TERMS OF REFERENCE
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR FOR FRANCE
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Academic Director (“AD”) is a senior position in education leadership. His/her main responsibility is to conceptually develop a vision, strategically develop support and evaluate the implementation of a comprehensive Religious Education (“RE”) system for pre-primary, primary, secondary students and young adults for the target ages of 0-25 under the aegis of ITREB France and in collaboration with the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).
He/she is responsible for the academic direction, quality and management of the RE system for the Target Constituencies. The AD will also be responsible for teaching the STEP curriculum.
The AD is responsible for ensuring the successful development and implementation of a comprehensive RE strategy, including the successful implementation of a professionalised infrastructure to support RE for the Target Constituencies across the Jurisdiction (France, Belgium, Switzerland and Ivory Coast).
This is a leadership position and the ideal candidate will combine both strategic thinking and strong execution skills at macro and micro levels.
The AD reports to the ITREB’s Executive Officer. The position is based in Paris, France.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Academic and Curricular Direction
Under the guidance of the Board, and in close collaboration with the IIS, the Education Officer and STEP Teacher(s), the AD’s responsibilities will cover the following aspects related to RE for the Target Constituencies across the Jurisdiction with respect to Academic and Curricular Direction:
1. Develop a vision for R.E that drives the quality of all programming in a manner that is consistent with the ethos and values espoused by the primary Ta’lim/IIS secondary curriculum and is resonate to the contextual needs of the various stakeholders.
2. Develop a mid to long term strategic plan in R.E for each of the various target audiences and stake holders towards the vision that has been created.
3. Implement strategies to ensure that the ITREB’s education professionals and voluntary teachers have the requisite conceptual understanding, content knowledge, and age specific pedagogy to effectively teach the curricula through regular in-class support and observation.
4. Oversee the implementation of a quality assurance framework ensuring that it is in accordance with the curricular goals/perspectives established by the IIS for materials developed by the Institute and IIS-specified quality assurance frameworks.
5. Take measures to monitor and ensure that RE instruction is in keeping with the ITREB’s authorised objectives. Where the IIS has developed curricula, these are to be adhered to.
6. Organise a structured approach to regularly refresh their knowledge, drawing on authorised subject matter experts (chosen from amongst ITREB staff, TKN volunteers,
IIS graduates, AKDN agencies and external institutions with prior consultation with the DJI and IIS).
7. For age-groups and programme formats where IIS-developed curricula have not yet been prepared (e.g., camps and other alternate models of religious education), prepare instructional content and pedagogical component in collaboration with relevant ITREB staff, the IIS and DJI.
8. Conceptualise, design and develop programmes and/or alternative delivery approaches to strengthen, enhance and/or make more effective the RE offering to the Jamat.
9. Under the guidance of the Board, serve as a dialogue partner on behalf of the ITREB with the IIS on matters requiring academic input and feedback.
Strategic/Operational Planning and Direction
Under the direction of the Board, and in close collaboration with the academic team, ITREB’s
Executive Officer and Board members in charge of the corresponding portfolio, the AD’s responsibilities will cover the following aspects related to RE for the Target Constituencies across the Jurisdiction with respect to Strategic and Operational Direction:
1. Propose annual operating plans and contribute to the budget preparation exercise.
Manage the RE programme budget and operations.
2. Ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the RE systems and manage its performance to attain targets and benchmarks of quality and access.
3. Analyse the programmes, activities and performance to identify gaps and opportunities, and organise their periodic evaluations.
4. Stay abreast of external and internal issues, trends and techniques concerning education and teaching, including as they relate to the teaching of religion and the humanities in the secular system, religious instruction in faith community contexts, etc.
5. Develop and enhance strategies for parental and community engagement to implement RE across all levels.
6. Prepare regular reports for the Board and for onward transmission.
7. Travel on a regular basis throughout the area of field operations, to observe programming and to interact with teachers, students, staff and, where necessary, parents and other community partners.
8. Collaborate to ensure integrity of data collection.
9. In the particular context of ITREB France, teach the secondary curriculum and drive the implementation of the STEP Programme across the jurisdiction.
Recruitment, Induction and Deployment
Under the direction the Board, and in close collaboration with the IIS, the academic team, ITREB’s Executive Officer and Board members in charge of the corresponding portfolio, the AD’s responsibilities will cover the following aspects related to RE for the Target Constituencies across the Jurisdiction with respect to strengthening of Academic Capacity:
1. Support the recruitment and induction of volunteer teachers, teacher educators, camp facilitators, seminar instructors and other educational personnel for RE programmes.
2. Organise teacher orientation and initial and ongoing training programmes, drawing on experts in age-specific pedagogy and content.
3. Create awareness about STEP and recruitment of STEP teachers. Working with the IIS, oversee the tasks that ITREB is responsible for recruiting STEP teachers, which includes managing the application process and provide comments. Oversee the selection processes and mentor candidates through their pre-programme and field research practicums. Serve as a primary contact while they are at the IIS, support them through the Field Research Teaching Practicum (FRTP) process and induct them upon their graduation.
Human Resource Development and Practices
1. Manage ITREB France’s Academic Team (including as of today the Education Officer and the STEP teacher) and oversee overall HR development required for Target Constituencies’ RE.
2. Supervise, mentor and coach the Academic team under the care of the AD. Be responsible for their professional growth; evaluate their performance, identify their needs and propose development plans. Facilitate their continuing professional development, including in liaison with the IIS. Foster a professional learning environment.
3. Work with the Executive Officer and the Board members on the long-term retention plans for STEP teachers and other ITREB Education Officer, ITREB volunteers along with developing HR policies appropriate for an educational environment.
4. Make recommendations concerning personnel and organisational matters, including deployment of staff and volunteers to enhance the quality of and access to programmes.
5. Make proposals concerning his/her own continuing professional development.
6. Undertake other assignments and duties, commensurate with the role, as directed by the Executive Officer, Chairman and/or Honorary Secretary.
PROFILE: QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES
The ideal candidate will be an experienced educational STEP teacher/practitioner and leader with several years of experience managing complex education systems and programming and a deep understanding of Ismaili Religious Education. S/he will have minimum3 years of experience in Education Management or Teacher Education, preferably in a religious education setting.
Familiarity with education for all age levels in the RE systems such as ECD, primary, secondary, adult education, is important. A proven ability to manage diverse staff and to develop, nurture and promote project teams and teamwork is important as is demonstrated leadership in implementing professional development for teachers, monitoring and evaluation of education programmes, and education/school quality and reform.
Experience with the Jamati system, either as a volunteer or professional, would be highly desirable. Awareness of the provisions of the Constitution of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and prior exposure to the Jamati RE system would be an asset but not a prerequisite.
Previous experience in mentoring and coaching more junior teachers is a must.
A graduate of the IIS secondary programme (STEP) with some additional qualifications preferably in education management, education leadership or teacher education, or a related field is a minimum requirement.
Familiarity with the French education system would be a plus.
In addition, the candidate has to be able to engage with all constituencies of the Jamat in French language and with some of the cultural contexts under the care of ITREB France
The following attributes and skills are essential:
1. Familiarity with and empathy for the Jamat, including cultural diversity within the Jamat.
2. Deep sense of responsibility, sound judgement, resourcefulness in setting priorities and discretion.
3. Good inter-personal skills in dealing with senior leaders, volunteers and staff.
4. Effective problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
5. Capacity to be effective through collaboration and teamwork.
6. Demonstrated good organisational skills and experience in successfully managing teams, staff, and/or projects.
7. Well-organised, self-motivated, able to multi-task, flexible, paying attention to detail, a “can do” attitude, a problem-solving mind set, and creativity in educational contexts.
8. Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. An ability to articulate papers / reports that are concise and coherent.
9. Comfort level with financial oversight and budgetary tracking to support strategic growth.
10. Comfort in working with computing, information and communication technology.
11. A willingness to travel 20-30% within the jurisdiction and internationally is necessary.
12. Working some evening and weekends for RE visits and institutional meetings is required.
13. Language skills: (i) fluency in English and proficiency in French in order to be able to engage in French with the all the constituencies is required, (ii) Farsi and/or Arabic would be a plus.
The candidate should be able to commit to the development of France’s religious education system for a period of 3 years minimum provided that the annual performance review is satisfactory.
The deadline for applications is September 15th, 2022. Interested applicants should submit their résumé with a covering letter to the Executive Officer of ITREB France at [email protected].
