic Education Team Lead on issues related to the
education sector in Uganda, including in consultation, coordination, and
partnership with the wider donor community.

·       
Produces
Ugandan education sector policy briefs, strategy papers, and reporting
documents, all based on in-depth sector knowledge and independently produced
analyses.

·       
Advises
the EYCD Basic Education Team Lead, EYCD Office Director and at times the
Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, or members of the Embassy Country
Team on education policy in Uganda, including education sector initiatives and
strategic planning, educational laws and policies, and education financing.

Basic Education
Program Management and Oversight (45% of time)

·       
The
Senior Basic Education Specialist has principal responsibility for
strategically managing activities to improve national level basic education
systems and policies. The position requires substantial programmatic and
technical knowledge regarding major educational policies and practices that
impede learning outcomes. S/he participates in the design and management of
USAID education programs and projects and assesses potential programming
modifications to ensure that USAID education strategy and policy in Uganda
address key issues in the sector and that investments in the sector produce
positive results. At the same time, s/he ensures that USAID/Uganda’s basic
education activities are in line with international and local best practice and
complementary to efforts of other donors.

·       
Provides
oversight to contractors and grantees by serving as Contracting Officer’s
Representative/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) (or alternate),
and/or Activity Manager for selected implementing partners, including those
implementing and evaluating basic education programs. Activity management will
be guided by designation letter from the Contracting Officer and will include
financial and pipeline analysis, tracking of deliverables and results,
technical expertise to resolve challenges in achieving results, and general
knowledge of Uganda specific issues such as violence in schools, adolescent
pregnancies, child marriages, etc.

·       
Leads
adaptation of the Mission’s basic education efforts in response to
Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation (CLA) assessments and independent performance
and impact evaluations at both the program level and in collaboration with
USAID, Ministry, donors, and other stakeholders.

·       
Develops
tools and documents including operational plans, performance management plans
and reports, portfolio presentations, and official briefing materials.

·       
Contributes
to EYCD’s Development Outreach and Communications strategy by writing program
success stories and sharing information on USAID/Uganda’s education program
with audiences in Uganda and the United States.

Representation to
the Government of Uganda, Other Donors, and Stakeholders (15% of time)

·       
The
Senior Basic Education Specialist establishes and maintains collaborative
relationships with a wide range of partners and stakeholders including central
and decentralized levels of the MOES, other donors, and private sector and NGO
representatives working to improve education in Uganda. The incumbent serves as
a basic education technical specialist and shares responsibility with the Basic
Education Team Lead in representing EYCD on various external education
committees and with internal USAID stakeholders. S/he will ensure USAID/EYCD’s
views and goals regarding basic education are well articulated during various
internal and external education fora, including the Education Development
Partners, Education Sector Consultative Committee, Education Sector Review, the
Basic Education Working Group, other MOES working groups, CDCS integration
working groups, and others, including as high as the Permanent Secretary and
State Minister for Primary Education levels.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

NOTE:  All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed
below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

·       
The
applicants for the United States US Embassy Project Management Specialist
(Basic Education) job opportunity should hold a master’s degree in education or
other social science subject. Required.

·       
Seven
(7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in supporting
primary education systems reform programs and/or initiatives; including at
least three years in strategy development and program management, is required.

·       
Demonstrated
strategic planning, policy dialogue and problem-solving skills on complex
bilateral/multilateral and/or public sector programs are required.

·       
Demonstrated
knowledge of state-of-the-art and international best practices in the areas of
education policy, administration and financing, programming and/or evaluation
is required.

·       
Demonstrated
knowledge of the education sector in sub-Saharan Africa, including the range of
issues and challenges impeding access to quality basic education is required.

·       
Demonstrated
knowledge in the historical development of education in Uganda including;
conditions in primary schools; familiarity with the MOES and its affiliated
institutions (the Uganda National Examinations Board, National Curriculum
Development Center, etc.); and knowledge of Ugandan basic education systems
(i.e.: curriculum design, teacher training, classroom effectiveness,
educational management, literacy development and testing and evaluation, etc.)
is required.

·       
Familiarity
with education financing models and public education sector initiatives,
including multi-donor sector investment programs; substantive skills and experience
in quantitative and qualitative methods for measuring basic education outcomes;
and knowledge and/or previous experience with early grade reading pedagogy and
assessment, including instruction in local languages with a later transition to
English.

·       
Demonstrated
skills in conceptualizing programs, policies, plans and developing strategies
for their implementation as well as a high degree of managerial, analytical and
leadership skills in program management is required.

·       
Strong
negotiation skills are required.

·       
Demonstrated
ability to obtain, analyze, and evaluate a variety of data and information to
prepare precise and accurate factual and analytical reports and to make
meaningful recommendations.

·       
Demonstrated
ability to develop and maintain a wide range of senior level contacts in the
public and private sectors.

·       
Demonstrated
ability to work on a team and to form positive and productive working
relationships at all levels is required. Excellent writing skills and
proficiency in Windows applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are required.

·       
Ability
and willingness for limited travel within Uganda is required.

·       
Language
Proficiency: Excellent command
of written and spoken English, Level IV (fluent).

How to Apply:

All those interested
in working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and
strictly adhere to the following:

·       
A typed
and hand signed (around Section 6 – Declaration) DS-174 Employment Application
for Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (Click Here; Version
Exp. 06/2022). Offerors are required to complete sections 1 through 6. (Make
sure to use additional Work Experience pages (Section 4), if needed, to provide
complete work history).

·       
Cover
letter (addressed to the USAID Supervisory Executive Officer) clearly
indicating the position for which you are applying and describing how you meet
the minimum requirements.

·       
Complete
curriculum vitae/resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, the
resume must include:

·       
Paid and
non-paid experience, job title, dates held (month/year). Please specify unpaid
or part time work. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year) will
not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (NOTE: Resume and
DS-174 work experience should match.)

·       
Specific
duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

·       
Education
and any other qualifications including job-related training courses,
job-related skills, or job- related honors, awards or accomplishments.

·       
Name and
contact information (phone and email) of three (3) professional references. At
least one of the references must be a prior or current direct supervisor.

·       
Supplemental
[separate] document specifically addressing each QRF as outlined in the
solicitation.

·       
Copies
of Academic Transcripts

·       
Offers
should be in a standard file type such as Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe
Acrobat (.pdf). All should be in one document which should not exceed 10MB.

·       
Submitted
offers and documents become the property of USAID and will not be returned.

Submit Application
To:

Human Resources
Office

By email at
KampalaHR@state.gov

NB: Your
application will be reviewed if you have fulfilled all the requirements
including submission of standard file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) in a single attachment (No Zipped files, Links or Multiple
Attachments) and should not exceed 10MB. Please clearly indicate the position
number and title you are applying for on the DS-174 form.

Deadline: 28^th July 2020

The US Mission in
Kampala provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in
employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual
orientation.  The Department of State also strives to achieve equal
employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity
enhancement programs.

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