Vacancy Announcement: Head of Early Childhood Development Education
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya is a member of the SOS Children’s Villages
International (CVI) Federation.
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya is a child-focused Non-Governmental Organization
established in 1973 to provide care and support to children who have lost or are
at risk of losing the care of their biological family.
The
organization’s vision is “No child should grow up alone” and its programmes are
driven by the mission of “building families for children in need, helping them
shape their own futures and sharing in the development of their communities”.
In
this regard, the organization works to reduce poverty; increase access to
quality education and decent work; reduce inequalities and build strong
institutions as laid out in SDGs 1, 4,8,10 and 16.
This
is done through programmes that are geared towards addressing the political,
economic, health and social root causes that lead to high levels of child
vulnerability and put families at risk of breaking down.
The programmes focus on Alternative Care, Family Strengthening, Youth Empowerment, Education, Health Care and Advocacy.
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya implements programmes in five (5) of Kenya’s 47
Counties namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Meru.
We
seek to recruit suitably qualified person to fill the following position:
Position:
Head of Early Childhood Development Education
Early
Childhood Care and Development Centre, Meru Location
1
Position
Job
Summary: Reporting to the Program Director, the Head of Early
Childhood Development Education will lead in ECDE programming at the location
and provide technical support in the ECDE department to ensure holistic growth,
development and learning of the children.
He/she
will ensure fostering of National education goals and implementation of ECDE
related policies.
The
ECDE will work with other programmes and partners to develop programmes that
support child growth, development and learning.
She/he
will also provide leadership in delivering teaching and learning outcomes as
per the CBC curriculum designs.
The
ECDE Head also acts as the overall administrative of the ECDE programme in the
location, supporting community ECDE centres, supervising the daily work of all
staff, overseeing admissions, fee collection and mobilizing resources to ensure
sustainability, and general matters of the institution.
Key
performance areas and main responsibilities
Guides,
Controls and Coordinates ECDE Activities at the location
· Liaises
closely with the Programme Director in admitting children in the centre through
a transparency process.
· Prepares
an Annual budget for the ECDE department in conjunction with the Programme
Director, programme Accountant, and ensures the budget is not exceeded.
· Ensures
resource mobilization for the Kindergarten through Proposal writing,
partnership and fee collection for sustainability
· Ensures
the proper financial management of the Kindergarten, and adherence to the
financial and regulations of the Member Association
· Ensures
proper records are maintained regarding ECDE department books, stationary,
furniture and equipment.
· Ensures
all stores have valid store cards, kept in a neat and orderly condition.
Maintains a petty cash float, and ensure adequate funds at all times by
observing two-thirds rule.
· Collects
and records Kindergarten fees as per the financial policy on fee collection.
· Follows-up
regarding late payments, and notifies the Management on any concerns
· Purchases
all Kindergarten stationary, cleaning materials, equipment, food for the
kitchen, and other consumable supplies on timely basis
· Maintains
an attendance register for all teaching and support staff
· Ensures
compliance with the Government policies in running the centre
Develops
a High Quality ECDE Educational Programmes
· Support
the Child Development facilitators develop syllabuses as per the early years’
education curriculum designs per level
· Ensure
the pre-school strands are covered within the academic year as guided by the
Early years’ education curriculum design
· Reviews
children’s classes on a rotating basis in order to monitor each Educator’s
performance and educational approach.
· Ensures
the educational needs of each child are addressed through continuous monitoring
and reviewing of each child’s progress.
· Provides
continuous technical guidance and training to Child Development facilitators in
order to equip them with the necessary skills and expertise.
· Maintains
individual files for each Pre-school child, including complete records of
progress, achievements, observed learning problems etc.
· Support
other programme departments develop quality community ECDE programmes
Supports
caregivers provide nurturing care and opportunities for learning
· Develop
trainings to sensitize parents/ facilitator/other caregivers on child growth and
development and other parenting trainings.
· Support
child development facilitators develop learning materials that will provide
learning
opportunities for the learners.
· Support
caregivers understand how to develop attachments/ relationships with young
children which supports growth, development and learning.
· Ensures
the Kindergarten is clean and all facilities are in order to create conducive
learning
and working environment.
· Develop
sensitization trainings on the roles of parents in learning.
Ensures
health, adequate nutrition, Safety and security of the Children
· Organize
for child protection training for the parents.
· On
admission ensure all children are immunized as per the MOH guidelines
· Provide
clean water and sanitation and educate learners on good hygiene
· Ensure
child are provided with safe learning environments which are no obstacles, well
lit
and enough space
· Ensure
the play material are safe for children to use
· Provide
healthy balanced diet in the feeding programme
· Makes
sure the children are properly supervised at all times, and that child development
facilitators comply with safety regulations and proper child-care procedures.
· Ensures
children are escorted to the group room by their parent or guardian, and only
collected by authorized persons.
· Takes
prompt action in the event of an accident, and reports any accidents or signs
of ill
health to the parent or guardian concerned.
· Adhere
to OSH guidelines
Builds
a Committed and Effective Staff Team
· Oversees
the selection, training, development and appraisal of staff to ensure that only
the best staff are employed, and that they are developed to reach their full
potential.
· Holds
regular meetings with staff to discuss current activities, problems, concerns
and
new ideas, in order to ensure open communication and cooperation.
· Upholds
the rights and responsibilities of each staff member ensuring that a positive
degree of discipline is maintained at all times.
· Holds
regular reviews and performance appraisals with all staff to assess their
performance and identify areas for development as catered for by the
organization policy
on the same.
Acts to
integrate the ECDE department with the SOS Children’s Village-Meru Location
programme
· Builds
close links with the SOS Children’s Village, ensuring all staff take an active
part in
programme events and activities. Ensures that all staff are familiar with the
history,
principles and philosophy of SOS Children Villages.
· Participates
in Programme or inter-project meetings, and consults project Coordinators
prior to taking decisions, which affect children/caregivers in different
programmes.
Performs
other reasonable tasks as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
Minimum
Qualifications & Experience Required
· A
Degree in Early Childhood Development
· A
Master’s in Early Childhood Development will be an added advantage
· Training
in Guidance and counselling will be an added advantage.
· The
position holder must be computer literate.
· Minimum
of 5 Years’ experience in ECDE
· Must be
registered by the Teachers Service Commission
· Be
gender sensitive
· Have a
genuine liking for and interest in young people and demonstrated patience,
tolerance
and understanding.
· Ability
to communicate effectively with students, colleagues, administrators, parents
and the
community at large
· Possess
report writing skills.
· Significant
knowledge of work and educational dynamics in the country
Child
Protection Policy: At all times, avoid actions or
behaviour that could be construed as poor or potentially abusive practice.
Whatever decisions and actions taken should be with the best interest of the
child in mind.
Data
Protection Policy: At all times ensure that
personal data of donors, sponsors, SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya
beneficiaries and their families as well as co-workers is handled
confidentially and in accordance with prevailing SOS-Kinderdorf International
data protection laws.
How to
Apply
If
you believe your experience, competencies and qualifications match the job and
role specifications described; send your application & updated CV (with
details of at least 3 traceable referees one of which must be immediate former
employer) to recruitment@soskenya.org addressed to the Human Resources Manager
to reach us on or before 20th December 2022.
SOS
Children’s Villages in Kenya holds strict child safeguarding principles and a
zero-tolerance policy for conducts of sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse
in the workplace, code of conduct and other places where the organization’s
activities arerendered.
Parallel
to technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring decisions, we give
due emphasis to assessing candidates value congruence and thorough background
checks, police clearance reference check processes.
SOS
Children’s Villages is an equal opportunity employer and its Recruitment Policy
addresses itself to the core values of best practice, diversity and equality.
Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted
