Education Programs Coordinator – Timor-Leste

Full-Time Position

12-Month Fixed-Term Contract (with possibility of extension).

 

About Mary MacKillop Today 

Mary MacKillop Today stands with the poor and marginalised so they can realise their potential and participate fully in the community. Through access to education and learning of practical life skills Mary MacKillop Today seeks to transform lives.

Saint Mary MacKillop is an important part of Mary MacKillop Today’s history. As Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop is recognised as a woman of courage and faith. Mary MacKillop’s legacy is in service throughout communities across the world. Just as Mary MacKillop did over a century ago, Mary MacKillop Today helps the poorest of the poor regardless of who or where they are, with the same commitment to purpose. With respect for their great past, Mary MacKillop Today is committed to continuing the works of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart and looks to the future for transformation and change.

Mary MacKillop Today is directly responsible for program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all its projects and is a signatory of the Australian Council for International Development’s (ACFID) code of conduct, as well as a fully accredited NGO supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). Consequently, Mary MacKillop Today has a high degree of accountability and transparency and is committed to protecting the rights of children in all areas the organisation works in around the world.

About the Role 

The Education Program Coordinator – Timor-Leste will advise, coordinate, and manage Mary MacKillop Today’s international development education programs in Timor-Leste and provide technical support.

This will include establishing positive and mutually respectful relationships with Mary MacKillop Today’s Timor-Leste office, coordinating project management and administration tasks, and supporting effective design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (DMEL). In addition, the Education Program Coordinator will contribute to wider team project management support and system improvement initiatives and coordinate the development of a program approach for education projects in Timor-Leste.

The Education Program Coordinator has three key areas of responsibility:

• Coordinate the effective development and delivery of Mary MacKillop Today’s Timor-Leste Education program
• Develop and maintain project administration systems
• Participate in and coordinate design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (DMEL)

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate the effective development, coordination and delivery of Mary MacKillop Today’s Timor-Leste Education program

• Establish and maintain positive and mutually respectful relationships with Mary MacKillop Today’s Timor-Leste office.
• Undertake capacity assessments and conduct ongoing capacity development activities with Mary MacKillop Today’s in-country staff, including identifying opportunities to promote two-way learning through our in-country office.
• Coordinate all aspects of the project cycle for the Timor-Leste Education program including program administration, assisting with the development and appraisal of proposals and applications, submission of project reports and preparation of budgets and acquittals.
• Manage all financial and narrative reporting for the Timor-Leste Education Program, including liaising with staff to ensure deadlines are met.
• In collaboration with the International Programs & Quality Director, maintain an alert system for forthcoming proposals and reports.
• Support the International Programs & Quality Director with the timely lodgment of tenders or submissions of applications for program funding or grants to support the growth and sustainability of Mary MacKillop Today’s programs.
• Participate in strategic planning for the Timor-Leste Education program.
• Support the process to develop an overarching Education Program approach and strategy for Timor-Leste together with the in-country staff and other stakeholders where relevant.
• Provide high-level technical input into the design and development of new education projects in Timor-Leste, including input into stakeholder communication and consultation.

Develop and maintain administration systems

• Coordinate and maintain program records for the purposes of enhancing quality control processes and strengthening the consistency of outputs, in-line with ACFID and ANCP compliance standards, including preparation for ANCP reaccreditation.
• Coordinate and maintain financial records and undertake financial administration tasks, including monitoring against budgets and addressing variances as required.
• Manage online application, reporting and data management software and liaise with web developers as required.
• Coordinate travel logistics and document preparation for external consultants and/or Director’s participation in working groups, workshops, forums, network meetings, training courses and conferences.
• Support the coordination of regional or country workshops: logistics, financial and administrative functions.
• Contribute to MMT’s cross-team processes and information management systems, including archiving.

Participate in and coordinate design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (DMEL) 

• Coordinate project design, monitoring, evaluation and learning processes, including data capture, quality control of information management and reporting in order to measure and evaluate program outcomes and effectiveness.
• Support the implementation of participatory project design principles in project design.
• Undertake monitoring visits to program sites and participate in field visits as required.
• Support the documenting of stories and lessons learned through the program to contribute to program development, organisational learning and Mary MacKillop Today communications and fundraising.
• Contribute to team-wide program learning and development.

 

Key Competencies 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Ability to work within and contribute to the Mission and Values of Mary MacKillop Today.
• Tertiary qualification in International Development, Education, or a related field.
• At least 3 years’ experience working within the international development sector in a relevant program coordinator role.
• Experience working in Education projects or programs in an international development context is highly desirable.
• High level of cross-cultural communication skills, including ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with people.
• Demonstrated experience establishing and managing administration and tracking systems, preferably in support of project management, and well-developed budget management skills and financial acumen.
• Experience with or knowledge of log-frame and Theory of Change designs.
• Strong understanding of DFAT and ACFID compliance requirements and experience in managing projects funded by institutional donors.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to adapt writing and presentation style for a range of audiences and purposes including correspondence, proposals or submissions, report writing and minute taking.
• High level of computer proficiency, in particular Excel.
• Ability to travel internationally as required, up to 5 weeks per year.
• Adherence to Mary MacKillop Today’s Safeguarding Policy, and willingness to undergo a criminal record check or statutory declaration of local legal equivalent where criminal records checks are unavailable or unreliable.

 

General Information 

This position is a full-time role based in North Sydney, with the option for hybrid working arrangements, and reports to the International Programs and Quality Director of Mary MacKillop Today. It will initially be a 12-month fixed term contract, with the option to become permanent dependent on continuation of project funding, planned to start Monday May 6th 2024 (alternative start dates can be discussed).

The working environment at Mary MacKillop Today is informal but professional, with very high standards of output and delivery. We are a happy, enthusiastic and energy filled group, with a positive values-driven culture.

This is classified as a Contact with Children position and therefore subject to child-safe recruitment screening.

Mary MacKillop Today is committed to achieving an inclusive and diverse workforce.