Jordan Enhancing School Managment and planning(ESMP)Project Hiring for Data and Knowledge Management Consultant at Amman, Jordan Full Time

Data and Knowledge Management Consultant

Project Overview

The Kaizen Company (Kaizen) is an international development consulting firm and an incubator for innovative, scalable solutions that address emerging market challenges and opportunities. Our proven solutions catalyze locally driven organizational and institutional performance improvements and establish communities of practice that facilitate peer-to-peer learning and the achievement of shared goals. We aspire to transform the nature and impact of development assistance and work to strengthen organizations and institutions through innovative approaches to organizational development, reform, and change.

The Kaizen Company is seeking applications for the Data and Knowledge Management Consultant position under a USAID-funded activity in Jordan. Kaizen aims to support USAID/Jordan to provide assessment expertise, technical assistance, capacity building, collaboration, facilitation, and training to targeted stakeholders and counterparts to improve existing management systems and procedures used by the Government of Jordan (GoJ) in the education sector.

Purpose of the Assignment

The ESMP Project’s objective is to develop sustainable system and process improvements related to school planning, design, construction, and maintenance, and enhance the staff capabilities within Jordan’s Ministries of Education (MOE) and Public Works and Housing (MPWH) to improve the school management and planning process, and the quality of school environments in Jordan. This project’s scope is to provide assessment expertise, technical assistance, capacity building, collaboration facilitation, and training to MOE, MPWH, targeted stakeholders, and counterparts engaged in school management and planning to improve performance and sustain these improvements.

The Jordanian Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MPWH) manages the school design and construction process through contracts with specialized architectural engineering firms and contractors selected through MPWH tendering processes for school building design, construction, supervision, and construction management. After schools are built, the MPWH and Ministry of Education (MOE) form a committee to review and approve the final work before officially transferring the responsibility of the schools’ operation to the MOE. There is, typically, a two-year defects liability period during which the construction contractor is responsible for repairing any faults in the building.

Scope of Assignment

The Data and Knowledge Management Consultant will lead data-driven decision-making initiatives within the MOE and MPWH, resulting in improved planning, construction, and utilization of ministry schools in Jordan.  The position combines data analysis with change management skills, using data primarily from the Construction Management Information System (CMIS) and the Education Management Information System (EMIS) and working with partners. The Analyst will lead the use of data to inform improved decision-making. The Data and Knowledge Management Consultant will work closely with the Planning and Procurement Lead and the Construction Management Strengthening, Expert.  Together, they will work with partners to ensure data systems are utilized and accurate.  The Analyst will work with ministry partners to develop key performance indicators and other key measures and reports that can enhance daily operations, improve budget planning, and identify future system and process improvement areas. 

Tasks

• Contribute to implementing and supporting an IT-based school planning and feasibility module within the ministry’s Construction Management Information System (CMIS).
• Deliver technical assistance, coordination, and training for initiatives directly related to ICT and data management technical expertise.
• Establish and oversee the design and implementation of an ICT-based knowledge management system for all ESMP activities.
• Create and configure technology that enables Physical Assessment data collection, including; cloud platform configuration, user role requirements gathering and configuration, relational database design and configuration, mobile survey, and tablet and email configuration.
• Deliver technical assistance, coordination, and training for initiatives directly related to ICT and data management technical expertise.
• Train and oversee field engineers completing Physical Assessments on all technical and ICT systems and processes related to data collection.
• Serve as technical support for Physical Assessment field engineers.
• Maintain the Physical Assessment database, including maintaining data backups and troubleshooting technical problems.
• Support data analysis and presentation of physical Assessment data.
• Coordinate with donors and firms supporting or supporting the GIS and EMIS systems in Jordan.
• Support the procurement of ICT-related items.
• Develop system update recommendations for the MPWH Smart-PIM application, including requirements gathering, user role and permission requirements, comparative analysis of technology solutions, ensuring technology and data compatibility with existing MPWH and MOE systems, and develop an implementation plan.
• Develop user guides and training for all relevant staff and stakeholders related to ICT and data-based knowledge management.
• Define data exchange protocols between MOE and MPWH.
• Oversee STTA completion of the Construction Management tool created for MPWH.
• Assist project initiatives to use data for improved decision-making in planning, budgeting, procurement, human resources, and management.
• Transfer knowledge to ministry counterparts by developing regular training, workshops, and peer-to-peer learning activities on the linkages between data and decision-making, as well as the practical application of continuous improvement tools in the school infrastructure (SI) setting.
• Carry out investigations of international best practices and techniques for information system and policy improvements.
• Work on the system and process improvements related to planning strategies in partnership with GoJ counterparts, including drafting standard operating procedures, instructional manuals, and other process documents related to the position.
• Deliver high-quality training, identify key learning goals, help develop structured teaching materials, and promote peer-to-peer learning with sustainable, formalized ministry-based capacity building.
• Engage and share knowledge with the relevant key stakeholders and donors to ensure coordinated delivery of activities.
• Contribute to identifying, disseminating, and sharing best practices and lessons learned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as software engineering, statistics, business, economics, or computer science; a master’s degree (in a similar field) is preferred
• 7-10 years of professional experience in relevant employment fields such as business analysis, consultant, and quality assurance, where quantitative analysis tools were used
• Training experience, including peer-to-peer learning
• Proven skills in managing system and policy improvement activities, including process and system improvement consultants.
• Experience leading change management activities, including incorporating data-driven decision-making into system processes and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to work with various government and donor community stakeholders.
• Effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to resolve work issues with senior counterparts, donor representatives, construction firms, and senior-level staff
• Excellent command of written and spoken Arabic and English with excellent presentation skills
• Familiarity with donor-funded school construction projects implemented in the education sector in Jordan is preferred.
• Possession of logical thinking with strong analytical and systematic skills.
• Prior experience working with USAID-funded projects preferred.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft, Google Suite, and Smartsheet products.
• Ability to organize work with minimum supervision.

At Kaizen, A Tetra Tech Company, we find strength in our diversity. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive working environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. We know that we can only do development differently if we are open to and inclusive of new and unique perspectives. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations to apply. Further, we urge parents and non-parents, married and unmarried, those from different or non-traditional educational backgrounds, and persons of all other diverse identities or experiences to apply. Kaizen is an equal opportunity employer.