JOB ADVERTISEMENT

EDUCATION ADVISOR, PROCUREMENT INTERN AND INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY INTERN

The Organization

Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization under the Societies Act Section 7 (1) under the Laws of Zambia. ZOCS is a vibrant and flagship organization of Community Schools since 1992 in Zambia that empowers communities to provide quality basic education to 259,691 learners (132,459 Boys and 127,232 Girls) in 1,385 demonstration Community Schools across 97 Districts in all the 10 provinces of Zambia.

The pillars on which ZOCS builds its approach are those of enhanced educational opportunities for children through education policy engagement, increased community capacity to provide such opportunities and ensuring more and better education for more children in communities. ZOCS is about open, accessible schools for disadvantaged children and communities, and these take priority over everything else.

ZOCS is inviting applications for the following positions to be based in Lusaka:

1. EDUCATION ADVISOR

Main Purpose for the Position

The role will provide technical expertise to the ZOCS Catch Up and overall Education Programme and is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including ZOCS Project Managers, Programme, Advocacy, Monitoring and Evaluation, donors, academia etc. The role is also expected to engage with internal and external technical working groups and communities of practice. The role will also supervise assigned field staff while creating strong work relations with MoE and other like-minded organisations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate and maintain close working relationships with districts and other relevant partners for the implementation, monitoring, institutionalisation and further scaling of the programme.
• Strengthen parental Involvement strategies on the Catch-Up project
• Develop and implement capacity development of the operational partners on Catch Up/TaRL.
• Support the implementation of frequent monitoring and learning cycles at different levels of the education system (classroom, school, zone, district and province level).
• Formulate lessons learned and participate and contribute to joint learning cycles with VVOB and TaRL Africa colleagues and partners
• Keep abreast with policy trends, new developments and latest research and in education.
• Provide technical leadership to the ZOCS education programme and set the technical approach in relation to the Strategic Plan, Annual Workplan and Budget.
• Build capacity of national staff and partners in key technical approaches related to education.
• Develop new strategic partnerships and position ZOCS for securing new standalone and cross-cutting education funding opportunities.
• Work closely with advocacy, resource mobilisation departments to identify and pursue funding opportunities.
• Engage with technical partners especially the Ministry of General Education (MoE), donors and Project Managers to strengthen profile and opportunities to grow the education portfolio.
• Work closely with Advocacy department to ensure that a rights-based approach is reflected in the education programme design and implementation, with a strong focus on child participation.
• Promote an Education Systems Strengthening approach as the overarching framework, that supports working in collaboration and partnership with Governments, local partners and working towards impact, scale and sustainability.
• Promote and monitor integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of education programmes at the community level.
• Work with Monitoring and Evaluation teams to carry out learner (ECE to Grade 12) and teacher assessments in Community and Secondary Schools.
• Lead and ensure the use of disaggregated data and drive collection of relevant evidence and analysis of outcomes and results, and making a link to quality and accountable programming;
• Ensure that ZOCS is influencing and learning from others through national technical coordination and networking bodies such as clusters and working groups (MOGE Technical Working Group, Project Coordinating Committee (PCC) etc).
• Strengthen ZOCS in national dialogues and policy processes through working closely with the advocacy department.
• Ensure that the diverse voices of underserved children, girls and boys including children with disabilities are equitably heard and represented in education programming.
• Ensure high ethical standards and Child Protection Policies enforcement during research and data collection.
• Meet organisation guidelines through reports, briefs and frequent updates.

Qualifications / Professional Experience

Education

• Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent
• Bachelor’s degree in education (or similar), with at least 5 years of relevant working.
• A Masters in Education will be an added advantage.

Experience

• 5 years’ work experience leading design, implementation and monitoring of education programmes essential
• Knowledge and experience with developing and implementing professional development trajectories for a wide range of education stakeholders (teachers, school leaders, and officials).
• Strong time and project management skills (planning, budgeting and report writing).
• Excellent computer skills in a full range of software, including MS office, Adobe photoshop and/or other graphics programs, and social tools.
• Excellent communication skills in English, including writing, conversing and presenting.
• Knowledge of Teaching language in the regions of operation (Bemba, Tonga, Chi Nyanja)
• Excellent knowledge of the Zambian Education system
• Experience with working in a multicultural team.
• Able and willing to travel frequently for periods of time.
• Education in emergencies programming desirable
• Understanding of the Zambia Education Sector policies desirable
• Familiar with global education goals i.e. Sustainable Development Goal number 4 and 5 desirable
• Demonstrated education programme design, monitoring and evaluation skills, including designing pathways to sustainable impact at scale essential
• Previous staff supervision experience essential
• Programme management experience desirable
• NGO experience essential
• Donor engagement essential

2. PROCUREMENT INTERN

Main Purpose for the Position

The overall aim of the Positions is to ensure that planning and coordinating of procurement activities on the programme in order to ensure transparency and Value for Money.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists in the preparation of the annual procurement plan as per organization’s policy and guidelines.
• Assists in the implementation and monitoring of progress of all planned procurement activities.
• Prepares solicitation documents in the format required by ZOCS and advertises invitations for bids.
• Prepares Bid analysis in readiness for submission to ZOCS Procurement committee for clearance.
• Prepares procurement committee papers for submission to the Procurement Committee.
• Drafts and issues contracts, terms and conditions and Schedules, and ensures effective management of contracts.
• Assists in the preparation of quarterly and annual reports for all procurement activities undertaken.
• Ensures that all procurement transactions are well documented and up to date.
• Purchasing office equipment, materials and supplies within the agreed limits locally, in accordance with ZOCS regulations.
• Issuing local purchase orders (LPOs) for the programme and ensuring they are correctly numbered and filed.
• Accepting goods and ensuring that receipt is documented and that goods received are checked appropriately and, when necessary, processing complaints
• Checking goods invoices, goods inward receipts and other (delivery) documents and payment instructions before handing them over to the Project Accountant.
• Inventory keeping for the procured items.
• Documenting and filing completed orders and contracts properly and in line with ZOCS rules and regulations

Qualifications / Professional Experience

Education

• Grade 12 Certificate or equivalent
• Bachelor’s Degree in Purchasing and Supply/ Graduate Diploma in Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

Experience

• A minimum of at least 1 year experience managing procurements, preferably for Government and/ or internationally financed projects.
• He or she must have a sound understanding of procurement guidelines and procedures applying to Zambia Public Procurement Authority and/ or internationally financed projects.
• Must have significant training and practical experience in procurement within the National Public Procurement or internationally financed projects.
• Must be a member of the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply with a valid ZIPS practicing certificate.

INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY INTERN

Main Purpose for the Position

The Information and Technology Officer is primarily responsible for maintaining ZOCS information and technology network infrastructure and security, planning and managing infrastructure, database management, software and hardware support for ZOCS staff and stakeholders.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide ITC support to all departments at ZOCS’ main and Field Offices
• Set up workstations with computers and necessary peripheral devices (routers, printers, etc).
• Lead the development and improvement of the effectiveness of the database tools and services.
• Ensure that all essential information of the organisation is protected and backed-up.
• Develop and maintain local networks in ways that optimise performance and ensure security and privacy of networks and computer systems.
• Provide computer equipment schedule upgrades and maintenance without deterring others from completing their work.
• Maintain records/logs of repairs and fixes and maintenance schedule.
• Maintain record of changes made to systems.
• Identify computer or network equipment shortages and place orders.
• Maintain and update the inventory for information and technology equipment.
• Maintain and update ZOCS official Website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages.
• Any other duties related to the position that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications / Professional Experience

Education

• Full grade 12 certificate.
• Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science Computer Engineering or any other related field from a recognised higher learning institution.

Experience

• Minimum 1 year of experience providing generalist IT administrative expertise.
• Experience working with data entry and analysis tools.
• Experience working with monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Extensive administrative experience in Microsoft Operating Systems (Server 2012, 2016 or 2019 and Windows OS.
• Must be a Zambian and resident of Lusaka.

Competences

1. Commitment to values, mission and vision of the organisation
2. Integrity in all actions
3. Accountable in the use of organisation resources and assets
4. Skills in the use of Office tools (Word/Excel)
5. Excellent communication skills
6. Working with People (team player)
7. Drive for Results Fluency in the local language spoken in the district.

To be considered for the position, email your application letter, resume and certified copies of academic and professional qualifications with traceable referees to zocs2008@gmail.com or send to:

The Executive Director,

Zambia Open Community Schools,

P.O. Box 50429,

Plot 20, Tito Road, Rhodes Park,

LUSAKA.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 28th June 2023 at 17:00 hours

Note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Indicate the Position being applied for in the subject matter and Envelope.

Zambia Open Community Schools is an equal opportunity employer and women are encouraged to apply.