IPA Ghana is seeking a (Senior) Project Manager to lead IPA Ghana’s provision of evidence- and data-driven technical assistance to policy and implementation partners for the differentiated learning (DL) scale-up in Ghana. In response to findings from the Strengthening Teacher Accountability to Reach All Students (STARS) evaluation, Ghana’s Ministry of Education has incorporated DL into the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP), a US$219 million fund from the World Bank, Global Partnership for Education, and FCDO. The fund will pay for the implementation and scale up of effective education solutions in 10,000 of the lowest-performing schools in Ghana, including DL based on the STARS model. IPA’s role in ensuring its successful implementation at scale will be critical for future intervention and innovation and understanding pathways to scale in Ghana and beyond.

The (Sr.) Project Manager will be accountable for implementing all of IPA’s support for the DL scale up. The (Sr.) Project Manager will lead the relationship with government partners and other key local stakeholders, coordinate activities led by other IPA teams, and manage project scope, delivery, and finances. Given the dynamic nature of working with government stakeholders from national to school-levels, the (Sr.) Project Manager will be highly skilled in adaptive management and negotiation, revising project activities and timelines to best support the DL scale-up. The (Sr.) Project Manager will report to the IPA Ghana Country Director with dotted line oversight from the Global Director of Policy.

Responsibilities

• Manage IPA’s technical assistance for the differentiated learning (DL) scale-up in Ghana, which includes policy, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), and capacity-building activities;
• Drive these multiple streams of work forward towards a common goal of evidence-based scale up of differentiated learning in Ghana, ensuring work streams are well-coordinated and timely, and that IPA delivers on the strategies, activities, and outputs to which we commit for DL scale-up
• Directly supervise a highly functioning team to conduct this technical assistance, paying particular attention to their professional growth;
• Cultivate relationships with key local top-level decision-makers in the education sector related to the DL scale-up, and ensure the project has their buy-in;
• Work together with the global policy and communications team to lead and/or participate in strategic events for policy purposes, including but not limited to summits, conferences, workshops, technical working groups, and round tables. Support researchers and country management to participate;
• In collaboration with researchers and in support of the country director, represent IPA locally in policy conversations and at events;
• Directly oversee project financial management, including supporting the creation of the project’s operating budget, being accountable for ongoing budget management, and developing and monitoring activity-specific budgets for the project;
• Lead donor reporting

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in economics, development, international relations, public administration, public policy or a closely related field and 4 or more years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years of experience working closely with large NGOs and national government officials in Ghana; or a
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, development, international relations, public administration, public policy or a closely related field and 6 or more years of relevant experience. Exceptions may be made for excellent candidates who do not meet this criterion.
• Demonstrated commitment to the use of rigorous evidence for policy.
• Expertise in education, preferably in policy or implementation of large programs
• Knowledge of government policy-making processes, and systems for nationwide program implementation or development financing. • Experience organizing events, such as conferences, workshops or round table discussions.
• Proven ability to multitask and successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision.
• Willingness to work hard, be self-motivated, and learn will be essential for doing well in this position.
• Ability to supervise staff and manage projects independently.