Contract Management Specialist, Education
and PPPs

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION:

 USAID-funded Sindh Community Mobilization Program (CMP) is improving education in schools across all 29 districts of Sindh by fostering community and private sector involvement in school reforms. In 2013, USAID and the Government of Sindh (GOS) signed a memorandum of understanding to implement the comprehensive Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP), now one of the major bi-lateral initiatives that supports the government’s school reform efforts. As a major component of SBEP, CMP is increasing enrollment of girls and improving coordination between parents and educators, bridging the gap between communities and schools for the sake of quality education for all.

 One of CMP’s objectives is to supports USAID and GOS efforts to form public-private partnerships and obtain other types of cash and in-kind support. CMP assists the Public Private Partnership Node (PPP-Node) of the GOS Sindh Education and Literacy Department (SELD) to procure, manage, and monitor education management organization contracts, which outsource the management of newly-constructed schools. CMP is working with GOS to develop and implement a sustainability plan for reform, encouraging long lasting relationships between the GOS, private sector, and communities.

SCOPE OF WORK:

 The Contract Management Specialist - Education & PPP will be responsible to provide technical assistance and advice to the PPP-Node of SELD, GOS. The incumbent will be responsible for overall management of Concession/Management Agreements and Services Agreements under Education Management Organization (EMO) reform. The incumbent will assist in executing, monitoring and evolving, the education management strategy implemented by the stakeholders for the EMO program as per agreed timelines; procuring, developing and supervising the correlated information / reporting by liaising with representatives of the Independent Expert (IE), Independent Auditor (IA), the EMOs and the School Education and Literacy Department GoS.

 The incumbent will work in close coordination with “Contract Management Specialist – Finance” and report to Senior Education Reform Expert. This position will be based in Sukkur with frequent visits to Karachi and other places where Sindh Community Mobilization Program (CMP) is being implemented.

Responsibilities: 

• Take lead in supplementing efforts to conduct evaluations as per the Key Progress Indicators’(KPIs) as stipulated in Concession Agreement between government and Education Management Organizations (EMOs)
• Develop liaison with Contract Compliance Manager of EMOs ensuring compliance of contractual obligation and progress reports. Also establish bridge between contract compliance sections of SELD and EMOs.
• Provide technical support to SELD to develop and integrate contract management tools, templates, methods and processes for the engagement
• Assists PPP-Node of SELD in reviewing and managing contractual obligations of the parties; and provides guidance for continual review to ensure that all terms and conditions are met.
• Provide technical assistance to PPP-Node of SELD to prepare and disseminate information regarding contract status, compliance, modifications, etc.
• Provide support and technical advice to make observation notes, feedback and comments vide an analysis on the quarterly and/or annually performances reports of the EMOs by conducting field visits if and when required;
• Provides critical analysis on the performance on all areas of program management for the EMO Operated Schools
• Provide technical advice and assistance in solving problems/obstacles for implementation of concession agreement; Identifies risks and issues, suggests alternatives that lead to the best solution; Responds to complex inquiries regarding contract obligations and revisions
• Take lead in building capacity of CMP staff to conduct school visits in accordance with regulations of Concession Agreement(s).
• Design better industry practices for improved learning environment of Model Schools under CMP intervention
• Work with Contract Management Specialist (Finance) to assist in financial management of Annuity Amount Payment in accordance with technical and financial proposals of EMOs submitted under concerned RFPs.
• Provide technical support and assistance to supplement the GOS’ and USAID’s efforts to create and establish contract management system at Public Private Partnership (PPP) Node of SELD.
• Take lead in organizing round-table conferences, consultative sessions, seminars and workshops to explore and identify best practices to refine technical criteria for EMOs;
• Take lead in establishing relations with private education sector to sustain and expand the pool of credible organizations for GoS Policy Reform of EMOs.
• Provide technical assistance and support to the SELD in identifying and forming operational relationships with Independent Auditors, and Independent Experts to effectivity administer the signed partnerships/agreements for management of public schools.
• Provide support to the PPP Node of SELD for technical documentation, inter-and-intra departmental coordination for procedural matters, budgetary allocations, sharing of details, technical queries, etc.; and applying consensus-building skills to promote coordination among diverse interests and institutions for EMOs reform.
• Organize stakeholders’ sessions at provincial and district levels aimed at facilitating implementation of EMOs reform, acquiring support and endorsement of district administration, district education departments and harmonizing relationships among involved stakeholders.
• Take lead in organizing series of outreach campaigns and roundtables to expand the outreach of EMOs Reform in selected districts of Sindh, facilitating roles of EMOs District Support Committee, and to assist participation of prospective bidders in EMOs reform for effective management of public sector schools.
• Maintain records for correspondence and documentation in relation to established contracts and those in progress.
• Any other responsibilities suitable to task and commensurate with responsibility

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Education, Education Management/ Social Sciences, Project Management, Business Administration or related fields. 
• Overall 5  years of experience with 3 years of specific experience in contract management and school operation can be considered in lieu of Advanced University degree)
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of private sector engagement, vision of PPP Policy GoS; experience of linkages with major local, multinational, and global corporations, foundations, philanthropists’ networks, diaspora groups, social entrepreneurs and other private sector entities which support social development projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of social development initiatives, especially in education sector including Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts.
• Strong communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking with strong preference for knowledge and experience in communications for private sector audiences.
• High competency in spoken and written English, and use of computers and communications technology.
• Working knowledge and functioning of the GoS SELD and district administration.
• Archiving of reports, file management and responding to queries related to the EMO Program.