Manager of Programs & Strategic Partnerships
Education is the most powerful driver of progress. It enables young people to thrive as they discover and develop their talents, leading to healthier, happier, and more successful lives. It has the power to transform societies from within and to foster sustainable, inclusive, and safe communities.
Edukans is committed to unlocking the power of education—to realize its full potential for the well-being of people and communities, especially those who are marginalized and displaced. We work toward an education that equips children and young people with the skills they need to participate in a rapidly changing world, ranging from reading and writing to social and digital skills.
Our global mission is to create opportunities that empower children and young people to shape their futures with confidence. We serve them by offering our experience and expertise to improve education at a systemic level. Because education has the power to transform entire societies. We believe that education is the answer to the greatest challenges of our time, such as climate change.
The purpose of the Programs and Strategic Partnerships team is to develop and maintain program strategies and implementation approaches, as well as manage strategic partnerships for our program pillars and cross-cutting themes, and to empower, enable, and support country offices in the transition toward project design and implementation. For the next phase of our strategic agenda, we are recruiting a strategic and driven Manager of Programs & Strategic Partnerships.
Position
As our Manager of Programs & Strategic Partnerships, you are responsible for strategic and operational leadership, as well as the (further) development and implementation of existing and new programs. You are part of the International Management Team (IMT), collaborate across functional teams to contribute to Edukans’ overall effectiveness, and lead a program team of 10 employees. You are responsible for the day-to-day management and continued professional development of your team.
Responsibilities
1. Program Strategy & Design
- Shaping and designing our international program strategy to strengthen and scale up education systems, resulting in long-term impact.
- Provide insights and advice to help drive, shape, and expand our work on Basic Education, Skills for Work and Life, Education in Emergencies, and Exchange Programs.
- Support the integration and development of our cross-cutting themes into our program strategies, implementation approaches, and strategic partnerships.
- Lead initiatives to evaluate, refine, and innovate our programs to ensure that our work is directly aligned with our new strategy.
- Participate fully in the annual budget process, lead the program budgeting process, and provide ongoing oversight and management of program budgets.
2. Program Management & Oversight
- Provide overall strategic and technical leadership in establishing the scope, frameworks, and guidelines for Edukans’ Programs and the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL) Framework.
- Review and provide guidance and support on the implementation and translation of programs into project portfolios at the country level.
- Together with the M&E Lead, design and implement systems and processes to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of our programs, and set the organization’s learning agenda.
- Facilitate and promote project-based work in close collaboration with our country offices, funding teams, and program teams.
3. Strategic Partnerships
- Design the Strategic Partner strategy in accordance with the "shift the power" principles.
- Coordinate, facilitate, and build long-term strategic partnerships to achieve a joint impact across our pillars.
- Stay well-informed, connected, and up to date on key trends and key players in the industry.
- Engage with donors as needed—providing program updates and ensuring the ongoing and consistent development of trust-based relationships.
- Represent Edukans on various platforms and to stakeholders and partners both in the Netherlands and globally.
4. People management
- Provide high-quality, inspiring, and empowering leadership and support a team of professionals focused on program development and management (PMEL), partnerships, and IF coordination.
- Empower your team as they work toward achieving Edukans’ strategic multi-year goals through guidance, annual plans, program strategies, and international collaboration.
- Fostering a culture of learning and accountability.
Candidate Profile
- A relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree and substantial work experience in an international organization.
- Strong strategic and operational leadership skills to coordinate the program team in order to achieve the program’s strategic objectives.
- Proven ability to manage partnerships.
- Demonstrates managerial and coaching skills to lead a team of professionals.
- Ability to build strong, credible relationships with local and international NGOs, movements, and networks, government agencies, business leaders, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Excellent (intercultural) communication skills, both in written and spoken Dutch and English.
- Ability to adapt to constantly changing situations while remaining focused on execution and follow-through.
- Ability to think strategically, work creatively, effectively, and innovatively.
Competencies
- Vision and leadership
- Ability to think strategically
- Analytical skills
- Entrepreneurship
- Results- and customer-oriented
- Influence and persuasiveness
- Networking skills
- Environmental and organizational awareness
- Open-minded and with a good sense of humor
Edukans offers you
- The opportunity to work with us on education for children and young people in marginalized countries.
- The opportunity to contribute, as a member of the IMT, to the organization’s continued growth and professionalization.
- An independent and challenging role in an inspiring and dynamic international work environment.
- A pleasant, informal work environment.
- An enthusiastic, dedicated, and professional team of 27 colleagues in the Netherlands and 45 colleagues in our country offices.
- We offer a hybrid work model.
- A 12-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of an extension.
- A salary ranging from at least €4,669.87 to €6,817.27 (for full-time employment) and attractive benefits, including a 13th month's salary.
Interest
Does this challenging position appeal to you, and do you see yourself in the job description? If so, we look forward to receiving your application. Your resume and cover letter should demonstrate your professionalism and suitability for the position. Please send your application to sollicitaties@edukans.nl by May 29 at the latest. If you have any questions about Edukans, the position, or the application process, Willem van Amerongen will be happy to answer them at 0620650637. An assessment is part of the process.
Edukans expects its employees to act with integrity and to comply with the Code of Conduct, as well as with the Child Protection Policy and the Policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Requesting references is part of the hiring process. Upon acceptance, we will ask you to provide a valid Certificate of Good Conduct and to sign our Code of Conduct.
