Chemonics International Inc.
Job Title: Team Leader
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Programme: Maziko a Maphunziro, National Mathematics Curriculum Reform (NMCR)
Contract Duration: Five years
Please be advised that this role is contingent on award.
This five-year programme is expected to commence in 2025. The Team Leader will be responsible for meeting project objectives and guiding the team toward achieving results. A key requirement for this role is to ensure that objectives, deliverables, and outcomes are met while the team adheres to the operational, commercial, and reporting requirements set by the client, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Therefore, experience working with the FCDO would be advantageous.
The Team Leader will be part of the senior leadership team and responsible for overall leadership, management, and delivery of the programme. The Team Leader will oversee short-term experts and local staff in achieving project results. Regular assessments of the broader political environment within which the project operates will be needed to ensure flexibility and rapid reprioritisation of activities when necessary. In addition, the Team Leader will represent the programme on behalf of Chemonics and the client to government officials, stakeholders, and partner organisations.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Management:
- Lead and manage the NMCR team to ensure effective delivery of programme objectives.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, including strong commitment to gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), promoting continuous learning and improvement.
- Coordinate with Ministry officials, technical experts, other education projects, and system stakeholders to align efforts and ensure programme success.
Uphold Safeguarding:
- Ensure full understanding of the provisions of the Chemonics Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct, and Local Procedures.
- Conduct oneself in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy in both personal and professional lives, including reporting any concerns.
- Create and maintain a managerial and operational environment where the Safeguarding Policy is effectively implemented.
- Integrate and give safeguarding a “voice” in all management processes, including Recruitment, Induction, Performance management, Team meetings, Annual planning processes, and field-level monitoring.
Programme Implementation:
- Oversee the procurement and distribution of teaching and learning materials, including workbooks, teacher guides, and special needs materials.
- Ensure efficient and sustainable delivery of materials to all primary public schools in Malawi.
- Lead teams that monitor, evaluate and improve the effectiveness of training and continuous professional development for teachers, ensuring alignment with programme goals.
Systems Strengthening:
- Lead teams that source technical assistance and work with local education actors to strengthen education systems, including teacher engagement, accountability of all actors, and alignment of priorities.
- Support the Ministry in policy work, leveraging political economy insights to drive behaviour change and mitigate risks.
- Facilitate connections with complementary programmes and initiatives to build synergies and enhance overall impact.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Oversee the implementation of robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress and inform decision-making or adaptive design over the period of the project.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring adherence to Chemonics policies and best practices.
- Engage with country governments, private sector organisations, and key partner organisations.
- Represent the programme on behalf of Chemonics and the client to government officials, stakeholders, and partner organisations.
Contractual and Financial Management:
- Oversee contractual and financial matters with donors and key partners, playing a key role in budget preparation.
- Ensure contractual deliverables are met, anticipate and address delays, identify risks, and provide solutions.
- Provide timely and accurate reporting to FCDO on all programme areas.
Reporting and Communication:
- Draft and compile monthly, quarterly, and annual reports regularly.
- Ensure good, frequent, and direct communications with the Head Office.
Experience, Skills, and Qualifications:
Education:
- A master’s degree in education, Public Policy, International Development, or a related field.
Experience
- Proven leadership in designing, managing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating FCDO or other similar large-scale donor-funded programmes.
- High-level strategic visioning and project management experience, preferably with complex activities involving coordination with multiple partner institutions.
- Proven commitment to and experience mainstreaming GEDSI.
- Extensive experience working with project counterparts, particularly senior-level officials from the government, private sector, and civil society.
- Technical expertise in education (preference for early grade and foundational learning, structured pedagogy, curriculum development and numeracy), with demonstrated leadership skills necessary to develop, articulate, and carry out a vision for the project.
- Prior experience as a Team Leader, Chief of Party, Country Director, or similar, specifically with the FCDO or any of its predecessors.
- Established relationships with governments, civil society organisations, and private sector organisations within the relevant countries/regions.
Skills:
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to think politically and strategically, focusing on results and impact.
- Culturally sensitive and aware of Malawi’s customs and ways of working.
- Fluent written and spoken English; additional languages are advantageous.
Personal Attributes:
- Commitment to improving educational outcomes for children.
- Adaptable and resilient in challenging environments.
- A collaborative and inclusive approach to leadership.
Please be advised that this role is contingent on award.