Senior Education Officer – Policy and Advocacy

About the role

The International Rescue Committee is seeking a Senior Education Officer – Policy and Advocacy to lead the policy‑uptake component of the PlayMatters 3.0 initiative in South Sudan. This role focuses on strengthening education systems by promoting Learning through Play in humanitarian and development contexts.

Key responsibilities

• Identify, engage, and influence key education stakeholders at national and sub‑national levels, including the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) and Teacher Training Institutes.
• Coordinate with the Education Cluster, Local Education Group, and development partners to align PlayMatters approaches with existing policies and sector priorities.
• Lead advocacy efforts to integrate Learning through Play into education policies, frameworks, and curricula.
• Support the development of policy briefs, guidance notes, and monitoring tools to track system‑strengthening outcomes.
• Represent the consortium in meetings, workshops, and coordination platforms to promote the programme’s objectives.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in education policy, advocacy, and system‑strengthening within humanitarian or post‑conflict settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of South Sudan’s education sector and stakeholder landscape.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with government ministries, NGOs, and international partners.
• Strong analytical and communication skills to translate technical concepts into policy recommendations.

Required skills