Project Manager – Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL)

Job Description Job Title: Project Manager – Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Reporting to: Country Director Technical Reporting Line: Regional Education Advisor / Global Education Programmes Advisor Contract Type: 6 months, Full time, National Contract Principal Location: Juba, South Sudan Deadline for application: 07 th July 2026 at 5:00 PM (South Sudan Time). About AET/Street Child in South Sudan In South Sudan, AET/Street Child builds on the legacy of the Africa Educational Trust (AET), which worked continuously in the country from 1996 and became part of the Street Child group in 2020. Over nearly three decades, AET established itself as one of South Sudan's leading education organisations, delivering programmes through periods of conflict, transition, independence and humanitarian crisis, while working closely with government, communities, schools and civil society partners. Today, AET/Street Child implements programmes across multiple states focused on foundational learning, teacher development, accelerated education, girls' education, school improvement, education in emergencies and system strengthening, in partnership with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI), State Ministries of Education, UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, FCDO and other development partners to improve access to quality education and learning outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Street Child supports children to be safe, in school, and learning. We work with governments, communities, schools, and local organisations to deliver sustainable education solutions in low-resource, conflict-affected, and crisis-affected contexts. Street Child operates across more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia and has supported more than one million children to access education, improve learning outcomes, and develop pathways to safer and more resilient futures. Our work combines technical expertise in foundational learning, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), teacher professional development, accelerated education, girls' education, school improvement, education in emergencies, community engagement, child protection, and education system strengthening. Part 1: Role Purpose: The Project Manager will provide overall leadership, coordination, and management of the UNICEF-funded Targeting and Transforming Learning through Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) project in South Sudan. The project aims to improve foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes for 17,540 learners across 112 government primary schools in Aweil, Juba, Torit, and Yambio through the implementation of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), an evidence-based approach that assesses learners according to their current competency levels and provides targeted instruction to accelerate learning. The project will also strengthen the capacity of 336 teachers, 112 school-based mentors, and Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) personnel to institutionalise TaRL approaches within government schools. The Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring the effective, timely, and high-quality implementation of all project activities, including project planning, budgeting, stakeholder coordination, supervision of project staff and consultants, donor compliance, reporting, and risk management. Working closely with UNICEF, the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI), State Ministries of Education, County Education Departments, and participating schools, the Project Manager will ensure the project delivers measurable improvements in learning outcomes while generating evidence to inform future scale-up within the South Sudan education system. Part 2: Key Responsibilities General Responsibilities: Ensure compliance with Street Child policies, procedures, safeguarding standards, and donor requirements Lead delivery of project objectives in line with UNICEF, MoGEI, and government priorities Ensure inclusion of the most vulnerable learners, including girls, children with disabilities, and learners who are over-age or behind grade-level expectations Contribute to programme learning, adaptation, documentation, and reporting Represent AET/Street Child with government, donor, and coordination stakeholders Specific Responsibilities: a. Project Leadership & Delivery Lead overall planning, implementation, and coordination of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) project across the target locations of Aweil, Juba, Torit, and Yambio Ensure timely and high-quality delivery of all project activities, including training, mentoring, coaching, assessments, and monitoring activities Develop and oversee detailed workplans, implementation schedules, and activity trackers to ensure delivery against targets and timelines Supervise and support four County Coordinators/Master Trainers, MEAL Officer, and other project personnel Ensure effective coordination across project locations and implementation partners Monitor progress against project objectives and ensure timely corrective action where required b. Technical Quality Assurance & Oversight Ensure high-quality implementation of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology in accordance with approved project design and technical guidance Oversee training, mentoring, and coaching support provided to teachers, mentors, and Master Trainers Ensure project implementation maintains fidelity to agreed TaRL approaches, tools, and assessment methodologies Work closely with technical advisors, MoGEI, and UNICEF to strengthen quality assurance and continuous improvement processes Promote data-informed programme adaptation, using monitoring and learning data to improve project performance and learning outcomes Ensure integration of inclusive, gender-responsive, and child-centred approaches throughout implementation c. Partnerships, Coordination & Representation Lead coordination with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI), State Ministries of Education, County Education Departments, and other relevant government stakeholders Maintain strong working relationships with UNICEF and other project partners Support government ownership and participation throughout project implementation Represent AET/Street Child in Education Cluster meetings, technical working groups, and other relevant coordination forums Support dissemination of project learning and evidence to government, UNICEF and other stakeholders to inform future scale-up of TaRL in South Sudan d. Project Management, Compliance & Reporting Oversee project budget management, ensuring effective, efficient, and compliant use of resources Ensure compliance with UNICEF requirements, financial procedures, procurement policies, safeguarding standards, and organisational policies Lead preparation of high-quality narrative reports, workplans, updates, and donor submissions Monitor project risks (operational, financial, safeguarding, and security) and implement mitigation measures as required Ensure strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems are in place and effectively utilised Ensure timely documentation of lessons learned, best practices, and project achievements e. Team Leadership & Staff Management Provide day-to-day supervision, support, and performance management for project staff Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture Support staff capacity development through coaching, mentoring, and regular performance feedback Ensure staff understand and comply with organisational policies, safeguarding standards, and donor requirements Promote staff wellbeing, accountability, and professional conduct throughout project implementation Part 3: Person Specification
Education / Qualifications Essential Degree in Education, International Development, or related field Desirable Master’s degree in Education, Development, or related field Experience and Knowledge Essential Minimum 5–8 years' experience managing large education or development programmes Demonstrated experience managing donor-funded projects, including planning, budgeting, reporting, and compliance Strong understanding of foundational learning and teacher professional development approaches Experience working with government education systems and stakeholders Experience managing teams and delivering results in complex, fragile, or humanitarian contexts Experience working on TaRL, foundational literacy and numeracy, remedial education, or similar learning improvement programmes Experience managing UNICEF, ECW, FCDO, or other institutional donor-funded projects Desirable Prior experience implementing foundational literacy and numeracy education programs with demonstrated impact on learning outcomes. Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder workshops, training events, and technical working groups Strong report writing and proposal development skills Experience using digital data collection and project management tools (e.g. Kobo, CommCare, Power BI, Excel dashboards) Ability to analyse learning assessment data and translate findings into programme improvements Experience supporting organisational learning, documentation of good practice, and knowledge management Strong networking and partnership-building skills Skills and Abilities Essential Strong leadership and team management skills Excellent planning, coordination, and organisational skills Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in challenging environments Excellent written and verbal communication skills Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and representation skills Ability to work independently and travel regularly to project locations Strong facilitation and training skills Experience using monitoring and learning data to inform programme management and adaptive implementation Desirable Experience using data and dashboards to inform project management Strong facilitation and representation skills Other Strong commitment to child safeguarding and protection Flexible, proactive, and solutions-oriented Willingness and ability to travel frequently within South Sudan Knowledge of South Sudan's education sector and government systems Street Child’s commitment to Safeguarding: Street Child is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the communities we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff. As part of this commitment to safeguarding, all offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks, including a Criminal Records check. Street Child also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. For purposes hereof, the following definitions will be used: Sexual exploitation : refers to any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, a power differential, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, among other things, with the aim of profiting pecuniarily, socially, or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. Sexual abuse : refers to actual physical harm or threat of physical harm, of a sexual nature, which may occur by force, or in situations of inequality, or coercive conditions. To apply: AET/Street Child welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion, belief, age, or other protected characteristics. Female candidates and qualified persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants may submit their applications online through the application link provided above or deliver hard copy applications to any AET/Street Child South Sudan office. Please note that this position is subject to donor approval and funding confirmation under the project “Building Resilience of Households and Communities through Integrated Action in South Sudan” (CFEI ID: CFEI/CEF/SSD/2026/016). Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.