Kindergarten Coordinator
| JOB TITLE: | Kindergarten Coordinator | SALARY RANGE | $1,100-$1,300 |
| CONTRACT TYPE: | Fixed Term Appointment | LOCATION: |
Sakr Building Sabra Street Beirut , Beirut Lebanon |
| Contact details: | m.hassan@justchildhood.org | DEADLINE | 15/8/2022 |
| DURATION: | 01.09.2022- 31.08.2023 | PROPOSED PERIOD: | 12 months |
- BACKGROUND
The kindergarten Bait al-Shams is located just outside of the Palestinian Refugee Camp Shatila in Sabra. Like in the other 11 official Palestinian camps in Lebanon, already the fourth generation of refugees lives in a hostile environment, is denied basic human rights, and has no effective means of representation or education. While worldwide the number of protracted refugee groups is increasing; responses to refugee situations are still driven by the assumption that they are short-term.
Education is one of the most important pillars of development. A qualitative study of the American University of Beirut in 2011 has analyzed the UNRWA school dropouts in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon. Looking to develop an intervention plan to address the rate of early school dropout in Palestinian refugee camps, the study concluded that dropout could be prevented through a focused action plan. Among other measures the study recommends to provide a high quality, universal preschool and full-day kindergarten. Just.Childhood’s kindergarten in Sabra is individually shaped by the personalities working in and for the kindergarten. Ideally, they are recruited from Shatila camp or its surrounding. This is owed to the belief, that the target group should be actively involved in the planning, implementation and management process of humanitarian work.
The Kindergarten Coordinator combines the administrative and the educational tasks and responsibilities.
The main aim of the educational work in the kindergarten is encouraging and advancing the physical, emotional, mental and social strength of the children. They are given the opportunity to strengthen their individual skills, as well as their group behavior. An integrated educational approach based on Waldorf methods provides the children with the knowledge, competencies in language and social skills that need to be achieved by entering school.
- PURPOSE:
The Kindergarten Coordinator is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the kindergarten according to the strategic direction set by the organization’s management.
- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
The role of the Kindergarten Coordinator is to ensure that high standards of excellence are maintained in the kindergarten through high quality of learning for each child, professional development of KG teachers and overseeing, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the implementation of the activities.
Leadership
- Participate with the organisation’s directors in developing a vision and strategic plan to guide the project
- Identify, assess, and inform the organisation’s directors of internal and external issues that affect the project
- Act as a professional advisor to the organization’s directors on all aspects of the project’s activities
- Foster effective team work between the organization’s directors and staff
- Represent the project at community activities and partner meetings to improve the organization’s and project’s community profile
Operational planning and management
- Ensure that the operation of the kindergarten meets the expectations of its board and funders
- Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operation of the kindergarten
- Draft policies for the approval of the organization’s directors and the board and prepare procedures to implement the project’s policies; review existing policies on an annual basis and recommend changes to the directors/board as appropriate
- Ensure that personnel, client, donor, and volunteer files are securely stored and privacy/confidentiality is maintained
- Provide the organization’s directors and board with comprehensive, regular reports on all project activities
Program Planning and Management
- Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the kindergarten programs
- Ensure that the programs and services offered contribute to the project’s and organization’s mission and reflect the priorities of the board
- Monitor the day-to-day delivery of the programs and services of the project to maintain or improve quality
- Oversee the planning, implementation, execution and evaluation of special projects
Human resources planning and management
- Determine staffing requirements for the project’s management and program delivery
- Oversee the implementation of the human resources policies, procedures and practices including the development of job description for all staff
- Establish a positive, healthy, and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations
- Recruit, interview and select staff with directors approval that have the right technical and personal abilities to help further the project’s mission
- Ensure that all staff receive an orientation to the project and that appropriate training is provided
- Implement a performance management process for all staff which includes monitoring the performance of staff on an ongoing basis and conducting an annual performance review
- Discipline staff when necessary using appropriate techniques; release staff with the directors’ approval when necessary using appropriate and legally defensible procedures
Financial planning and management
- Work with staff, organization directors, and Financial Consultant to prepare a comprehensive budget
- Work with the organization directors to secure adequate funding for the operation of the organization
- Research funding sources, oversee the development of fund raising plans and write funding proposals to increase the funds of the project
- Participate in fundraising activities as appropriate
- Approve expenditures within the authority delegated by the directors
- Ensure that sound bookkeeping is followed
- Administer the funds of the project according to the approved budget and monitor the monthly cash flow of the project
- Provide the organization directors and board with comprehensive, regular reports on the revenues and expenditure of the project
- Ensure that the project complies with all legislation covering taxation and withholding payments
Community relations/advocacy
- Communicate with stakeholders to keep them informed of the work of the kindergarten and to identify changes in the community served by the project and organization
- Establish good working relationships and collaborative arrangements with parents, community groups, funders, politicians, and other organizations to help achieve the goals of the organization and the project
- QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS required to perform the duties of the post:
- EDUCATION:
University degree in Early Childhood Education/Pedagogy or a related field
- EDUCATION:
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- WORK EXPERIENCE:
At least 3 years of professional experience in similar post.
- WORK EXPERIENCE:
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- LANGUAGES
Fluency in English and Arabic (verbal and written).
- LANGUAGES
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- REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Openness to new pedagogical concepts
- Ability to self-reflection
- Willingness to self-motivated further trainings
- Knowledge of leadership and management principles as they relate to non-profit/ voluntary organizations
- Knowledge of current community challenges and opportunities related to the mission of the organization
- Knowledge of project management
- REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
