Young Scientist Project Coordinator

Inspire, Educate and Empower Rwanda

 P.O Box 4712, Kigali Rwanda

Telephone +(250)788800330

www.iee.rw ieerwanda.directorate.org@gmail.com

Job Vacancy: Young Scientist Project Coordinator

Number of vacancies: 1

Reports to: Head of Programmes

Opening date: December 19^th, 2024

Closing date: January 10^th, 2025

Duration of contract: 1 Year

About Inspire, Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE)

IEE is a Rwandan local Education Not-For-Profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Since 2005, in collaboration with partners, IEE complements efforts of the Ministry of Education/ Rwanda Basic Education Board, supporting education implementation for quality learning outcomes. IEE designs and delivers innovative programmes to address challenges to provision of quality education. IEE programmes range from: teacher development training and technical assistance, teaching and learning, curriculum and material development, research and evaluation, education policies and systems reform.

Context for vacancy

Inspire Educate and Empower Rwanda, (IEE) partnering with GIZ is implementing the Young Scientist Programme (YSP) in public secondary schools in Rwanda targeting specifically students at the lower secondary school level. The Young Scientist Programme seeks to stimulate students’ interest in Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics as a study field by fostering the use of hands-on teaching and learning approaches such as experiments and practical work to vivify students’ creative, innovative, research and problem-solving skills. Ultimately, the project aims to cultivate interest among youths in Rwanda to pursue science fields such as Engineering, Medicine, Biology, Environmental Studies, physics, or statistics at tertiary education levels. This will contribute to narrowing the existing gap in Rwanda’s human capital needs for STEAM professionals required to steer Rwanda’s growth trajectory toward Vision 2050 and beyond

Nurturing a passion for science can have far-reaching implications for a student’s future career prospects and existing evidence suggests that encouraging students to explore the practical applications of science subjects early on fosters a sense of purpose in their learning. Many high-demand lucrative careers, such as engineering, data science, and medicine, rely heavily on a strong foundation in the science field. Moreover, early stimulation of students’ interest in studying science could easily make students pursue careers in scientific fields, contributing to innovation and the progress of society.

The Young Scientist Program is to stimulate curiosity and interest in science subjects among Rwandan students at the lower secondary school level through the provision of multiple opportunities and exposures to practical science activities and experiments in Physics, Biology, and Chemistry. Ultimately, it is hoped that young people will consider this field as an area/opportunity for employment.

Purpose of the role

The Young Scientist Project Coordinator will be responsible for providing technical oversight of the Young Scientist project activities in assigned Programme Districts, he/she will be the project’s lead person working closely with the IEE Senior Management, the Science Learning Advisors and school stakeholders to ensure effective Programme implementation and delivery of target project results. This role will require frequent travel to the field and minimal operation from the country office.

Major Responsibilities:

Programme implementation, management and coordination.

• Lead and facilitate the implementation of project result-oriented activities for the Young Scientist Project in the target schools and districts of Programme intervention.
• Conduct regular field visits to collaborate and coordinate with Science Learning Advisors, school leaders and teachers in ensuring effective project implementation in alignment with desired project key deliverables and outcomes.
• Ensure the Young Scientist Projects effectively is aligned and effectively contribute to the key priorities of Rwanda’s Education Sector and Rwanda’s Education Sector Strategic Plan priorities for science technology, research and innovation.
• Manage and coordinate the Young Scientist Project in alignment with Programme work plans and schedules including producing timely, accurate, compliant, and quality reports to IEE management to inform strategic planning and key pivots in project implementation.
• Liaise with the IEE Monitoring & Evaluation Team to develop/refine the Monitoring and Evaluation framework for harnessing results on the Young Scientist Project including supporting programme data collection exercises for learning processes at baseline, o-going monitoring and periodical evaluations on the Young Scientist Project.

Capacity Building and Technical support for Science Learning Advisors.

• Plan, organize and facilitate the training and capacity building of Science Learning Advisors during the ongoing monthly continuous Professional Development workshops aimed at experience sharing, learning and sharpening SLA skills for effective coordination, and
• facilitation of CPDs at target schools. The CPD focus areas will be science-specific with particular interest in pedagogy-content-knowledge (PCK) aligned with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). Advisors will also undergo training in using simple experiments to teach science concepts while engaging students.
• Provide oversight and supervisory support to Science Learning Advisors in ensuring that they provide mentorship coaching and technical support to focal science teachers in target schools including ensuring that SLAs provide regular classroom support and high-quality constructive feedback to target teachers for effective delivery of science instruction.
• Coordinate Science Learning Advisors and school stakeholders in the establishing school science clubs for strengthening science education through extra-curricular learning of science at the lower secondary school level.

Stakeholder Engagement and collaboration in planning, organizing and conducting science fairs, and open-day events and career guidance aligned with science education.

• Provide leadership, guidance and oversight to Science Learning Advisors in establishing inter and intra-school collaboratives and partnerships for teaching and learning STEAM including school exchange visits, Professional Learning communities and Science Teacher CPDs.
• Offer leadership and guidance in liaising with schools to plan, organize, coordinate and conduct open days/science fairs and inter-school science competitions, district science competitions and national-level science events bringing together showcasing projects on different science topics in the Rwanda competence-based curriculum.
• Lead and guide the Programme technical team of science learning advisors in establishing collaborative partnerships with school leaders, teachers, parents, and community members aimed at advancing the science learning agenda for young Rwandan students at the secondary school level.
• Guide and lead Science Learning Advisors in the building of collaborative working partnerships with local government authorities at the district or sector level such as the Sector Education Inspectors (SEIs), District Education Officers (DEOs), and District Directors of Education, (DDE) District Local Government Officials for their buy-in to the Young Scientist Programme initiative in respective schools.
• Identify and build key strategic collaborations and networks with partners and other stakeholders in the wider education ecosystem in Rwanda including the Rwanda Basic Education Board, and development partners engaged in Rwanda’s science technology and innovation education for a synergy and advancement of STEAM education for Rwanda students.

Qualifications, experience and competence required.

• A minimum of a master’s degree in science education preferably with a background in Physics, Chemistry and Biology with at least 7 years of teaching experience in secondary schools in Rwanda or relevant experience in teacher training and capacity building, coaching and mentorship.

Technical Competences

• A strong background in science education, particularly sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
• An excellent track record and demonstrable experience in educational Leadership in a learning setting preferably in a secondary school or a teacher training context in Rwanda.
• Excellent pedagogical content knowledge linked with science instruction at the secondary school level including the use of non-traditional child-centered instructional approaches to teaching and learning science.
• Excellent understanding of the Rwanda Competence-based curriculum, familiarity with Rwanda secondary school environments including familiarity with operations of secondary school settings in Rwanda.
• An excellent presenter and facilitator with experience in presenting complex ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS 360 suite, internet, Teams Google Suite etc.

Leadership competences

• Demonstrable supervisory experience, and depth of knowledge of Rwanda’s secondary school curriculum
• Exhibit self-confidence and self-awareness as well as awareness of his Team in all situations
• Attention to detail with an excellent ability to plan and execute Programme tasks meticulously.
• Goal-oriented and ability to continuously strive to achieve Programme set targets effectively and efficiently
• Demonstrates social awareness and a continuous orientation towards service including a keen awareness of the organization’s processes, policies and rules.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and effective communication skills including good knowledge of report writing.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Able to work flexibly as part of a big team and to work independently with self-drive to achieve set Programme targets and objectives.

Managerial competences

• Good knowledge of project management principles and how they apply in the educational context including scheduling, monitoring project results and stakeholder engagement in project/Programme implementation and effective reporting of project activities and results.
• Capable of systems thinking with a demonstrable ability to exhibit flexibility concerning organizational processes. He/she should possess an in-depth understanding of Programme integration, teamwork, team building and conflict resolution mechanisms
• A proven Experience in stakeholder management and excellent collaboration and networking skills particularly with local governments, parents, communities and in-school stakeholders.
• Effective communication skills including documentation and excellent report writing to communicate Programme impact and relay detailed aspects of tasks and responsibilities for the team.
• Strong project management experience including planning, initiating and delivering activities within agreed time scales.
• Demonstrable skills and experience in securing involvement of internal and external stakeholders, planning and facilitating consultation exercises, interviews or fact-finding meetings which result in all relevant information being collected within a limited timeframe.
• A broad understanding of school-based mentorship, Training of Trainers and capacity building is an advantage.
• Demonstrable teaching experience, contributing to quality learning.
• Demonstrable experience in program Monitoring, Evaluation and reporting.
• A good presenter with experience of presenting complex ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Extremely well-organized multi-tasker.
• Self-motivated, ambitious, goal oriented.
• Experience of working in the Education NGO sector.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrable supervisory experience.
• Able to work flexibly as part of a small team and to work independently.
• Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Trustworthy, ethical, and authentic in all situations.

Application procedure

IEE is an equal opportunities employer. If your career aspirations match this exciting opportunity, please submit a cover letter, CV including names of at least 3 position-relevant referees, scanned copies of Degree/diplomas, National ID and a copy of a criminal record to The Human Resource Manager, Inspire Educate and Empower Rwanda (IEE) at iee.job.hr@gmail.com before January 10^th , 2025.

Important Note: Please ONLY write Project Coordinator as the subject of your application email. Failure to observe this instruction will lead to disqualification.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.