Director, Community Outreach (GMG/SEG 2)

Summary

The Director of Community Outreach has responsibility for ensuring the timely appointment and training of school boards, two important legislative functions of the organisation. The incumbent is responsible to promote effective school governance through the careful selection of school board members who have the necessary expertise, and know-how. He/she is responsible to ensure that school boards are provided with the necessary support so that they can function effectively and thereby improve student outcomes. The Director of Community Outreach also has substantive responsibility to oversee the Community Outreach portfolio of the Council. This entails liaising with Regional Directors, Members of Parliament/Ministers of Government or his or her nominee to ensure they understand their role and functions with respect to the appointment of school boards. The Community Outreach function also involves ensuring that school board issues are amicably resolved in the shortest possible time. 💰salary range $4,266,270 - $5,737,658 JMD per annum

Responsibilities

• Key Outputs:

  • • Accurately prepared instruments of appointment.
  • • Error-free notice letters to school board members.
  • • Timely school board appointments.
  • • Updated school board directory.
  • • Suitable nominees identified to serve on school boards.
  • • Database of School Board Volunteers.
  • • Training workshops for School Board members facilitated within six months of their appointment.
  • • Strategic and annual operational plans for school governance.
  • • Policy briefs, position papers, and concept notes on school governance issues.
  • • Policy recommendations produced in respect of school governance matters.
  • • Annual award ceremony for school board members hosted.
  • • Staff appraisal reports.
  • • Individual work plan, mid-year review, and annual performance appraisal report.

• Leading Effective School Governance:

  • • Ensures that school boards are appointed on time in keeping with the cyclical appointment process.
  • • Ensures that all school boards are properly constituted through the prompt filling of vacancies resulting from death/resignation of a member or revocation of appointment.
  • • Prepares letters to Regional Directors and MPs advising of vacancies on school boards and requests timely submission of nominees.
  • • Ensures that a comprehensive database of school board volunteers is prepared outlining the names of appointees, name of school, school type, ownership, and location in respect of educational region and constituency.
  • • Sensitizes key stakeholders such as MPs, Education Officers, and Principals regarding their roles in the appointment process.
  • • Liaises with Principals to ensure the timely submission of Form Bs.
  • • Ensures that due diligence is conducted in respect of new volunteers to ensure that they satisfy the criteria to serve on a school board.
  • • Ensures that notice letters are circulated to Board Chairmen, Principals, MPs, and representatives of church and trust-operated institutions regarding the imminent termination of school boards’ tenure.
  • • Presents the protocol for the appointment of school boards to Members of the Review Panel and key stakeholders to facilitate the timely appointment of school boards.
  • • Arranges for the timely submission of the requisite forms by the churches/trusts as well as Principals to support a timely appointment process.
  • • Reviews submissions by the Review Panel ensuring names are accompanied by requisite forms.
  • • Reviews form Bs and compares with Review Panel forms to avoid duplication in the appointment process.
  • • Reviews instruments of appointments and ensures that they are accurately prepared.
  • • Ensures that new school board nominees are represented on the requisite forms and submitted to the Minister of Education (HME) for approval.
  • • Reviews letters to the Minister and submits to the Executive Director for signing.
  • • Reviews appointment letters and submits to the Executive Director for signing.
  • • Responds to inquiries by Principals, Board Chairmen, Regional Directors, Education Officers, churches, and trusts in respect of Board appointment.
  • • Establishes and maintains an effective records management system for school boards to facilitate easy retrieval of information.
  • • Ensures that school board files are periodically updated and all inquiries documented.

• Community Relations:

  • • Directs community outreach activities in respect of the school board appointment process.
  • • Develops and/or facilitates the development of appropriate/relevant modules to effectively train appointed school board members.
  • • Reviews on a continuous basis effective training programs for Chairmen and members of school boards.
  • • Monitors the implementation of programs at the national and regional levels to improve relationships between schools and communities.
  • • Records social issues which have a negative impact on the Education system and ensures that such issues are brought to the attention of Council through the school governance committee.
  • • Hosts award ceremonies for school board members at the end of their tenure.

• Strategic Planning:

  • • Prepares the strategic plan for the Community Outreach Unit.
  • • Prepares quarterly and annual management reports in keeping with the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act (amended 2011).
  • • Oversees the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation instrument for the school governance framework for the education sector.
  • • Ensures that key performance targets are met in keeping with the Councils’ business plan.
  • • Represents the Council at conferences and stakeholder meetings.

• Human Resources and Administration:

  • • Establishes objectives and performance targets for the Community Outreach portfolio.
  • • Prepares performance appraisal reports and conducts annual performance appraisal interviews.
  • • Assesses staff training requirements on an on-going basis and ensures provision of structured training programs and on-the-job coaching to develop required knowledge and skills.
  • • Ensures that staff is aware of and adheres to the policies and procedures of the NCE.

• Other:

  • • Performs other related functions assigned from time to time.

• Performance Criteria:

  • • School Boards appointed on time in keeping with requisite standards.
  • • Boards of Management of public educational institutions are fully constituted.
  • • Updated school board directory outlining names of volunteers, school type, location, ownership, and position of member.
  • • School Board members trained within six months of appointment.
  • • Enquiries are processed within 5 working days of receipt.
  • • Strategic and annual reports prepared in accordance with the Public Bodies Management and Accountability (PBMA) Act (amended 2011).
  • • Quarterly and annual reports prepared in keeping with the PBMA Act.

Required Skills

• Functional/Technical:

  • • Sound knowledge of the Education Act and Regulations and other related legislation.
  • • Sound knowledge of strategic and operational planning.
  • • Sound knowledge of community mobilization strategies.
  • • Sound knowledge of relevant computer applications and systems.

• Core Competencies:

  • • Excellent ability to lead and participate in cooperative teams.
  • • Excellent analytical skills.
  • • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including report writing.

Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s Degree in the Social Sciences, Education or a related discipline with at least 5 years’ experience in a senior management position
• • Teaching Diploma would be an asset

Additional Information and Instructions

• Special Conditions Associated with the Job:

  • • Normal office environment.
  • • May be required to work beyond normal work hours in order to meet deadlines.
  • • Frequent local travel required to attend meetings and stakeholder consultations.
  • • May be required to work on weekends/public holidays.
  • • Possession of a valid Driver's License and a reliable motor vehicle.

• Authority to:

  • • Approve expenditure within budget and financial guidelines for the Community Outreach Unit.
  • • Take disciplinary action in accordance with the organization’s human resource policies and procedures.
  • • Assist with the signing of cheques and vouchers.

Applications accompanied by Résumés should be submitted no later than Friday, 11th April, 2025 to: The Executive Director The National Council on Education 37 Arnold Road Kingston 5 Telephone: 922-1400-9, Extensions: 2031-2034 OR Email: nce.careers@nce.org.jm We thank all applicants for expressing an interest; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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