Program Brief

The humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), has resulted in unprecedented needs among children and families. Repeated cycles of conflict, displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and limited access to essential services have significantly impacted children's wellbeing, development, learning, and protection. Young children and caregivers face heightened psychosocial stress and barriers to accessing quality early childhood development and education services.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) delivers integrated humanitarian programming across the occupied Palestinian territory, including education, early childhood development, protection, women's protection and empowerment, economic recovery and development, and emergency response programming. IRC works closely with local partners and communities to ensure children and families have access to high-quality, safe, and inclusive services that support their wellbeing and resilience.

Position Overview

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Manager will be based in Gaza and report to the Early Childhood Development Coordinator. The ECD Manager will lead the implementation and quality assurance of ECD programming across Gaza, working closely with IRC teams, implementing partners, and relevant stakeholders to ensure high-quality, integrated services for young children and caregivers.

The position will oversee ECD interventions delivered through direct and partner implementation across community-based, mobile, center-based, and emergency response modalities. The ECD Manager will provide technical and operational leadership, supervise ECD Officers, Assistants, and Facilitators, support staff and partner capacity strengthening, ensure program quality and compliance, and promote effective coordination across sectors to enhance outcomes for children and families.

Job Responsibilities

1. Program Implementation, Quality & Emergency Response

• Ensure the provision of high-quality ECD services through direct implementation and partner-managed, community-based, mobile, and emergency response delivery platforms across Gaza.
• Support the implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance of ECD and Education activities in line with project objectives, workplans, and donor requirements.
• Monitor progress against targets, identify implementation challenges, and support timely corrective actions.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting, documentation of achievements, lessons learned, success stories, and implementation updates.
• Work closely with MEAL teams to strengthen monitoring, accountability mechanisms, data utilization, and program quality.
• Conduct regular field visits to support implementation quality, compliance, and safeguarding standards.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Finance, HAS, Field Management, and other support functions to facilitate timely implementation of activities.
• Monitor procurement, spending, and delivery timelines to ensure materials and services are delivered on time and meet program quality standards.
• Support the implementation and adaptation of ECD interventions in emergency, displacement, and crisis-affected settings.
• Ensure ECD approaches are integrated within education, psychosocial support, and caregiver wellbeing programming.
• Adapt ECD interventions to address the needs of children affected by conflict, displacement, trauma, and interrupted learning.
• Promote nurturing care and positive caregiving practices as core components of ECD programming.

2. Technical Leadership & Capacity Strengthening

• Contribute to the quality, relevance, and technical excellence of ECD programming across Gaza.
• Provide technical support, coaching, and mentoring to IRC staff, teachers, facilitators, and partner staff.
• Support the development and adaptation of ECD tools, training materials, and resources appropriate to the Gaza context.
• Identify capacity gaps and support targeted learning and development initiatives.
• Review program data and indicators and support data quality assurance processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
• Work closely with Education, Child Protection, WPE, Health, Nutrition, WASH, ERD, and MEAL teams to promote integrated, child-centered programming.
• Support the integration of nurturing care, caregiver wellbeing, psychosocial support, and early learning approaches across IRC and partner programs.

3. Coordination & Partnerships

• Represent IRC's ECD programming in coordination meetings, technical working groups, and stakeholder consultations as requested.
• Maintain effective relationships with implementing partners, local organizations, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Support partner planning, implementation, monitoring, and quality improvement efforts.
• Collaborate with partners to identify capacity gaps and strengthen the skills of teachers, facilitators, and frontline staff.
• Coordinate with Education, Child Protection, WPE, Health, Nutrition, WASH, ERD, MEAL, and relevant operational teams to ensure integrated service delivery and effective referral pathways.
• Represent the Education and ECD program in relevant sector and coordination platforms.

4. Team Management & Program Development

• Supervise and support ECD Officers, Assistants, and Facilitators, providing regular feedback and performance guidance.
• Build staff capacity through coaching, mentoring, and on-the-job support.
• Foster teamwork, staff wellbeing, and a positive working environment.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes as needed.
• Support grant management, workplan tracking, budget monitoring, and donor compliance requirements.
• Contribute to donor reports, presentations, assessments, concept notes, and proposals.
• Support the identification of emerging needs and opportunities for program development and expansion.

Other Duties

• Ensure compliance with IRC safety and security procedures and promptly report concerns or incidents.
• Uphold IRC values, safeguarding standards, and professional conduct.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor to support program implementation and development.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Early Childhood Development (ECD), Education, Child Protection, or other child-focused programming.
• Experience working in humanitarian, emergency, conflict-affected, or displacement settings.
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Early Childhood Development, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of early childhood development, play-based learning, school readiness, literacy, and numeracy.
• Experience working with local partners and providing technical support and capacity strengthening.
• Experience with NGO project cycle management, including project planning, implementation, budget management, monitoring, reporting, and donor compliance.
• Demonstrated experience adapting and contextualizing program approaches, methodologies, tools, and training materials to meet local needs and operational contexts.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken).
• Ability to travel throughout Gaza, security conditions permitting.
   

Standards of Professional Conduct

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Gender Equality

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.