Country: Egypt
Closing date: 31 Jul 2016
Founded in 1979, St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through four programs: adult and children’s education, legal, and psychosocial services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.
StARS’ Mission is to enhance the quality of life of refugees in Egypt and make their rights a reality through client-centered programs.
Our vision is a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for refugees in which they can exercise their rights, pursue their aspirations, and live in dignity.
We serve people from many places, including Ethiopia, Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Syria. To learn more please visit www.stars-egypt.org.
Program Description: Montessori Preschool
StARS Montessori Preschool provides education and care for children from age three to six based on the Montessori pedagogical approach for early childhood.
Role
Under the supervision of the Director of Education, the Montessori Preschool Coordinator is responsible for the management of the preschool and its staff and for ensuring the delivery of quality educational opportunities for all children enrolled. The Coordinator is responsible for supervision of the variety of child centred activities provided within the classroom. The Coordinator is tasked with enhancing the program with new activities and workshops in addition to parent-child activities and consultation. The Montessori Preschool Coordinator is responsible for all matters relating to staffing, training staff, supervision, enrollment procedures, discipline, and day-to-day class follow-up.
Responsibilities
Classroom management
To ensure that staff carries out responsibilities and tasks assigned to them thoroughly and efficiently.
To check the condition of the material and to review staff reports on material in need of maintenance and follow up its repair on a daily basis.
To supervise and follow up with the process of purchasing material, furniture and hygiene products, and to report effectively to StARS’ Director of Operations.
To manage and lead daily staff meetings before and after the class working hours, recognize any challenges and work together with staff members towards efficient solutions.
Programmatic
To develop, implement, and ensure adherence to the Montessori program framework.
To plan, schedule, run, and minute staff meetings.
To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.
To build and maintain relationships with staff from the other StARS’ programs, namely the Psychosocial, the Refugee Legal Aid and the Education Program, particularly program directors, and operational partners to ensure the smooth running of the preschool.
To ensure high quality child-centred holistic education as an aid to life according to the values of the Montessori humanist approach.
To maintain outreach and mutual support between the StARS Montessori Preschool and similar services provided to refugee preschools in Cairo.
Supervisory
To recruit, train, supervise, and support paid staff and volunteers, ensuring that the program operates effectively and efficiently.
To provide consultation for caregivers and organize and lead their monthly meetings with staff.
To meet weekly with staff to follow up on progress, document indicators of development, assign them with the required tasks for the following week, and if needed, provide instructions on new material and/or activities.
To carry out periodic performance evaluation and biannual appraisals for staff and volunteers.
To ensure all new staff members are well-trained and knowledgeable on the program’s framework.
To participate in external training opportunities or, where appropriate, assign other members of the program to participate.
To arrange on-going training for members of staff on the Montessori pedagogical approach and child development.
To ensure that all members of the Montessori program carry out tasks in accordance with StARS policies, procedures, and standards, in particular ethics, conduct, confidentiality, anti-discrimination, and the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
To administer disciplinary procedures, staff leave, reimbursements, and budget expenditure.
To engage proactively in promoting self-care among volunteers and other staff.
Finance/Administration
To monitor and maintain strong financial records and procedures as per StARS financial rules, and ensure proper financial documentation of all activities.
To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
To meet regularly with the Director of Education regarding the work of the Montessori Preschool and self-care.
To revise the strategy of the program in response to changing situations and participate in annual work planning.
Communication/Reporting
To communicate regularly with the Director of Education, reporting on all major issues and developments.
To be an active member of the leadership team and to provide all necessary support to other Program Directors and to StARS.
To provide monthly and quarterly reports to the Director of Education, as requested, including problems and solutions, supervision issues, case studies, statistics, and notes on progress towards implementation of the Montessori program plan.
To contribute input on Montessori program activities to grant proposals and donor reports.
To submit activity reports as requested.
To promote information sharing within the Montessori program and StARS on all issues affecting the populations served by StARS.
Requirements
Technical
English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo as well as of StARS, the Montessori Preschool Coordinator must be fluent in both oral and written English. Arabic or a refugee language is an advantage.
Ability to closely supervise the work of team members.
Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
Strong research and documentation skills regarding the latest developments in the diverse field of early childhood and psychosocial interventions for refugee children.
Ability to produce quality classroom materials and self-assembled activities.
Personal
A demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, supervise, guide, support, and discipline team members as well as cooperate with peers.
Belief in and commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race, disability, religious belief and sexual orientation.
Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care.
Ability to prioritize work, multi-task, and meet demanding deadlines.
A positive attitude and collaborative approach to dealing with clients, volunteers, and staff.
Respect for the child’s rhythm, and the right of the child to time, space, and joy.
Respect the child’s individuality and needs, as well as the need to be in a healthy social system that respects all children as individuals.
Hours: 40 hour work week (Sunday – Thursday), and other hours as required.
Supervised by: Director of Education
Salary: EGP 4000 – 4700 per month depending on experience (plus EGP100 monthly medical allowance and EGP50 monthly pension contribution).
Benefits: All StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Policies and Procedures Guidelines**Closing date for applications:** 31 July 2016
How to apply:
Please send a resume and cover letter addressing the role and requirements to anagati@stars-egypt.org. Use the subject line ‘Pre-school Coordinator’.