Lao People's Democratic Republic (the): Administrative and Finance Officer (Lao Nationals Only)

Franks Family Foundation - New Generation Schools Laos (NGSL) Pilot

Administrative and Finance Officer

New Generation Schools (NGS) is an innovative public-philanthropic partnership, supporting public schools to deliver high-quality education across the country. Established in 2011, the NGS Cambodia (NGSC) initiative has achieved immediate success and been placed at the forefront of the Cambodian government’s recent educational reforms. With thousands of kids already involved, NGSC is set to expand to 50 schools with two in every province.

As a core partner in NGSC, the Franks Family Foundation (FFF) is now establishing a pilot programme in Laos in agreement with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES). The FFF is a UK-based foundation working to make the world more educated, health and meritocratic, and has years of experience delivering successful education and health projects across South East Asia. You can find more information here – www.thefff.org

The NGS Laos (NGSL) pilot aims to achieve the same high standards of excellent teaching, facilities and governance so that Lao students can access the education they need to thrive in the modern economy. The NGS charter school model will work in existing public schools and expand on the national curriculum to also teach key skills in ICT, English language and STEM subjects. Through optimizing the allocation of existing resources and topping up modest philanthropic funds, and actively engaging with local communities and government, NGSL will turn public schools into true centers of excellence.

To achieve this, the FFF will need an exceptional NGSL team who can develop the programme through its initiation, planning and implementation. This will require building the organization, as well as assessing schools, developing technical proposals, curriculums and cultivating key relationships with the Lao government and stakeholders around the world.

We are looking for talented, passionate individuals who are natural problem solvers, who believe in the values and model of NGS, and who committed to achieving the highest standards of education in Laos.

Vision: Through NGSL, Lao youth will have the education and skills to compete in ASEAN's 21st-century economy in line with the achievement of SDG4, reducing poverty and vulnerability to poverty around the country.

Mission: To achieve our vision, NGSL pilot will aim to achieve the following:

1. Access: NGSL schools are equitably accessible for students, particularly disadvantaged students including girls, the disabled and those both in poverty and vulnerable to poverty.

2. Quality: NGSL schools provide a genuinely high quality education that both enhances the national curriculum with extra hours and resources for STEM subjects and English language.

3. Sustainability: NGSL schools achieve exceptional value for money, and can phase out donor support to sustain themselves through local government and community engagement.

4. Scale: The success of the NGS pilot can drive expansion around the country, and tens of thousands of young people access the high-quality education they deserve.

Administrative and Finance Officer

The role of the Administrative and finance officer is to support the Program Manager (PM) to bring the NGS model into the Lao education system. This individual will provide the day-to-day leadership and administrative supports that are needed to build the NGS Laos team and to plan and implement an exceptional pilot that will demonstrate the potential of NGS across the country.

If you are an innovative entrepreneurial leader, committed to delivering the highest standards of access, quality and engagement in education, we would love to hear from you. Post open to Lao nationals only.

Responsibilities

• Leadership and program support: Provide operational leadership and support to ensure high quality management of the programme including field operations, administration, logistics and procurement. Accountable to the Program Manager.
• Programme Management Support: Support the PM in proposal development including programme planning and budgeting. , ensuring the plan is aligning with the objective and goal proposal. Contribute to technical research and school needs assessments, supplier negotiations as well as programme implementation and M&E. Work with PM to support the development and monitoring of new and existing organizational plans and projects.
• Communications: Maintain and build Cultivate and maintain strong relationship s among internally within the NGSL staff and support the liaison and with with MoES, MoFA, MoF, as well as schools, other NGOsS and companies.
• Finance: Day-to-day financial and administrative management of NGSL. Conduct rigorous accounting, budgeting, and bookkeeping, manage payroll, expenses, and petty cash. Ensure compliance with INGO regulations and maintaining a state of audit readiness. Manage filing system and produce accurate financial reports.
• Administration: Provide support to ensure high-quality management of the programme including field operations, administration, logistics arrangement, and procurement. Coordinate with NGSL country team and HQ team to ensure the best administrative service. Responsible for processing official documentation for the programme (registrations, permits, etc) as well as for staff and consultants (contracts, visas, permits, leave records, etc). Manage office inventory and supplies. Responsible for recording, filing and storage of financial and administrative records.
• Human resource management: Support PM and FFF London team in staff recruitment for NGSL. Support volunteers/interns with the general reception duties and daily office support if need be. Assist PM on professional development/training program for staff and NGSL teachers.

Required Education, Skills & Experience:

• Relevant degree in business administration, development, finance or related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years’ of experience managing operations-related aspects working for of NGO projects or programmes in Lao education, supporting resource management, administration, and finance or /or accounting.
• Extensive experience in preparing proposals and budgets, programme planning as well as experience in procurement and supplier negotiations.
• Experience in networking and building strong relationships with Lao government officials as well as other INGOS.
• Strong financial skills and experience in managing programme and organizational budgets, as well as administration. Knowledge and experience of nonprofit financial and administrative regulations in Laos.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills, including high level proficiency in using Microsoft Office and accounting software.
• Proven experience of coordinating and working in team. hiring, training, and supervising staff.
• Native or fluent in Lao language (written and verbal). Fluent in English (written and verbal).
• Entrepreneurial mindset leaderwhich committing, to the values and mission of the FFF as well as the NGS model.
• Demonstrated knowledge about education and development in Laos.
• Energetic, innovative and excited by a challenging role.
• Excellent interpersonal, motivational and management skills.

Please send a short CV as well as a cover letter outlining your experience and motivation for the role as well as your salary expectations and current notice period to: chloe@thefff.org . The deadline is 10:00am Laos time (UTC+7) on Monday 30^th March.