Position Location: Damascus, Syria (field-based, with travel within Syria as conditions and program needs permit)
Background:
Creative Associates International is a global development organization founded in 1977, with experience supporting education systems, economic opportunity, governance, and stabilization in complex environments. Creative has implemented programs in Syria since 2013 and maintains operational presence in the country. We work with governments, communities and local organizations to strengthen institutions and advance measurable results.
Position Summary:
Creative is identifying potential candidates for an anticipated leadership role on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded Syria Education Program III (SEP III). The anticipated technical assistance (TA) component will support Syria’s Ministry of Education (MoE) and Education Directorates in advancing Syrian-led education reform, improving foundational learning, and strengthening education sector systems. Indicative areas include political economy and institutional diagnostics; teacher development and coaching; safeguarding and inclusion; education planning and financial management; and data use and monitoring. The anticipated implementation period begins in mid-2027, with inception and a predominantly Syrian, Syria-based delivery team. Final scope, contractual arrangements and dates are subject to FCDO procurement and award.
The Deputy Team Lead will support the Team Lead and lead day-to-day technical coordination, work planning, delivery quality and management of the program’s flexible technical assistance portfolio. The Deputy Team Lead will help translate Ministry priorities into practical, sequenced reform support, coordinate Syrian technical teams and short-term specialists, and ensure evidence, political economy analysis and learning inform implementation.
Reporting & Supervision:
This position reports to the Team Lead and supervises technical workstream leads, advisers and/or technical assistance coordinators, as assigned.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Support the Team Lead in leadership, inception planning, mobilization and management of a demand-led technical assistance program.
- Coordinate technical workstreams and the specialist TA pool, ensuring timely work plans, well-scoped task orders, high-quality outputs and responsive support to MoE and Education Directorates.
- Work directly with Syrian technical leaders and counterparts to co-design, test and refine reform approaches while strengthening national systems and avoiding parallel structures.
- Lead technical integration of foundational learning, curriculum development, teacher competency frameworks, professional development/coaching, assessment, inclusion and safeguarding.
- Coordinate institutional strengthening assignments involving education sector planning, costed reform sequencing, public financial management, EMIS/data use and accountability.
- Maintain and use diagnostics, political economy analysis, stakeholder feedback and monitoring evidence to inform periodic adaptation and implementation decisions.
- Oversee technical quality assurance, staff coaching, capacity-transfer plans, coordination among partners and documentation of lessons and decisions.
- Support donor reporting, performance monitoring, risk mitigation, safeguarding, value for money and management of technical budgets under FCDO requirements.
- Act for the Team Lead as delegated and represent the program in technical dialogue with FCDO, Ministry leadership and sector partners in Arabic and English.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in education, education policy, public administration, international development, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
- Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible experience in education or public-sector technical assistance, including at least four years in deputy leadership, technical director or comparable senior management roles.
- Substantial direct experience implementing FCDO-funded programs (normally four or more years), with familiarity with FCDO delivery standards, reporting, value for money, and adaptive management.
- Fluency in Arabic and English (professional speaking, reading and writing) is required; ability to facilitate technical discussions, workshops and government engagement in both languages.
- Deep technical experience in education systems reform and at least two of the following: foundational learning, curriculum development, teacher development/coaching, education planning, finance, EMIS/data use, safeguarding and inclusion.
- Experience managing national technical teams, short-term experts, work plans, budgets and quality assurance in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
- Demonstrated ability to work with ministries and subnational authorities, facilitate co-design, transfer capacity and use evidence to support practical reform implementation.
- Ability and willingness to be based in Damascus and travel for program purposes, subject to applicable security and organizational requirements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience as DCOP, Technical Director or Deputy Team Leader on an FCDO education or governance technical assistance program.
- Syria or comparable education-sector experience, including work with MoE and directorate-level institutions.
- Experience with politically informed, demand-led TA, technical pools, tasking mechanisms and quarterly adaptation.
Recruitment Notice: This expression of interest is for advance candidate identification only. The position is contingent upon Creative’s decision to pursue the opportunity, applicable procurement requirements, and contract award. Position details may change when FCDO issues final terms of reference.
Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.