JOB DETAILS:
ABOUT EDUCATION.ORG
Education.org is an independent non-profit foundation established to advance the use of research and evidence in global education. Our mission is to improve the learning of every child and young person by helping education leaders – whether in national government ministries or international partners – to access and use the best evidence to guide their policies and plans. We aim to be ‘a constructive disruptor’, adding value both as a ‘knowledge bridge’ – connecting the right evidence with the right policy makers – and as a ‘knowledge integrator’, by making that evidence useful and actionable.

Education.org’s first two reports, our White Paper, "Calling for an Education Knowledge

Bridge" and our Evidence Synthesis on Accelerated Education Programmes (AEPs) in SubSaharan Africa are examples of our commitment to amplifying evidence in need of greater visibility and uptake. You can find these reports, our Strategy 2023-2028, which sets out our ambitious plans for growth in the next four years, and much more information about us and our work on our website: www.education.org.

Established in 2019 and with offices in Zurich, Switzerland, and Nairobi, Kenya, we are supported by a visionary co-investor collective and are growing partnerships across governments, agencies, NGOs, universities, businesses and foundations in Africa, Middle East, Europe and North America.

CONTEXT OF THE ROLE
Education.org aims to develop a rigorous methodology for synthesizing evidence, incorporating a broad range of sources, including unpublished and locally generated evidence, as well as 'grey' literature, to inform educational decision-making. Our focus is on synthesizing evidence related to issues that most affect policymaking for the hardest-to-reach children and youth. Education.org collaborates with several countries, striving to enhance the accessibility and use of educational evidence by decision-makers.

Education.org is creating a new position, Senior Education Officer (SEO), based in East Africa. The SEO will enhance our capacity to advance the accessibility and use of educational evidence for education leaders. Reporting to the Chief Technical Officer and working closely with the Programme Director, the SEO will lead our work in Kenya and Uganda while supporting broader engagement across East Africa and beyond. They will be responsible for cultivating and strengthening relationships with key partners and building new connections with important stakeholders both regionally and globally. The SEO will also contribute directly to evidence synthesis efforts.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced professional with a strong background in education policy and research. They should have extensive experience of stakeholder engagement, working closely with ministries of education and development partners in East Africa.

Proficiency in French and/or Arabic and/or Spanish would be an asset.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The SEO’s key responsibilities will include:
• Leading country-based work in Kenya and Uganda, including managing communication with local stakeholders and counterparts, and nurturing those relationships; coordinating planning and implementation of programme activities, reporting, and facilitating learning and knowledge management.
• Supporting identification and implementation of opportunities to expand Education.org work in other East African countries, in collaboration with the Programme Director and under the leadership of the Chief Technical Officer.

• Providing technical inputs to the Programme Director in the development and roll out of implementation models in various countries, identifying opportunities and driving the delivery of technical support to integrate best available evidence into policies and guidelines at country level.
• Contributing to the development of high-quality, innovative and rigorous synthesis methods and approaches.

• Supporting the writing of synthesis reports, including identifying key insights and drawing out implications for policymakers.
• Assisting in the drafting of High-Level Policy Briefs and other knowledge translation and dissemination products linked to the synthesis work.
• Collaborating with the Programme Director and under the guidance of the Chief Technical Officer and Chief Communication Officer, to develop new partnerships at national, regional, and potentially global levels.
• Contributing to organizational learning and development within the Education.org team.

• Representing Education.org at selected external meetings and within relevant networks.

As a small team we hope that all Education.org staff can contribute to our work and vision according to its developing needs, as well as undertake the duties outlined above.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Desirable
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in education or related social science field
• PhD in Education or related social science field

Knowledge & Experience
• Extensive experience in education policy and planning.
• At least 5 years of experience in the education sector acquired in East Africa.

• Experience providing policy advice and working with mid-and high-level government officials (e.g., Minister level), particularly in education
• Experience of policy processes, including policy prioritisation, policy design, and policy implementation
• Experience supporting education programming in different national contexts.
• Strong experience in stakeholder engagement
• Proven experience in research and analytical work.
• Demonstrable experience in translating evidence and data for concrete policy and practice improvements.
• Experience of working in international collaborating teams.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative analytical methods.

Skills & aptitude
• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
• Excellent English-language written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to navigate complex policymaking and implementation environments across multiple contexts, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Ability to translate complex topics into simple language.
• Excellent project management skills with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, timely outcomes.
• A collaborative and flexible individual with excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work remotely and independently, with a conscientious, detail-oriented approach.
• Strong computer skills and an interest in leveraging modern tools to improve the organization and management of our work.
• Appreciation for the value of evidence from a wide range of international sources including in different languages.
• Willingness to learn new skills.
• Multi-lingual capabilities, particularly French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Other
• Willingness to undertake travel nationally and internationally.

To learn more about Education.org and see examples of our work see: https://education.org/home. Applicants should submit:
• A short cover letter (up to two pages) outlining their interest, qualifications and experience for the post related to how they match the required experience and skills.
• A brief resume that details relevant research, publications and/or policy experience; and the contact information for two professional or academic references.
• A sample of unedited writing on a subject of their choice.

Applications should be sent to: recruitment@education.org,  with ‘Senior Education Officer’ in the email address line.

But we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.