Senior Manager: Relationship Management and Sustainability

Senior Manager: Relationship management and Sustainability

Location(s): Blantyre, MW
Contract Type: Contract
Work Pattern: Full Time
Market: Various
Discipline: Education
Job Ref: 6408

The Senior Partnership and Liaison Manager is a critical role within the NMCRP, ensuring that the delivery of curriculum reform is nationally-led, and operates to strengthen the primary education system in Malawi. The post holder is responsible for managing relationships with our implementation partners – the Ministry of Education, Directorate of Quality Assurance Services (DQAS) and the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) – as well as other key stakeholders, enhancing system strengthening, and ensuring the sustainability of the programme’s investments. This role will support the Team Leader by taking on specific responsibilities related to partnership management and strategic communication to ensure effective and sustainable programme implementation.

Key Responsibilities:                                       

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management:

• Lead and maintain strong working relationships with the Ministry of Education (MoE), Directorate of Quality Assurance Services (DQAS), and Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) and other key Directorates
• Represent the programme in high-profile meetings with MoE and key stakeholders.
• Organise and document meetings with MoE, FCDO, and other partners, ensuring follow-up on agreed actions.

System Strengthening and Sustainability:

• Support the Team Lead to build the longer-term sustainability of the programme’s investments within the national education system through continuous analysis of the system context and identification of the key opportunities, risks and challenges.
• Provide technical support, quality assurance and advice for the programme’s strategic system-strengthening initiatives.
• Provide advice and mediation to ensure that programme operational activities leverage and build existing national capacity to deliver and sustain reforms.

Programme Implementation Support:

• Support the Team Leader in managing workplan activities and achieving deliverables.
• Support the Team Leader to sustain MoE’s leadership of the reforms through strategic advice and analysis of system-based challenges and opportunities and by providing timely and relevant support.
• Advise the team to ensure implementation activities are aligned with MoE processes, protocols and guidelines
• Maintain a physical presence within the DQAS office to facilitate timely communication and coordination.
• Contribute to the project’s quarterly reports as requested by the Team Leader

Policy Guidance and Advice:

• Provide policy guidance and direction to ensure alignment with national education policies and strategies.
• Advise the team on policy development and implementation related to curriculum reform and educational improvements.
• Manage the submission and monitor the progress of materials submitted for feedback and MoE approval
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of policy changes on the programme and recommend adjustments as necessary.

Strategic Communication:

• Ensure effective communication between the Ministry, Malawi Institute of Education and programme leadership.
• Enhance the visibility and understanding of the programme’s goals and achievements among various stakeholders.

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post.  As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder and line manager

Qualifications and Experience:

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior management role within the education sector in Malawi. Experience of working within the Malawi Ministry of Education will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience of effectively in working with government ministries and international development partners.
• Experience in curriculum development and educational reform initiatives.

Technical Expertise:

• In-depth knowledge of the education system in Malawi or similar contexts.
• Familiarity with donor-funded programmes and their operational requirements.
• Expertise in project management, including planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation is desirable.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Effective communicator, able to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Proactive in identifying issues and finding solutions.
• High level of cultural sensitivity, flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.

Job Profile:

Mott MacDonald is committed to improving people’s lives through creating and delivering tailored development solutions. We work in developing countries to alleviate poverty, establish good governance, and increase access, capacity and resilience in healthcare, education, water, sanitation, transportation, infrastructure, and renewable energy – while safeguarding the environment and promoting human rights and gender equity. We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate and take positive steps to create an inclusive culture.

The National Mathematics Curriculum Reform Programme (NMCRP) [formerly National Numeracy Programme in Malawi (NNP)] aims to improve student learning outcomes in mathematics so that girls and boys have a solid foundation in basic skills to success in the rest of their schooling and fulfil their potential. The programme provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Education to revise the mathematics curriculum for lower primary (standard 1-4), develop corresponding teaching and learning materials, design teacher training strategies (including school-based support structures), rigorously pilot the new materials and training strategies, document impact, refine the materials and training strategies, and then oversee a national scale-up.  The programme is now supporting the Ministry of Education to implement the reformed numeracy curriculum in all the public primary schools across the country.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We put equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team and personal commitments. We embrace agility, flexibility and trust.

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