Mindseeker is looking for an Associate Director (Education) to join the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and support the Human and Community Development Unit (HCD) to oversee the development or implementation of education programs in low and low-middle income partner countries (particularly for middle school, high school, technical vocational education, STEM education).
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Serves as an education technical resource and advisor to multi-disciplinary country teams.
Assesses, and negotiates education sector related policy reforms with eligible countries in support of proposed compact activities. Evaluates alternative delivery options, program costs, and implementation plans. Helps identify beneficiaries and quantify cost-benefit of proposed changes. Helps negotiate program changes as needed and prepares necessary changes to existing documentation; and oversees due diligence efforts.
Monitors the implementation, oversight, and support of education projects by eligible countries and works with designated MCC country counterparts and MCC staff to improve and facilitate implementation of education related activities. Ensures good project management methods and skills are utilized in project management, including appropriate quality assurance and risk management methodologies.
Identifies education program resource needs and provides or acquires these through procurement or existing contracting arrangements. This includes services needed to carry out assessments of proposed education investments, oversight of implementation and support tasks. Coordinates and collaborates with other donor and in-country counterparts to ensure appropriate role assignments and policy and program coordination.
Serves as a technical resource in planning for the delivery of education sector programming. Identifies potential issues and concerns to develop flexibility in operations as-well-as cost-effective approaches to the resolution of problems.
Serves as an MCC liaison on education sector related issues and policies. This includes performing analysis, assessing proposals, preparing briefings and other tasks that are critical to the development and operational support of HCD initiatives and programs.
Provides expertise in researching, analyzing, and developing solutions for highly complex issues regarding education sector investments with country compacts. Conducts research, prepares effective communications and reports assessing and describing program/project progress and synthesizes data effectively. Assesses risks, analyzes issues, and develops authoritative solutions for complex issues. Structures projects and programs with a focus on impacts and outcomes of effective development assistance.
Consults with MCC management, other federal agencies, and international development stakeholders on education issues. Establishes and maintains liaison with relevant donors and program experts and stakeholders.
Maintains awareness of appropriate regulatory considerations, whether explicit in law or regulation, related to USG development assistance in education related areas. Supports the development of education related strategies and contributes to the Education Sector Practice Group developing innovative programming and private sector and civil society partnerships. Stays abreast of critical leading practices, new approaches, innovations, and research in education and other HCD areas of work.
Supports HCD in improving project management, knowledge management and standards and quality.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study.
7+ years of experience in designing and/or refining education programs at a systemic level, preferably working with disadvantaged or low-income populations in developing countries.
Knowledge of processes and procedures to effectively design education programs including research and analysis for diagnosis, stakeholder engagement, definition of indicators, development of program logic or theory of change, beneficiary analysis and costing of education interventions.
Knowledge of education program technical areas such as education policy, institutional capacity strengthening, teacher certification and training, school leadership development or development of learning resources and materials, student assessments, curriculum development, academic standards, student retention and promotion, advancing equity and access of public education.
Knowledge of project management methodologies and approaches which includes products and deliverables, risk management, team coordination, managing time, costs, scope, and risk. Knowledge of PM tools.
Knowledge of/ability to develop terms of reference (TORs) for education programs or other human and community development programs.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including culturally appropriate communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders (government, civil society, private sector, program participants in the US and overseas).
Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and integrating different perspectives, facilitation skills, public speaking, and presentation skills.
Experience preparing and presenting a variety of written document such as concept notes, project descriptions, briefing papers, talking points, status reports, background materials, and other documents to communicate with a variety of internal and external audiences.
Computer proficiency in MS Word, Excel PowerPoint, MS Project or PowerBI, and Web-based management information systems (e.g., SharePoint).
Preferred Qualifications:
Advanced degree (Master's, PhD, etc.) in a relevant field of study.
Language Skill Preferences:
General professional proficiency in French, including oral and written communications.
Work Environment:
Work is primarily performed in an office setting.
Occasional foreign travel to developing countries with limited infrastructure for 2 - 4 weeks at a time is required.
Suitability Requirements:
All MCC employees must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, including credit check, prior to starting.
EEOC Statement:
Mindseeker provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
