Senior Education Specialist II

Partnership Development

• Lead potential partner opportunity and capacity assessment.
• Lead the identification of potential partners and innovative interventions to support.
• Initiate initial communication and maintain engagement with potential partners.
• Manage proposal assessment review process.
• Review, assess and provide recommendations on proposals, including program design, budgets and M&E plans.
• Conduct on-site due diligence of potential partners as and when required to confirm validity and quality of the proposed project and implementing partner in technical, organizational, M&E and reputational areas are covered.
• Participate in proposal review committee meetings as and when required.

Partnership Maintenance

• Manage a portfolio of high impact partner projects.
• Serve as a project focal point for multiple strategic and complex partnerships, and monitor project implementation progress, targets and achievements.
• Conduct reviews on semi-annual technical reports submitted by partners in order to track the progress of the program/partner.
• Develop cost effective instruments and tools for the collection and analysis of programme data as needed throughout the life of the EAC projects.
• Contribute to the identification and design of site monitoring visits and conduct site monitoring visits in accordance with the approved scope of work.
• Respond in a prompt and efficient manner to all incoming partner requests. Liaise with other EAC departments, if required.
• Provide technical support, recommendations and/or advice to partners regarding concerns/issues in order to optimize performance across EAC programs.  

Engage in resource mobilization efforts

• Advocate, build relationships, and develop channels for dialogue with key community influencers and organizations in order to achieve EAA/EAC objectives.
• Work with different teams and departments to identify potential projects that could be supported through potential donors.
• Serve as a focal point for ODA and private partners for resource mobilization.

Briefings, communication products and meetings

• Develop high level briefs requested by external or internal stakeholders.
• Lead thematic, country/regional or project briefings requested by external or internal stakeholders.
• Promote/advocate for institution’s visibility, brand and strategic position
• Represent EAC/EAA in dealings with organizations, individual groups and relevant government and non-government bodies as required.
• Participate in global and regional events, working with partners, to market and enhance EAA’s/EAC’s position and image.
• Plan events such as high level meetings, WISE, and partner meetings.

Development and Management of Strategic and External Initiatives

• Advise on programme strategic plan and direction.
• Work closely with other EAA programmes to develop and carry our foundation-wide initiatives.
• Engage with global partner initiatives to position EAA/EAC as a key player in the international development community.
• Represent EAC and EAA in international forums.
• Manage inter-programme initiatives as the EAC representative.
• Manage and foster a strategic partnership with a number of bilateral, foundation, and UN agency partners, through various initiatives.

Special Tasks

• Carryout any additional tasks, projects or responsibilities as may be assigned by supervisor, reporting manager or EAA executive management from time to time

Generic Accountabilities:

Strategy and Business Plan

• In conjunction with and as required by Top Management, contribute to the formulation and implementation of EAA’s strategy in line with EAA’s vision and mission.
• Ensure that the strategy is translated into objectives for EAA’s departments and that performance is monitored and managed to ensure achievement of these objectives.

Budgets and Plan

Contribute to the development of the departmental budget, and support opportunities to improve performance.

• Participate in the development and roll out of manpower planning and forecasting activity.

Systems and Processes

• Contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of the department’s activity so that all relevant procedural/ legislative requirements and standards are fulfilled to ensure that EAA delivers a world-class service. 
• Support the cost-efficient usage of all applicable resources to reduce wastage and unnecessary expense.

Change Management & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to managing change in own team by providing inputs for and taking part in change initiatives, programmes and projects that reflect international best practice and changes in the competitive environment.
• Promote and drive continuous improvement across one’s department as whole in order to achieve the organization’s mission, vision and strategy.
• Identify and take part in change initiatives, programmes and projects that reflect international best practice and changes in the competitive environment.

People Management

• Organise and supervise the activities and work of direct reports to ensure that all work within a specific team is completed to the required standards and in line with EAA operating policies and procedures.
• Provide on-the-job training and constructive feedback to subordinates to support their overall development.
• Manage department staff and teams by overseeing their performance management, recruitment, training and development to ensure high levels of engagement and competence.
• Set/agree to stretched performance management goals for self and departments.