Purpose of the job:
The Pedagogical Manager’s primary responsibility is to work across projects to ensure the creation, development, improvement, and evaluation of pedagogical content used throughout multiple different projects. They are also responsible for the management of the team of trainers/pedagogical coordinators who are implementing the field activities. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Pedagogical Manager contributes to the mission development. They will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Mission and in close collaboration with the Programme Manager in Kosovo and the Pedagogical Team based at PLAY International’s HQ in France.
Context of the position:
PLAY International is a secular and apolitical French NGO founded in 1999 on the idea that sport could be a catalyst for social change. Its main objective is to promote sport and play as tools to educate, integrate, and empower young people and children. Since then, the NGO has developed and managed education projects in a dozen countries for the benefit of over a million children. PLAY International currently has 5 missions (France, Burundi, Kosovo, Senegal, and the Comoros Islands) and a Lab (Playlab).
PLAY International has been active in Kosovo since 2002. In a multi-ethnic context with a population facing challenges around discrimination and exclusion, sport is an opportunity in Kosovo to bring people from different backgrounds and communities together, and the pedagogical content used by PLAY is a tool to empower trainees to build a more inclusive society. The Pedagogical Manager needs to be aware of the multi-cultural and sensitive context within which they will be operating and work closely with the local staff, stakeholders, and beneficiaries.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
1. CREATION, DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT (cross-cutting – 50%) In close collaboration with the pedagogical team in Kosovo and the Pedagogical Referent in France, create, review, and finalise the pedagogical content of the various projects. Ensure the quality and adaptation to local context of the content being used in all projects within the region. This includes:
- Developing a calendar of pedagogical content creation across the various projects being implemented, together with the Programme Manager;
- Ensuring the calendar is respected and content is created on time;
- Carrying out assessments of the local context to ensure pedagogical content is adapted to regional needs;
- Reviewing existing pedagogical material (including the catalogues of games and handbooks for volunteers and teachers) and adapting the material to the new needs/objectives/strategy, together with pedagogical staff;
- Developing new and innovative content (thematic sheets, workshop sessions, new games, etc.) together with pedagogical staff, for the HQ Pedagogical Referent to validate;
- Designing training curricula in a logical and progressive way;
- Writing applications to the Ministry of Education for all new content to be officially accredited for use;
- Developing tools to monitor and evaluate the pedagogical aspects of projects (qualitative and quantitative), including questionnaires on workshops and seminars, assessment grids to evaluate field work of volunteers and teachers etc.;
- Supporting the analysis of the collected material and the reporting processes.
2. TEAM MANAGEMENT & STAFF CAPACITY BUILDING (cross-cutting – 30%)
Supporting the analysis of the collected material and the reporting processes.
- Designing the mission’s common pedagogical guidelines and tools ensuring the quality of the trainings, the trainers’ competencies, and commitments (including gender awareness and equality, communities’ inclusion, and non-discrimination, etc.);
- Training and upskilling pedagogical staff according to needs (presentation skills, evaluation of trainees in the field, conflict resolution, building motivation of beneficiaries, etc.).
- Contributing to the capacity building of local and international staff on cross-cutting themes (including gender awareness and equality, inclusion and non-discrimination, etc.) identified together with the Head of Mission and the Pedagogical team in France;
- Managing the pedagogical team (recruitment, performance evaluation etc.);
- Supervising and supporting a team of two pedagogical staff who coordinate the activities and are in contact with the participants and beneficiaries (task coordination, follow-up of field activities etc.);
3. PROJECT CO-MANAGEMENT & MISSION DEVELOPMENT (15%)
In close collaboration with the Programme Manager and the Head of Mission, contribute to projects regarding all aspects of pedagogical activities. This includes:
- Contributing to reflection on the Kosovo mission’s strategy and future orientations; including contributing to the identification and formulation of new projects to anticipate the pedagogical needs taking into account the project’s duration, objectives, beneficiaries, etc.;
- Contributing to the management of certain projects by supporting the organisational, logistical, and financial aspects of the project implementation;
- Contributing to the monitoring and evaluation;
- Contributing to report writing.
4. SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM (SMT) (5%)
- Playing an active and dynamic role in the SMT and in the organization at a global level to contribute to the overall success of PLAY;
- Attending and contribute to SMT’s weekly coordination and any other meetings as required.
Key Relationships:
Internal: Head of Mission, Programme team, Administration and finance team, Pedagogical Referent in HQ.
External: Adult, youth and child beneficiaries, local partners (universities, ministries, NGOs...)
Other important features or requirements of the job
A willingness to develop and grow skills and experience through training, collaboration with colleagues and initiative.
Ensuring safeguarding and guidelines are applied and upheld in line with organisational standards and policy for the following areas:
- Child protection
- Equal Opportunity and Diversity
- Health and Safet
- Information Knowledge Management
Operational project work requires occasional (or sometimes regular) work outside normal hours, particularly at weekends. TOIL should be agreed with your line manager in advance to maintain an adequate work-life balance. Postholders may be required to travel abroad on PLAY International business and should therefore hold valid travel documents.
Skills and Experience Required
Essential
Education and Knowledge
- University degree (preferably master’s level) in Pedagogy, Education, Sport, Physical Education, Social work, or another relevant field
- Knowledge of project management
- Good knowledge of development and cooperation, and/or of the Sport for Development and Peace sector
Professional experience
- At least 2 years’ experience in the fields of physical education and/or education through sport initiatives and/or non-formal education
- At least 1 year of experience creating and developing pedagogical content on relevant topics ( such as sport, inclusion, gender, anti-discrimination, peacebuilding, human rights, etc.) through workshops and seminars
- Experience managing a team and a project
Skills
- Pedagogical and trainer skills; creativity, designing training content, understanding of pedagogy, participative methodology
- Socio-sportive skills; ability to lead a sport session, work with different groups (youth, adults, teachers) in formal and non-formal education settings
- Good team management skills (good communication and relational skills, problem solving)
- Organisation and planning skills; management of stress and priorities
- Adaptation skills to local context
- High motivation towards the objectives of the Mission, strong commitment, and willingness to learn
- Strong sense of initiative and autonomy
- Teamwork
Languages
- Excellent command of English, oral and written, is mandatory for this role
- Working knowledge of Serbian or Albanian is highly desirable
- Knowledge of French is desirable
IT Skills
- Excellent knowledge of Office
- Experience with Canva and other design tools is desirable
Desirable
- Experience working in a multicultural environment
- Experience abroad (particularly in a post-conflict context
- Additional certification related to non-formal education
cdm.kosovo@play-international.org
