Lead – Education Uninterrupted

• PositionLead – Education Uninterrupted
• CompanyPlan International
• LocationUganda (flexible location)
• Job TypeFull-time permanent or maximum fixed-term contract
• CategoryEducation, International Development Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryInternational development and humanitarian assistance
• DepartmentNot stated in the advert.
• DeadlineThursday, 12 November 2026

Plan International works with girls, young people and communities to advance children’s rights and equality for girls. Its work addresses barriers such as poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination, and supports children through development and crises.

The organisation describes a global network active in more than 80 countries, combining community relationships and partnerships with efforts to influence change. Its stated approach is to stay responsive to local priorities while contributing to broader progress for girls and young people.

The Lead – Education Uninterrupted provides global thematic leadership for Plan International’s Education and Early Childhood Development portfolio and strategic direction for its Education Uninterrupted Scalable Programme Model. The role draws on global evidence, implementation learning, emerging practice and the lived experiences of children, young people, educators and communities to keep the organisation’s approach relevant and responsive across development, humanitarian and fragile settings. It also shapes global positioning and investment in inclusive education.

Working across the federation, the postholder collaborates with Regional Hubs, Country Offices, National Organisations, Global Affairs, MERL, Fundraising and external partners. The lead strengthens programme quality, evidence generation, policy influence and resource mobilisation, while building consensus across a complex organisation. The work includes supporting adaptation and scale, informing programme design and standards, and connecting education priorities with humanitarian response, child protection, gender equality, inclusion, SRHR/CSE and youth economic empowerment.

• Lead development and evolution of the Education Uninterrupted Scalable Programme Model, aligning its vision, ambition, value proposition and programme approach with Plan International’s Global Strategy and organisational priorities.
• Translate global education evidence, programme learning and implementation experience into strategic direction, technical standards, guidance and programme approaches.
• Develop and refine theories of change, pathways to impact and evidence-based programme models addressing barriers to learning, including gender, disability, poverty, displacement and language.
• Define and strengthen Plan International’s distinctive contribution to education and ECD, articulating a compelling global account of impact and comparative advantage.
• Drive continuous improvement by ensuring learning, evidence and innovation from country programmes inform strategy, programme design, standards and global positioning.
• Provide global technical leadership on inclusive, quality and uninterrupted education across development, humanitarian and fragile settings.
• Champion gender-transformative, rights-based, disability-inclusive and youth-led approaches across education programming.
• Promote innovative education approaches, including digital and technology-enabled learning, flexible learning pathways and youth-centred solutions.
• Lead the development of investment cases, resource mobilisation strategies and donor propositions that strengthen support for education programming.
• Translate programme results, evidence and learning into narratives for fundraising, advocacy, partnerships and external engagement.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with donors, foundations, multilateral organisations, education networks, academic institutions and civil society partners.
• Represent Plan International in global education and ECD forums, alliances and networks, influencing sector debates and strengthening organisational profile and thought leadership.
• Collaborate with Regional Hubs, Country Offices and National Organisations to support quality implementation, scale, adaptation and learning across the federation.
• Work with Global Affairs, Fundraising, MERL and technical networks to support coherent positioning, evidence generation and knowledge sharing.
• Lead collection, analysis and interpretation of programme performance, outcomes and learning data, using insights to strengthen impact and influence.
• Ensure alignment between Education Uninterrupted and wider priorities, including humanitarian response, child protection, SRHR/CSE, gender equality, inclusion and youth economic empowerment.
• Foster collaboration, consensus and shared ownership across the federated organisation, driving alignment through technical leadership, influence and partnership.
• Develop strategic briefings, thought leadership products, technical guidance and recommendations for senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Champion safeguarding, gender equality, inclusion and ethical conduct throughout programme design, implementation and partnerships.

Required Education

• Education requirements are not stated in the advert.

Work Experience

• Significant strategic and technical experience in Education and Early Childhood Development programming within international development, humanitarian or related sectors.
• Experience working across resource-constrained, fragile, conflict-affected and humanitarian settings.
• Experience developing, adapting and scaling programme models, and using evidence, monitoring, evaluation and learning to improve programmes.
• Experience shaping strategy and influencing programme direction across multiple countries, regions or global portfolios.
• Strong partnership development experience with donors, foundations, philanthropic organisations, governments, NGOs and other strategic stakeholders.
• Experience contributing to innovative and diversified funding approaches for education programming.

Additional Requirements

• Strong expertise in inclusive, quality education and approaches that prevent and address learning disruptions.
• Demonstrated use of gender-transformative, rights-based and inclusive approaches in education programming.
• Strong understanding of barriers to education access and completion for children and young people, particularly girls and marginalised groups.
• Ability to turn technical evidence and programme learning into practical guidance, strategic positioning and resource mobilisation narratives.
• Experience working through collaboration, partnership and influence to achieve results.
• Desirable: experience supporting multi-country education programmes or global portfolios.
• Desirable: experience representing organisations or influencing education policy.
• Desirable: knowledge of education in emergencies, humanitarian education and digital learning.
• Desirable: experience across development and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience engaging with professional networks, technical communities and sector partnerships to advance organisational objectives.
• The employing location must be an office able to employ on behalf of the Global Hub, and applicants must already have the right to work and live in that location.

Technical Skills

• Inclusive education and ECD: Apply technical knowledge to quality and uninterrupted learning programmes.
• Programme model design: Develop theories of change, pathways to impact, standards and scalable approaches.
• Evidence and learning: Interpret programme evidence, performance and outcomes to improve design and influence.
• Resource mobilisation: Develop investment cases, donor propositions and funding narratives.
• Strategic communication: Prepare briefings, technical guidance, thought leadership and recommendations.
• Education innovation: Support digital learning, flexible pathways and youth-centred solutions.

Soft Skills

• Leadership and influence: Build consensus and alignment across a federated, matrixed organisation.
• Partnership building: Develop constructive relationships across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Facilitation: Enable collaboration, shared ownership and learning.
• Strategic thinking: Apply strong analytical, strategic and problem-solving capabilities.
• Communication: Represent the organisation and communicate clearly in writing and verbally.

The salary and employment benefits depend on the employing location and will be disclosed to applicants. Specific benefits are not stated in the advert.

• Shape a global education agenda focused on children and young people, especially girls and learners facing barriers.
• Lead the evolution of an organisation-wide scalable programme model.
• Work across development, humanitarian and fragile settings.
• Bring country learning and evidence into global strategy and programme standards.
• Collaborate with teams across Plan International’s global federation.
• Contribute to policy influence, partnerships and investment in education.
• Support inclusive, rights-based and gender-transformative education approaches.

Submit your application through the official Plan International vacancy page. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the organisation may close the advert early. The stated closing date is 12 November 2026.

• Checked on 4 November 2026 against Plan International's official advert.
• Closing date confirmed as 12 November 2026. NextRoleHub closes the listing at 23:59 Kampala time that day.
• The application link goes to the employer's own page or email. Applying is free; report anyone who asks for money.
• Before you apply, read our guide: How to find NGO jobs in Uganda. Work out your pay with the take-home pay calculator.