Global Partnership Education Programme Officer -Damascus

Background/Context:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is the Grant Agent for Syria's Global Partnership for Education (GPE) System Capacity Grant (SCG). The programme supports the Ministry of Education to strengthen sector leadership, planning, coordination, monitoring and institutional capacity. It focuses on developing the systems, evidence and partnerships needed to lead education reform, including the Education Sector Analysis, Enabling Factors Analysis, Partnership Compact, Emergency and Strategic Education Plan (ESEP), and coordination through the Local Education Group (LEG).

GPE Management Model
The GPE System Capacity Grant is managed through an IRC Programme Management Unit (PMU), led by the Programme Director, which provides programme management, finance, grants, procurement, human resources, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

The Programme Director, Programme Coordinator and Programme Officer are embedded within the Ministry of Education to facilitate joint implementation, strengthen institutional ownership and provide hands-on accompaniment. The Programme Director provides strategic leadership, senior level engagement and overall accountability; the Programme Coordinator leads day-to-day technical coordination and implementation management across SCG workstreams; and the Programme Officer supports operational delivery, documentation and administrative follow-up.

Job overview:

The Education Programme Officer coordinates the operational implementation of the System Capacity Grant within the Ministry of Education. Working primarily with Heads of Divisions, education directorates and technical teams, the role supports the organisation, coordination and follow-up of programme activities, ensuring agreed technical priorities are translated into day-to-day implementation.The Officer reports to the GPE Education Programme Coordinator. Supports the Programme Management Unit by coordinating the operational delivery and logistics of documents review, events and workshops.

Responsibilities:

1. Administrative, financial and logistical follow-up

• Coordinate procurement requests, travel arrangements, venue bookings, interpretation, translation, printing, materials and other operational requirements.
• Prepare and track payment requests, purchase requisitions, service requests and supporting financial documentation in coordination with relevant IRC departments.
• Maintain expenditure and commitment trackers for assigned activities and alert the Programme Coordinator to anticipated variances or delays.
• Support timely reconciliation and filing of workshop, travel, consultant and activity-related documentation.
• Coordinate administrative arrangements for field visits and engagement with governorate-level Education Directorates.
• Ensure activities comply with IRC procedures, approved budgets, donor requirements and relevant Ministry protocols.

2. Programme Implementation and coordination

Support operational implementation of the SCG, including:

• Coordinate the operational preparation and delivery of SCG-related activities, technical consultations, training events and workshops
• Develop event plans covering participants, invitations, agendas, venues, interpretation, materials, travel, and administrative requirements.
• Coordinate invitations and attendance with Ministry focal points, Education Directorates, consultants, LEG members and other stakeholders.
• Prepare meeting packs, agendas, attendance sheets, presentation materials and background documents in coordination with the technical team.
• Record discussions, decisions, action points and responsibilities and circulate agreed records in a timely manner.
• Maintain a consolidated calendar of SCG consultations, workshops, working sessions, validation milestones and technical missions.
• Coordinate Arabic–English translation and interpretation requirements and follow up on the production and circulation of bilingual materials.

3. Consultant and technical-assistance coordination

• Support the administration of consultant and short-term technical-assistance assignments, including recruitment, contracting, onboarding, scheduling, and assignment closure.
• Coordinate with the Programme Coordinator and relevant IRC departments on consultant documentation, deliverables, timesheets, approvals, and payment requirements.
• Maintain a consultant tracker covering recruitment status, contractual milestones, technical deliverables, review processes, and payments.
• Coordinate consultants’ access to relevant documents, Ministry counterparts, meetings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations.
• Schedule inception meetings, technical check-ins, document review sessions, and validation processes.
• Follow up on the submission, review, revision, approval, and filing of consultant deliverables.
• Support the timely processing of consultant payments by compiling and verifying the required documentation.

4. Learning and Reporting

• Maintain implementation records and supporting documentation.
• Monitor progress against agreed actions.
• Support programme reporting.
• Document lessons learned and good practice.
• Contribute to knowledge management and adaptive learning.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s level qualification in Social Sciences, Education, Psychology, Human Development, Social Work, or related subject. Equivalent experience in a similar role may also be accepted in place of formal education.

Work Experience:

• 2-4 years of experience in supporting education programmes, technical assistance or project management.
• Experience coordinating programme implementation, organising multi-stakeholder activities and tracking delivery against workplans.
• Experience with programme operational, financial and logistical support.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies

• Strong organisational and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage implementation schedules and track multiple actions simultaneously.
• Strong administrative accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare meeting documentation and maintain programme records.
• Ability to communicate effectively with government officials, consultants and programme staff.
• Ability to identify operational issues and escalate them appropriately.

Language/Travel:

• Travel: Minimum 20%
• Language: Fluent in English and Arabic.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: GPE Programme Coordinator
• Position directly supervises: NA
• Key Internal Contacts GPE Programme Management Unit, Education Technical Advisors, , M&E, operations, grants and finance teams,
• Key External Contacts: Heads of divisions, technical departments within Directorates, local partners, international organizations within the education sector, and relevant donors.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the country where this position is based and are currently residing outside of your home country, you may be eligible for an attractive relocation package. Eligibility is determined based on IRC's operational needs and specific role requirements. IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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