Aga Khan Foundation (East Africa) – Career Opportunity – Regional Programme Officer, Education

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private, non-denominational development agency promoting creative and effective solutions to problems that impede social development. The Aga Khan Foundation (East Africa) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Regional Programme Officer (Education)
The Regional Programme Officer (Education) is a senior member of AKF(EA)’s programme team. S/he is responsible for quality and effective implementation of the Foundation’s education programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania (including Zanzibar).
Key responsibilities include programme and strategy development, technical oversight and quality control of programmes, substantive engagement in national and regional education policy forums, consolidating and disseminating core learning to multiple stakeholders, resource mobilisation, government relations, grant management and supervision of programme staff.
S/he reports to the Regional Programme Manager and will collaborate closely with co-Programme Officers in education and other thematic areas.
Qualifications required
The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with practical management experience, superior technical skills
and possess:

  • A Master’s degree in education;
  • 8-10 years experience in the education sector in East Africa;
  • Proven experience in whole school improvement approaches and innovative techniques to overcome challenges in strengthening quality, access and relevance in the public education system in East Africa;
  • Proven experience in early childhood development and effective approaches to facilitating transition to primary school and beyond to secondary school;
  • Knowledge of the government education systems in Kenya, Tanzania (including Zanzibar) and Uganda including proven familiarity and engagement with sector strategies and major working groups;
  • Proven experience in resource mobilisation in the education sector, including knowledge of and engagement with key donor priorities, approaches and systems;
  • Significant experience working with; managing and strengthening grantees and programme performance monitoring and reporting;
  • Proven skills in strong proposal development, report writing and monitoring and evaluation;
  • Proven initiative and attention to detail;
  • Ability to efficiently co-ordinate and manage multiple demands, excel in multitasking, yet remain focused and detail oriented;
  • Ability to work independently to strict deadlines;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills in English, fluency in Kiswahili is desirable;
  • Excellent inter-personal skills to engage productively within and outside AKF in a cross-cultural, interdisciplinary environment; and
  • Excellent computer skills and proficient with Microsoft software (Word,Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
Interested candidates should submit CV with names and email contacts of at least three professional referees and a cover letter explaining why you are best suited for the position by Friday, 14th May 2010, to the Regional Human Resources Manager, Aga Khan Foundation, East Africa, by e-mail to akf.east-africa@akdn.org.
Please do not include copies of certificates or awards.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org