Job Title: Project Officer – ECD Systems Strengthening Programme
Grade: CL
Reports to: Technical Programme Lead
Reporting to this post: Community Change Agents (where applicable)
Base: Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape
Travel Requirements: Frequent local travel across Kouga Municipality
Asset Responsibilities: Save the Children work tools and own assets
Child Safeguarding Statement
Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) has zero tolerance towards the abuse and exploitation of children by any of our representatives and is equally committed to doing everything within our power to avoid unintended harm to children through our work. All staff are expected to uphold SCSA's Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and associated safeguarding procedures.
Purpose of Role
The Project Officer will lead the day-to-day implementation of the Kouga Early Childhood Development (ECD) Systems Strengthening Programme. The role will support the delivery of a community-led, evidence-driven approach aimed at improving the quality, inclusivity and sustainability of ECD services across Kouga Municipality.
The postholder will coordinate project activities across ECD centres, caregivers, community stakeholders, local NGOs and government departments. The role will support ECD centre assessments, practitioner capacity building, centre registration processes, implementation of child development assessments, stakeholder engagement and strengthening of local ECD systems.
The Project Officer will work closely with Community Change Agents, ECD practitioners, municipal stakeholders, the Department of Basic Education and community organisations to ensure effective project implementation and achievement of project outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Implementation and Coordination
- Coordinate implementation of all project activities in accordance with approved project plans, budgets and timelines.
- Support the mapping, selection and engagement of ECD centres participating in the programme.
- Develop detailed implementation schedules and monitor progress against targets.
- Coordinate project logistics, training events, mentoring activities and stakeholder engagements.
- Ensure project activities are implemented in line with SCSA quality standards and donor requirements.
2. ECD Centre Quality Improvement and Registration Support
- Coordinate comprehensive ECD centre assessments and development of Centre Improvement Plans.
- Support ECD centres to strengthen governance, management and safeguarding systems.
- Provide technical support to centres working towards Department of Basic Education registration and compliance requirements.
- Facilitate engagement between ECD centres, municipal departments and DBE officials.
- Monitor progress against centre improvement and registration milestones.
3. Practitioner Capacity Building
- Coordinate delivery of training programmes on the National Curriculum Framework, emergent literacy and numeracy, safeguarding, health and nutrition.
- Support Community Change Agents and mentors in delivering coaching and mentoring support.
- Facilitate Communities of Practice and peer learning opportunities for practitioners and centre managers.
- Monitor practitioner participation and application of learning within centres.
- Document good practices and lessons emerging from capacity-building activities.
4. Child Development and Inclusion
- Coordinate implementation of Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) assessments and related data collection activities.
- Support centres to utilise child development data to improve teaching and learning practices.
- Promote inclusive early learning approaches for children with disabilities and developmental delays.
- Support implementation of referral pathways and linkages with specialist services.
- Ensure disability inclusion and safeguarding are mainstreamed across project activities.
5. Community and Caregiver Engagement
- Coordinate caregiver learn-through-play sessions and community engagement activities.
- Support establishment and strengthening of ECD centre committees.
- Facilitate community mobilisation activities that support early learning and child wellbeing.
- Promote meaningful participation of caregivers and community stakeholders.
- Strengthen accountability mechanisms and beneficiary feedback processes.
6. Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Development
- Build and maintain effective relationships with DBE, municipal stakeholders, NGOs and community structures.
- Represent SCSA in local ECD forums, coordination meetings and stakeholder platforms.
- Support coordination and collaboration between project partners and service providers.
- Facilitate information sharing and joint planning processes.
- Contribute to strengthening local ECD systems and sustainability initiatives.
7. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)
- Support collection, verification and reporting of project data.
- Maintain accurate project records, beneficiary databases and activity documentation.
- Track project indicators and contribute to donor and internal reports.
- Document case studies, success stories and lessons learned.
- Participate in project reviews, reflection sessions and learning activities.
BEHAVIOURS (SAVE THE CHILDREN VALUES IN PRACTICE)
Accountability:
- Demonstrates ownership of assigned responsibilities.
- Delivers high-quality, timely outputs with limited supervision.
Ambition:
- Passionate about strengthening child safeguarding systems.
- Committed to long-term, sustainable impact.
Collaboration:
- Builds trust with internal teams and external partners.
- Strong interpersonal skills and respect for diversity.
Creativity:
- Develops innovative tools and scalable solutions for safeguarding.
- Adapts global standards to the South African context.
Integrity:
- Exercises sound judgement and upholds ethical principles in all work.
Ubuntu:
- Centres the wellbeing and safety of children in all engagements.
Learning:
- Applies reflective practice and continuous improvement.
Passion:
- Driven to build a meaningful, impactful, and financially sustainable safeguarding enterprise.
Qualifications
- Diploma in Early Childhood Development, Education or related field.
- Fully computer literate
- Valid driver's licence.
Experience and Skills
- Minimum 3–5 years' experience in project implementation within the development sector.
- Experience working in Early Childhood Development programmes.
- Experience facilitating training, mentoring and capacity-building initiatives.
- Knowledge of ECD centre registration and compliance processes will be an advantage.
- Experience engaging with government departments and community stakeholders.
- Strong project management, planning and coordination skills.
- Excellent communication, facilitation and report-writing skills.
- Strong monitoring and data management skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
- Strong commitment to child rights, safeguarding and inclusion.
Contract Details
This is a fixed-term position linked to the duration of the Kouga ECD Systems Strengthening Programme. The position is responsible for supporting implementation of project activities aimed at improving ECD quality, school readiness, inclusion and local ECD system strengthening across Kouga Municipality.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Interested parties should submit their CV with a 1-page cover letter. Closing date for applications is the: 24 August 2026.
All applications should be submitted by email to: [email protected]
Please ensure that the subject line states: ‘Project Officer – Amanda Omoya Project’.
Should you not hear from us after two weeks from the closing date consider your application unsuccessful.