Job ID
46073
Job Title
Education and Child Protection Program Specialist
To work for
Plan International
Country
Syria
City
Damascus
Field of Work
Education/Training - Social Services - Humanitarian/Disasters
Job Type
Full time
Military service
Not Specified
Minimum Education Level
Diploma
Responsibilities
ROLE PURPOSE
The Education and Child Protection Program Specialist will provide technical leadership and oversight for Plan International’s Education and Child Protection portfolio implemented in Syria. The role is responsible for guiding the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of related programmes and activities, ensuring quality delivery in line with Plan International standards, humanitarian principles, and donor requirements. The post holder will provide technical advisory support to programme teams and partners, adapt and contextualize tools, methodologies, and learning materials to address identified gaps and evolving needs, and contribute to programme design and continuous improvement. The role will also ensure effective coordination and communication with implementing partners, relevant authorities, and local stakeholders to support compliant, well-coordinated, and impactful programming.
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE
Under the guidance and direct supervision of theHead of Mission , The Education and Child Protection Program Specialist will ensure quality management of Plan International’s projects through working closely with programmes team, M&E, Finance, Operations, HR and other PI colleagues.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Technical Leadership:
• Provide technical leadership to the Country Office and contribute to setting the strategic direction for Education and Child Protection in alignment with the overall country strategy and organizational priorities.
• Lead the development, adaptation, and application of key technical approaches, tools, and standards related to Education and Child Protection, ensuring relevance to the Syrian context and compliance with donor and Plan International requirements.
• Strengthen the technical capacity of staff and partners through coaching, mentoring, on-the-job support, and targeted capacity-building initiatives in Education and Child Protection programming.
• Actively engage programme and field teams in the development, review, and updating of sector strategies and thematic plans, ensuring programming is needs-based, context-responsive, and informed by assessments, learning, and evidence.
• Promote integration and coherence across Education and Child Protection interventions, supporting quality, consistency, and alignment across projects and partners.
Programme Quality (Design & Implementation):
• Work closely with relevant colleagues to identify and pursue funding opportunities that allow for both integration into broader programmes and standalone education and child protection programmes/projects; engage with technical partners, donors and colleagues across Plan International
• Lead the technical scoping, planning, design and proposal writing during new programme development, and ensure that we design and deliver high-quality programmes for children, building on the national and global best practice. Ensure that gender, disability and resilience considerations are reflected in our programme design and implementation.
• Ensure that a rights based approach is reflected in our programme design and implementation (in line with our child rights programming approach), with a strong focus on child participation
• Promote an Education and Protection Systems Strengthening approach as the overarching framework, that supports working in collaboration and partnership with governments and regional bodies, local partners and working towards impact, scale and sustainability.
Programme Quality (Evidence and Impact)
• Provide oversight and guidance to the programme implementation teams to ensure that thematic programme components are technically sound, implementation methods are consistent with national and global strategies, acknowledged good practice (e.g. Plan International Common Approaches); and are likely to achieve scale, as well as equitable and sustainable results.
• Promote and monitor integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of programmes at the community level.
• Work with MERL in generating a robust learning agenda for education and child protection programs to inform the generation of evidence and foster utilization of the same to inform decision making and program development.
• Work with MERL team to conduct quality monitoring against international standards through participatory methodologies that promote gender equality and social justice (including child-friendly and gender sensitive/transformative methodologies).
• Undertake field visits to project sites; work with Partners’ teams to understand impacts, operational challenges, and continuously identify opportunities for learning and improvement.
• Support the operations team (as needed) to develop emergency preparedness plans and conduct sectoral and to design and deliver emergency response and recovery programmes.
Fundraising & External Engagement:
• Engage in strategic positioning with donors, partners and government, and ensure that Plan International is a partner of choice in education.
• Ensure that Plan International is influencing and learning from others through national technical coordination and networking bodies such as clusters and working groups.
• Strengthen civil society engagement in national dialogues and policy processes. Ensure that the diverse voices of children, girls and boys are equitably heard and represented in our education and child protection work.
• Represent the program to National and Local government representatives, donors, partner agencies, etc. as required.
• Ensure the quality, clarity and consistency of technical components of internal and external reports (e.g. programme reports, sit-reps, internal updates), working closely with awards, programme implementation and communications colleagues as needed.
The Education and Child Protection Program Specialist will provide technical leadership and oversight for Plan International’s Education and Child Protection portfolio implemented in Syria. The role is responsible for guiding the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of related programmes and activities, ensuring quality delivery in line with Plan International standards, humanitarian principles, and donor requirements. The post holder will provide technical advisory support to programme teams and partners, adapt and contextualize tools, methodologies, and learning materials to address identified gaps and evolving needs, and contribute to programme design and continuous improvement. The role will also ensure effective coordination and communication with implementing partners, relevant authorities, and local stakeholders to support compliant, well-coordinated, and impactful programming.
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE
Under the guidance and direct supervision of theHead of Mission , The Education and Child Protection Program Specialist will ensure quality management of Plan International’s projects through working closely with programmes team, M&E, Finance, Operations, HR and other PI colleagues.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Technical Leadership:
• Provide technical leadership to the Country Office and contribute to setting the strategic direction for Education and Child Protection in alignment with the overall country strategy and organizational priorities.
• Lead the development, adaptation, and application of key technical approaches, tools, and standards related to Education and Child Protection, ensuring relevance to the Syrian context and compliance with donor and Plan International requirements.
• Strengthen the technical capacity of staff and partners through coaching, mentoring, on-the-job support, and targeted capacity-building initiatives in Education and Child Protection programming.
• Actively engage programme and field teams in the development, review, and updating of sector strategies and thematic plans, ensuring programming is needs-based, context-responsive, and informed by assessments, learning, and evidence.
• Promote integration and coherence across Education and Child Protection interventions, supporting quality, consistency, and alignment across projects and partners.
Programme Quality (Design & Implementation):
• Work closely with relevant colleagues to identify and pursue funding opportunities that allow for both integration into broader programmes and standalone education and child protection programmes/projects; engage with technical partners, donors and colleagues across Plan International
• Lead the technical scoping, planning, design and proposal writing during new programme development, and ensure that we design and deliver high-quality programmes for children, building on the national and global best practice. Ensure that gender, disability and resilience considerations are reflected in our programme design and implementation.
• Ensure that a rights based approach is reflected in our programme design and implementation (in line with our child rights programming approach), with a strong focus on child participation
• Promote an Education and Protection Systems Strengthening approach as the overarching framework, that supports working in collaboration and partnership with governments and regional bodies, local partners and working towards impact, scale and sustainability.
Programme Quality (Evidence and Impact)
• Provide oversight and guidance to the programme implementation teams to ensure that thematic programme components are technically sound, implementation methods are consistent with national and global strategies, acknowledged good practice (e.g. Plan International Common Approaches); and are likely to achieve scale, as well as equitable and sustainable results.
• Promote and monitor integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of programmes at the community level.
• Work with MERL in generating a robust learning agenda for education and child protection programs to inform the generation of evidence and foster utilization of the same to inform decision making and program development.
• Work with MERL team to conduct quality monitoring against international standards through participatory methodologies that promote gender equality and social justice (including child-friendly and gender sensitive/transformative methodologies).
• Undertake field visits to project sites; work with Partners’ teams to understand impacts, operational challenges, and continuously identify opportunities for learning and improvement.
• Support the operations team (as needed) to develop emergency preparedness plans and conduct sectoral and to design and deliver emergency response and recovery programmes.
Fundraising & External Engagement:
• Engage in strategic positioning with donors, partners and government, and ensure that Plan International is a partner of choice in education.
• Ensure that Plan International is influencing and learning from others through national technical coordination and networking bodies such as clusters and working groups.
• Strengthen civil society engagement in national dialogues and policy processes. Ensure that the diverse voices of children, girls and boys are equitably heard and represented in our education and child protection work.
• Represent the program to National and Local government representatives, donors, partner agencies, etc. as required.
• Ensure the quality, clarity and consistency of technical components of internal and external reports (e.g. programme reports, sit-reps, internal updates), working closely with awards, programme implementation and communications colleagues as needed.
Qualifications
Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of:
• The context in Syria, particularly on issues affecting children’s education.
• Local laws in Syria relating to human rights, children’s rights and gender equality.
• Global minimum standards, GBV, Child Protection principles, and INEE Standards.
• Adherence to Plan International’s Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct/Prevention of Sexual Abuse & Exploitation (PSEA), and other relevant humanitarian standards and policies.
• Project management and coordination of NGOs/CSOs
Qualifications and Experience
• Bachelor degree in education, social work, psychology, sociology, international relations or any other related field. Master’s degree is an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian work
• Minimum 2 years of experience in project coordination and management, with background in education and child protection
• Experience managing large grants especially working in Syria
• Experience working on projects in partnership with international, national and local NGOs.
Skills
• Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English is mandatory;
• Excellent ability to write reports and briefing papers in English;
• Excellent skills in project management, time management, and problem solving;
• Good facilitation skills and ability to deliver briefings and trainings;
• Demonstrated ability to network and liaise with local authorities, coordination mechanisms and donors;
• Demonstrated ability to liaise and coordinate with teams from different sectors to address issues affecting children in a multi-sectoral approach;
• Flexible work attitude and ability to work independently within a small team;
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse and cross-cultural audience.
• The context in Syria, particularly on issues affecting children’s education.
• Local laws in Syria relating to human rights, children’s rights and gender equality.
• Global minimum standards, GBV, Child Protection principles, and INEE Standards.
• Adherence to Plan International’s Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct/Prevention of Sexual Abuse & Exploitation (PSEA), and other relevant humanitarian standards and policies.
• Project management and coordination of NGOs/CSOs
Qualifications and Experience
• Bachelor degree in education, social work, psychology, sociology, international relations or any other related field. Master’s degree is an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian work
• Minimum 2 years of experience in project coordination and management, with background in education and child protection
• Experience managing large grants especially working in Syria
• Experience working on projects in partnership with international, national and local NGOs.
Skills
• Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English is mandatory;
• Excellent ability to write reports and briefing papers in English;
• Excellent skills in project management, time management, and problem solving;
• Good facilitation skills and ability to deliver briefings and trainings;
• Demonstrated ability to network and liaise with local authorities, coordination mechanisms and donors;
• Demonstrated ability to liaise and coordinate with teams from different sectors to address issues affecting children in a multi-sectoral approach;
• Flexible work attitude and ability to work independently within a small team;
• Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse and cross-cultural audience.
Salary and Benefits
As per Plan International's salary scale
About us
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We place a specific focus on girls and young women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan International Syria has a range of programmes throughout the country, focusing on adolescent girls and boys and young people. All programmes are implemented in partnership with national and local partners.
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Dec 24, 2025
Expiry Date
Jan 23, 2026
CV Language
English
