Consultant Education Practice

Job Description

OPM is looking for an outstanding and highly motivated education specialist to join its Education Practice as a Consultant, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

 

The successful candidate will be eager to contribute to (and, in many cases, lead) the technical delivery and management of education consultancy projects, including project management, acquisition and sharing technical learning across projects in East Africa and globally.

Key Primary Responsibilities

Work with the Education Practice Leader and Tanzania Country Director to develop the strategic direction of OPM’s education projects in the East Africa region.

Lead engagements and forge close working relationships with multiple donor counterparts including senior development partner and government officials

Manage or lead key education projects in the East Africa region, so that projects are delivered to impact, timetable, and budget.

Lead, coach and manage education staff in East Africa country offices to high levels of technical and consulting performance across geographies

Define, develop and deliver business opportunities for key education clients in the East Africa region in line with practice acquisition and diversification targets

Represent OPM and education practice externally on key policy questions, through writing, presenting, discussing, hosting roundtables, or meetings

Person Specification

 

Technical qualifications and capabilities:

Qualification: Post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline such as education, international development, economics, or development studies

Regional experience: Experience and reputation within the East Africa region in one or more topics within education

Consulting experience: Substantial previous experience working in junior /middle level roles in the international development consultancy space

Market awareness: Strong sector and market awareness of key education funders and trends; experience of leading business development in a relevant consulting environment for key clients within East Africa e.g. FCDO, USAID, UN, EU, Foundations

Research and evaluation skills: Experience in analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data, and drawing out key themes and policy implications; Familiarity with survey, research and evaluation methodologies;

Client management: Strong network within education sector regionally and globally; Experience of directly working with donor and government counterparts in delivering technical work; Experience of leading technical and commercial discussions with government officials and staff of international aid agencies.

Management experience: Project and people management experience, preferably within a relevant consulting environment.

Communication: Ability to communicate effectively in English with colleagues and clients, both verbally and in writing.

Sector technical skills: Experience in one or more fields of education finance, technical and vocational education, early childhood education, girls’ education and learning assessments is desirable

Additional languages: Preferably, the ability to work in Kiswahili.

Behavioural capabilities:

Excellent attention to detail and analytical rigour

Switches comfortably between detail and the bigger picture, joined up thinking and analytical approach to providing solutions

Good at prioritising changing and competing demands and tasks, while consistently delivering quality work

Excellent problem solving, organising and management skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills; collaborative and constructive approach to working with others, builds effective relationships internally and externally

About the Organization

OPM is a global organisation whose mission is to work for a fairer world. Fundamental to this is delivering successful projects, meeting our end clients’ needs and our own internal commitments. OPM are keen to further develop the ‘fit-for-purpose’ Project Management capability needed to deliver consistently successful projects regardless of size or complexity.

Why join us?

Our work bridges the gap between evidence and practice. We produce high-quality, leading thinking that addresses the drivers of poverty and barriers to sustainable growth to help bring about change where it is needed most. Working at OPM allows each of us to play our part in that over-arching mission.

Above all of this, we are committed to helping all of our employees to develop personally and professionally. Build your career with us and you’ll benefit from training and learning opportunities, internal knowledge sharing, and a network of experienced colleagues. We encourage a healthy work-life balance, and our working environment is informed by an open, supportive culture. OPM also offers a very generous holiday allowance and contributory pension scheme, as well as a highly competitive salary.