Partnership & Education Project Coordinator – Play Matters Project Full Time NEW

The Opportunity

The Partnership & Education Project Coordinator is responsible for the overall planning, implementation, coordination, and quality assurance of PlayMatters interventions at the regional level. The role ensures the effective delivery of play-based learning activities and promotes evidence-based programming that aligns with national education priorities and organizational standards. He/she will also support strong collaboration with key stakeholders to maintain high-quality and impactful interventions.

The Coordinator is responsible for overall project management, including financial oversight, as well as monitoring, evaluation, and learning to support accountability, continuous improvement, and informed decision-making.

Key Accountabilities Include;

• Lead planning, coordination, and delivery of project activities aligned with approved plans, budgets, and timelines.
• Develop implementation plans, manage risks, and address operational challenges using adaptive approaches.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with government, education institutions, NGOs, and communities.
• Provide technical support, coaching, and mentoring to ensure quality delivery of play-based learning approaches.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement, joint planning, and collaboration across partners and education systems.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL), including digital data systems, reporting, and data quality assurance.
• Promote accountability, community engagement, and use of feedback mechanisms to improve programming.
• Represent the organization in coordination platforms and advocate for play-based learning approaches.
• Support policy engagement and integration of learning through play into education systems and teacher development.
• Document and share best practices, lessons learned, and success stories to support learning and visibility.
• Monitor partner budgets, review financial reports, and ensure compliance with donor and organizational requirements.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that the team members under supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.
• Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

The Individual

Qualifications/ Experience/Skills Essential:

• BA degree from an accredited university in education, Social Science , or related field;
• Minimum five years of years of relevant experience in education related fields
• Experience in content development/adaptation, testing and training delivery for teachers
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct presentations and facilitate workshops.
• Ability to work both independently and work under pressure
• Proven experience promoting disability inclusion and adapting learning approaches for children with diverse learning needs.
• Experience working with government education systems, teacher education colleges, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Excellent facilitation, mentoring, and technical writing skills in English;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Amharic, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.

Qualifications/ Experience/Skills Desirable:

• Budget and financial management including planning and forecasting budgets, allocating resources, monitoring expenditures and burn rates.
• Having good understanding about Learning through Play (LtP) and Ethiopian education systems.
• Having good understanding about project monitoring, evaluation and digital data collection including CommCare
• Proven experiences in experiences in coordination, partnership management and representation.
• Education project management/coordination experience