Deputy Team Lead - Syria Education Program III

About the role

Creative Associates International is identifying potential candidates for an anticipated Deputy Team Lead position on the UK FCDO-funded Syria Education Program III (SEP III). The program supports Syria's Ministry of Education and Education Directorates in education reform, foundational learning and sector system strengthening, with an expected start in mid-2027 and a predominantly Syrian, Syria-based delivery team. The role reports to the Team Lead and supervises technical workstream leads, advisers and technical assistance coordinators.

Key responsibilities

• Support the Team Lead in leadership, inception planning, mobilization and management of a demand-led technical assistance program.
• Coordinate technical workstreams and the specialist TA pool, ensuring timely work plans, well-scoped task orders and high-quality outputs.
• Work with Syrian technical leaders to co-design reform approaches and strengthen national systems while avoiding parallel structures.
• Lead integration of foundational learning, curriculum development, teacher competency frameworks, professional development, assessment, inclusion and safeguarding.
• Coordinate institutional strengthening assignments covering education planning, costed reform sequencing, public financial management, EMIS/data use and accountability.
• Use diagnostics, political economy analysis, stakeholder feedback and monitoring evidence to inform adaptation and implementation decisions.
• Oversee technical quality assurance, staff coaching, capacity-transfer plans, partner coordination and documentation of lessons and decisions.
• Support donor reporting, performance monitoring, risk mitigation, safeguarding, value for money and technical budget management under FCDO requirements.
• Act for the Team Lead and represent the program in technical dialogue with FCDO, Ministry leadership and sector partners in Arabic and English.

Required profile

• Advanced degree in education, education policy, public administration, international development or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible experience in education or public-sector technical assistance, including at least four years in deputy leadership, technical director or comparable senior management roles.
• Substantial direct experience implementing FCDO-funded programs (normally four or more years).
• Fluency in Arabic and English, able to facilitate technical discussions, workshops and government engagement in both languages.
• Ability and willingness to be based in Damascus and travel for program purposes, subject to security and organizational requirements.

Required skills

• Deep technical experience in education systems reform and at least two of: foundational learning, curriculum development, teacher development/coaching, education planning, finance, EMIS/data use, safeguarding and inclusion.
• Experience managing national technical teams, short-term experts, work plans, budgets and quality assurance in fragile or conflict-affected settings.
• Demonstrated ability to work with ministries and subnational authorities, facilitate co-design, transfer capacity and use evidence to support reform implementation.
• Preferred: experience as DCOP, Technical Director or Deputy Team Leader on an FCDO education or governance program, and experience with politically informed, demand-led TA and quarterly adaptation.

Recruitment is by expression of interest only; only finalists will be contacted, and the position is contingent on Creative's decision to pursue the opportunity and on FCDO procurement and contract award.