Zambia Impact Network Limited (ZINL) works with the Ministry of General Education in its efforts to achieve universal primary education. Founded in 2009, ZINL is a Zambia-based non-profit organization that is working to improve the quality of education in Zambian community schools. ZINL works in Katete, Sinda and Petauke Districts in Eastern Province. ZINL is an equal opportunity employer. For more information see: www.impactnetwork.org.

Job Description

School Support Manager is responsible for overseeing special support programs for learners which include guidance counseling and child protection programming as well as child protection casework in Impact Network Schools. The key aim of this role is to ensure high quality and thoughtful prevention and intervention programming for Impact Network schools.

Responsibilities and expectations include:

• Coordinate and provide support to the school leadership team on school support programs. These programs include, life skills and sexuality workshops, boys and girls club as well as child protection support and counseling.
• Review weekly and monthly data regarding child protection efforts to provide feedback to the school on how they can better support teachers and students.
• Work closely with other School Support Managers to ensure continuity of programming across all Impact Network Schools.
• Work with school guidance teacher when conducting child protection training.
• Support each school in monitoring and improving their compliance with safeguarding standards.

Oversee Child Protection Programming and Cases:

• Report and manage all fast track cases or incidents of child protection work with designated staff on further investigations including, but not limited to:
• Leading on the implementation of and compliance with IN’s Child Protection and Adult Safeguarding policies.
• Promote awareness of best practices in child protection to drive compliance.
• Provide empathetic guidance and counselling to any student or staff impacted by a safeguarding concern, ensuring they have the support they need and coordinating external referrals where required.
• Promoting Child protection activities and working with field staff to prevent and address Child Protection cases.
• Ensure continual implementation of the Child Protection Policy including training, sensitizations and advocacy.
• Practice clear communication with direct supervisors and stakeholders.
• Coordinate and conduct initial investigation of child abuse allegations to determine if external or internal measures are necessary.
• Ensure a high standard of confidentiality in all reporting, and oversee the accuracy and secure record-keeping of safeguarding incident reports.
• Conduct follow-ups and home visits as needed and with the district Social Welfare on matters regarding: child sexual abuse, neglect etc.
• Support the school leadership to respond to non -fast track cases.
• Conduct thorough and professional investigations, summarized into clear case management tools.
• Serve as the Child Protection Focal Person for the cluster, delivering child protection training in collaboration with School Focal Persons and leading investigations and case management.

General:

• Ensure all reporting is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Support the Academic Team in developing teacher training content and ensure effective monthly and termly teacher training sessions.
• Additional tasks based on organization needs

Requirements

• Candidates should possess a primary education diploma and have 2+ years relevant work experience in primary education or social work.
• Experience in child protection.
• Ability to build effective working relationships and present diplomatic solutions to obstacles encountered.
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal in Cinyanja and English.
• Tech skills: Typing, E-mail, Word, Excel, smartphone apps.
• Punctuality, reliability and attention to detail.
• Exceptionally organized with strong time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• The ability to troubleshoot and provide reasonable solutions as problems arise.
• Willing to work weekends.
• Experience working in rural settings with minimal resources a plus.
• Class A license for a motorbike will be an added advantage

This position is based in Eastern Province.