South Sudan: Curriculum Development Specialist

Background

Democracy International (DI) is implementing the USAID-supported SUCCESS program which supports effective, representative and accountable governance in South Sudan. DI, in close collaboration with the School of Public Service (SPS) at the University of Juba, will implement a one year program to provide technical assistance to develop curriculum for NGO professionals which is practical and innovative. Through a partnership with SPS, DI is working to build and strengthen the skills of civil society professionals through an institutionalized approach to learning.

The mission of SPS is to build a cadre of skilled and dedicated public sector leaders. The School will offer certificate, diploma, and post-graduate degree programs catering to full-time professionals. Eventually, SPS also plans to offer programs in locations outside of Juba, as well as to provide specialized training including a track for CSO professional development.

Position

The STTA Curriculum Development Specialist will develop course materials, particularly case studies and practical exercises on at least three key courses to be offered at the SPS: (1) managing teams and people, (2) program evaluation and research, (3) project design and management, (4) leadership development, and (5) strategic planning. the case studies and exercise developed under this contract will be integrated into courses that already exist. The new materials developed via this contract are meant to augment, not replace, the existing courses and to increase the relevance of the courses to students from civil society.

This position will also be expected to plan, develop and produce the course materials within a specified timeline. The STTA Curriculum Developer will utilize best practices and adult learning principles to develop all instructional materials. The specialist is expected to work closely with University of Juba, School of Public Service personnel on design and delivery of the courses. The position will be co-located at the School of Public Service and will report to the SPS Director on all programmatic elements. Democracy International will provide administrative support to the specialist.

This short-term technical advisor (STTA) position will be based in Juba, South Sudan for a period of 3 months with the possibility of extension.

Responsibilities

Design

• Develop practical and engaging training materials (e.g., case studies and exercises) for adult learners. The materials should be relative to South Sudanese students and relate to the current development context in the country.
• Consult with faculty, staff and civil society groups when developing case studies and exercises to ensure relevance and effectiveness
• Train course instructors on the cases studies and exercises; also develop and deliver a comprehensive training program for instructors (through TOT) on best practices vis-à-vis teaching adult learners.
• In coordination with the instructors, pre-test the case studies and exercises with selected civil society individuals and make adjustments to the curricula before they are rolled out.
• In addition to developing exercises and case studies, help instructors develop/refine their courses and specific lesson plans to ensure they are suitable for NGO/CSO learners

Evaluation

• Develop and help implement a robust teaching quality assurance program tailored to Civil Society sector participants; train instructors on monitoring these aspects
• As part of that program, develop assessment approaches to evaluate the quality (including relevance and effectiveness) of course materials
• Develop and help implement a learner assessment approach that can measure learners’ understanding of the topic as it relates to civil society leadership

The current job description will be periodically revisited as needed to reflect current realities and project needs. Amendments can be added as required.

Deliverables

• Inception report – 2-3 page summary of consultant’s approach to achieving targeted deliverables
• 5 case studies/exercises (3 pages maximum- for each of the three courses listed above including accompanying materials, that will be integrated into the existing SPS courses)
• Instructor Guides to guide the delivery of the case studies/exercises
• Design and delivery of a 2 day workshop for instructors on the use of adult learning techniques, as well as on the developed case studies/exercises
• A 2-3 page summary report of the training including recommendations for follow-up.
• Pre-testing of case studies
• A 2-3 page summary report of the instructor assessment approach including recommendations for follow-up.
• A 2-3 page summary report of the learner assessment approach
• Final Report – 5-page maximum summarizing consultancy outcomes and recommendations for follow-up.

All deliverables should be developed in concert with the School of Public Service and submitted to Democracy International in a word document (font size 12) in line with deadlines outlined in the inception report.

Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Technical Skills:

• Experience fulfilling responsibilities related to curriculum development, pre-testing, assessment, and instructor training
• Experience developing case studies and exercises. Experience developing courses similar to the following will be viewed as particularly valuable : (1) managing teams and people, (2) program evaluation and research, (3) project design and management, (4) leadership development, and (5) strategic planning (these are the five courses the incumbent will help design)
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Education, Organizational Development, or related fields (Master’s Degree preferred). Applicants with bachelor degrees in other fields will be accepted if they have experience developing and delivering courses and course materials in the area of civil society leadership development
• Knowledge of the East African region and its development, with an interest in South Sudan
• Knowledge of current instructional principles applicable to instructor-led learning programs; knowledge and experience applying adult learning principles
• Minimum 3 years demonstrated proficiency in designing courses and course materials

General Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a dynamic environment; good organization skills and time management skills
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• Excellent oral and written English; excellent technical writing with strong proof-reading skills to produce error-free documents
• Ability to work well in teams; to build and maintain productive working relationships; to help colleagues succeed; and to promotes knowledge sharing
• Ability to analyze and proactively solve problems; seek out, evaluate, and synthesize information; offer alternative solutions; and exercise good judgment
• Ability to adapt to changing environments; resilient, positive, and flexible in the face of adversity

Because the incumbent will be working closely with the School of Public Service, s/he is expected to adhere to the School’s Core Values, found at www.SPS-UofJuba.org.

Interested candidates should prepare a 1-3 page cover letter outlining your interest in this position and list the three course curricula for which you are most qualified to develop.

Please submit cover letter with an updated CV which should include the applicant’s email address and telephone number, three professional references and their updated contact information to https://jobs.democracyinternational.com/ no later than July 15, 2015. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Incomplete application packages will not be considered. The position is expected to begin as soon as a qualified candidate is identified.

Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. DI is an equal opportunity employer.