Project & Stakeholder Engagement Lead

Overview

Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) is an international non-profit organization with team members based in more than 10 countries worldwide. For over 20 years, DG has researched data ecosystems, built digital tools to support those data ecosystems, and advised on data strategy and digital transformation to strengthen decision-making, transparency, and service delivery. DG has expertise in deploying digital tools in agriculture, health, aid management, data & data strategy, extractives, information management systems, open contracting & procurement, and beyond. We support a variety of partners in over seventy countries around the globe to better collect, analyze, visualize, and use data by building digital tools, creating strong incentive structures and processes, and providing training and support.

Program Information

DG is a sub-awardee of IREX’s USAID-funded Early Grade Education Activity (ASAS) in Jordan, a 5-year project strengthening pre-service teacher preparation and delivering in-service training to improve learning in Kindergarten – Grade 3 in the Kingdom of Jordan. DG’s role is focused on enhancing data use among various systems and data sources in Jordan’s education sector. DG will enhance user-centered digital solutions to support local actors in mapping the data landscape and improving data systems’ utility and interoperability. DG will also work with various actors in Jordan to support digitization of institutional data systems, including quality assurance processes and assessment where needs are identified.

Scope of Work

The Project & Stakeholder Engagement Lead is responsible for engaging frequently with key stakeholders in Jordan’s Ministry of Education, including but not limited to those in Queen Rania Center, the Examination and Testing Department, Planning and Statistics Department, etc. This role will collaborate with other ministries, agencies, USAID implementing partners, and ASAS partners to ensure effective data use and sustainability of data systems under the program. In particular, this role would involve identifying those who are key decision-makers.

A key function of the role will be managing and advising relevant government counterparts in data standards, governance, and other approaches to improve the sustainable management and interoperability of data/systems under the program, together with the DG digital tech team and the Technical Advisor. This role would work closely alongside the Education Data Advisor, also based in Amman, Jordan, and would represent Development Gateway in meetings internally and externally. This role would involve supporting the DG Oversight Lead/Technical Advisor and technical team with promoting strengthened data use in the education sector in Jordan.

The role requires familiarity and personal knowledge of the Ministry of Education, and a deep knowledge of the education sector’s structure, information needs and decision-making processes. Ideally this candidate is also familiar with data challenges.

Responsibilities

Stakeholder Relationship Management (50%)

• Builds upon existing relationships and forms new relationships with national and subnational government ministries, civil society organizations, and/or private sector partners to be able to leverage current governance to promote engagement in the program;
• Coordinates with key client stakeholders to ensure project buy-in, especially through necessary logistics and in-person meetings;
• Provides input to broader ASAS team by sharing political priorities and cultural context;
• Builds strong relationships within the ASAS team office and represents DG’s work;
• Facilitate the development of a feedback mechanism with stakeholders;
• Meets with stakeholders as required to gather additional information.

Program Management (50%)

• Supports the Oversight Lead/Technical Advisor with overall program strategy;
• Provides strategic advice and direction to the team to ensure alignment with ASAS program goals and support informed decision-making based on gathered data and stakeholder feedback;
• Coordinates closely with key client stakeholders to ensure project buy-in;
• Ensures timely program execution and maximum impact;
• Manages administrative tasks for the program including scheduling meetings, and submitting quarterly and annual reports;
• Sets clear objectives and tasks for each of the team members through the course of the project;
• Oversees, broadly, technical development and content development;
• Responsible for shifting program direction as needed;
• Ensure the teams are busy and proactive;
• Ensure fluid internal communication;
• Provides content development for external communications;
• Manages the overall program budget with support from Oversight Lead and Program Coordinator;
• Manages and updates work plan;
• Coordinate quarterly meetings and weekly team meetings;
• Works closely with Asas team to ensure that research is carried out on time, within budget, and according to stipulated methodologies.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years experience working within the education sector. At least 5 of those years must have been in Jordan;
• 8+ years working in complex stakeholder environments, with a strong preference for experience working with national ministries;
• Experience managing projects, including experience with completing projects on time, with high quality, and under budget;
• Experience supporting people and institutions to make better use of data, or developing effective processes to remove decision-making bottlenecks and promote impact;
• History of working with diverse, remote team members in a global environment;
• Entrepreneurial attitude and skills. Able to work independently, manage multiple workstreams, build relationships, and proactively solve problems;
• Bachelor’s degree required;
• Fluent in English and Arabic. Strong writing skills, prioritizing clarity and accessibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education and/or policy, ideally in Jordan;
• Experience designing and/or conducting qualitative research and assessments and trainings;
• Experience representing Jordan among multinational contexts;
• Knowledge or basic understanding of OpenEMIS and/or Ministry of Education data systems.

Position Details:

This position is based in Amman, Jordan.

The initial term of this role will be 1 year. The contract may be renewed for an additional year after completion of one year of satisfactory performance.