Education Finance Network (EFN) Program Manager

Job Title
Education Finance Network (EFN) Program Manager

Business/Department
Dalberg Advisors

Job Category
Implementation

Location
Global (multi-location)

Closing Date
31/12/2024

Job Description
Shape the Future of Education Finance: Program Manager at Dalberg’s Education Finance Network
ABOUT DALBERG
We are a global group working to build a more sustainable planet and inclusive societies where all people can thrive. As a diverse, purpose-driven community of professionals, it works in collaboration with local communities and global networks to create bold and equitable solutions and develop the next generation of impact leaders. Dalberg brings together strategy and management consulting, equity-centered community design, data, research, implementation, and communications to achieve its mission of solving the most pressing challenges of our time through systemic change. We are from everywhere, at home anywhere - an African and American company as much as an Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and European one.

Dalberg is a place where a diverse mix of talented individuals are able to practice transparency and openness while maintaining independence of thought – whether it’s how you identify, where you come from, the languages you speak, the person you love, or the way you worship. Dalberg is a home where people feel safe, understood, nurtured, and encouraged to grow.

As a team of 610+ people from 55 countries, speaking over 90 languages collectively, with 48%+ female leadership team, Dalberg places diversity, equity and inclusion principles at the heart of our organization and the work we do alongside our clients, partners and communities.

Established in 2001 by experienced private sector consultants, Dalberg operates from 25+ worldwide locations. For more information, please visit Dalberg.

Project Summary
The Education Finance Network (EFN) was established with a mission to transform education financing and foster collaboration between diverse stakeholders to create inclusive, high-quality education systems. With one in three children out of school in low- and lower-middle-income countries, EFN addresses this critical gap by leveraging non-state resources and enabling partnerships that mobilize capital to improve educational access and outcomes for disadvantaged learners.

EFN’s theory of change centers on the belief that by convening a global network of education stakeholders, fostering collaboration between state and non-state actors, and sharing evidence of what works, we can build more equitable and sustainable education systems. Through open dialogue, transparent policy engagement, and technical expertise, EFN facilitates the alignment of resources and efforts to address pressing challenges in the education sector.

EFN provides its members with a platform to network, engage public and private sector actors, and work collaboratively on issues affecting the education sector. Members gain access to focused working groups on emerging trends, research, and opportunities for professional development. The Network convenes foundations, donors, impact investors, practitioner networks, and research organizations, all united by the goal of increasing capital and innovation in education financing.

Building on its success, EFN is now expanding beyond its initial development under USAID’s CATALYZE EduFinance program. Supported by new sponsors—the Swiss Development Cooperation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation—EFN is poised to deepen its impact and broaden its scope. Together with USAID, these funders bring unique expertise and resources to advance key focus areas such as scaling innovative finance mechanisms, driving greater inclusion in education systems with a particular focus on girls’ education and disadvantaged students, and helping to address systemic barriers to quality education. Together, they share EFN’s vision of mobilizing additional capital and fostering collective action to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive. Learn more about EFN and its ongoing initiatives here.

ABOUT YOU
Dalberg is seeking a Program Manager who will manage the day-to-day operations and activities of EFN. This will include building and maintaining strong relationships with our implementing partners, Steering Committee members, and community members, developing and implementing programming, overseeing all activities within a team of two managers, and disseminating information to team members and partners. The Program Manager will have experience managing small teams, work planning and budgeting, facilitating working meetings, presenting in global forums, liaising with senior-level stakeholders, cultivating donor relations, working in global development, education, and/or working with other communities of practice or similar networks or industry associations. This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of global development, education, and innovative finance, shaping strategies that can contribute to creating inclusive, high-quality education systems that empower disadvantaged learners globally.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• 5-7 years of relevant experience working on international development projects, ideally in the context of relationship management, project management and/or managing communities of practice, networks or industry associations.
• 2-3 years’ experience leading and managing a project team and budget/P&L.
• A passion for driving social impact and equity, typically evidenced by a strong interest in and/or prior exposure to global or local impact issues.
• Strong preference for past experience working on education, impact investing or innovative finance in Africa, Latin America or South Asia.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising and donor engagement.
• Demonstrated experience with stakeholder/client management and relationship building in complicated, cross-cultural settings and with diverse groups of stakeholders, including private sector, civil society, donors, development agencies and national governments.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills required, including ability to produce high-quality reports and deliver high-level presentations to clients, partners and industry stakeholders.
• Strong command of Microsoft office software: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Strong analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Experience living and working in different communities.
• Experience managing virtual teams is preferred.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
The Program Manager will lead the core EFN team, overseeing day-to-day operations, member relations, and programming. The manager will report to the EFN directors and engage directly with the Steering Committee leadership to provide progress updates and discuss EFN strategic planning. The Program Manager will work closely with the Knowledge and Research Manager, and Communications Manager to coordinate their workstreams and ensure overall coherence of EFN operations in line with SteerCo guidance.

Primary Responsibilities:
Community Management

• Lead the day-to-day management of the EFN, acting as the ‘go-to’ head of the community, with responsibility to ensure its success.
• Supervise the Research and Knowledge Manager, and the Communications Manager; guide core teamwork planning and ensure that EFN goals and objectives are being met by each manager.
• Lead EFN financial management functions, including preparing and managing the annual budget.
• Prepare and manage annual strategic and operational plans, working closely with EFN directors.
• Manage core team check-ins.

Programming, Knowledge Creation, and Member Relations

• Work with core team and implementing partners to implement EFN programming according to the operational plan, including running webinars, training programs, and other events.
• Support EFN contributions to key external industry conferences, webinars, and other events, in close coordination with the core team.
• Develop and maintain a deep knowledge of the global education and non-state education sector and ancillary service providers, including key stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key industry stakeholders and EFN members.
• Lead membership recruitment and relationship management.
• Lead regular calls and virtual meetings with EFN members.
• Drive ongoing community intelligence gathering, including key data for the member CRM, member profiles, and member interests.
• Actively recruit sponsors and strategic partners to drive additional EFN programming.

Governance

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Network funders, Steering Committee members, and implementing partner counterparts.
• Join and provide progress updates to Steering Committee meetings.
• Work with Project directors to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reporting and Supervision
The Program Manager will report on a day-to-day basis to the Dalberg Project Directors overseeing the Network. This role will encompass a range of administrative responsibilities, including:

• Ensure adherence to all contractual obligations and maintain strong relationships with funders, addressing any concerns and providing timely updates on program progress.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of the annual impact report, ensuring that all metrics and outcomes are accurately captured and aligned with funder expectations.
• Coordinate and manage the financial audit process, working closely with auditors to provide necessary documentation and respond to inquiries.
• Handle any other requests from donors and funders, ensuring that information is provided promptly and meets the requirements set forth in agreements.

The Program Manager will play a critical role in supporting the operational integrity of the Network and ensuring compliance with all administrative functions related to funding and reporting.

JOIN OUR TEAM
This opportunity can be based in any of the Dalberg offices with working hours between EST and EAT. This role can be performed virtually; however, we prefer candidates who are based in or near our offices in Nairobi, Geneva, or within the EST time zone. These locations are preferred due to proximity to funders and core team members.

Please submit your application at our Career Centre, by December 31, 2024. Your application should include a resume and cover letter.

Candidate applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Candidates selected for interviews will be invited for a series of interviews and a practical assessment to test analytical and conceptual thinking skills, and to discuss interests and experience. The practical assessment will include a written assignment with situational questions to simulate typical tasks involved in this role. Candidates will not be required to complete consulting case study interviews.

Employment in Dalberg's US offices is contingent on the candidate having the requisite authorization to live and work permanently in the US.

Owing to the large number of applications we receive; unfortunately, only successful candidates will be contacted.

Dalberg values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. Qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, background, or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy.

We have also pledged to three commitments for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) across the firm:

1. COMMITMENT 1: We commit to publishing internal Dalberg DEI reports annually, to hold ourselves accountable, report on progress and share lessons from our regional DEI plans.

2. COMMITMENT 2: We commit to delivering regular training for all staff (including leadership) on how to engender inclusive workplaces and mitigate unconscious bias.

3. COMMITMENT 3: We commit to addressing imbalances in how power and privilege are formally distributed and informally exercised across the firm.