Program Lead

About Development Gateway and the Early Grade Education Activity (EGEA) Development Gateway: An IREX Venture (DG) is an international non-profit organization with approximately 80 team members based in more than 10 countries worldwide. By leveraging the combination of programmatic and IT developer capacity and skills within DG, over the last 20 years we have researched data ecosystems, built digital tools to support those data ecosystems, and advised on data strategy and digital transformation to strengthen decision-making, transparency, and service delivery. DG is one of several consortium partners, led by IREX , implementing the Early Grade Education Activity (EGEA, also known as ‘ASAS’) program in Jordan between 2023-2028, funded by the U.S. Department of State. As a large-scale development program, ASAS is a complex, high-paced and outcome-oriented initiative. The consortium itself comprises well over 50 individuals working on the program at any given time (based both in Jordan and abroad). From DG’s side alone, there are likely to be approximately 8-10 personnel supporting implementation at any given time, with at least 3 staff based in Amman including the Program Lead. The overarching objective of ASAS is to improve the quality of early grades (K-G3) education outcomes for children in Jordan. The program aims to achieve this objective by supporting the education of student teachers while they are still at university (pre-service teachers), and also by supporting early grades students and teachers (in-service teachers). DG’s role within the consortium is focused on enhancing data use among various systems and data sources in Jordan’s education sector. DG will enhance user-centered digital solutions to support local actors in mapping the data landscape and improving data systems’ utility and interoperability. DG will also work with various actors in Jordan to support the digitization of institutional data systems, including quality assurance processes and assessment where needs are identified. Lastly, DG will also support integration and alignment of the national AI policy into the education sector by conducting a series of AI readiness diagnostics and sandboxing exercises at the Ministry of Education (MoE) and University level to explore the feasibility of integrating automation safely and effectively into key functions. Job description This is an exciting opportunity for someone who, through substantial experience in the education and/or digital sectors in Jordan, has developed strong strategic skills. We are looking for a senior professional based in Amman who is equally comfortable working on big picture strategic issues and complex technical details. Someone who brings deep subject-matter expertise in education and/or digital policy in Jordan while operating seamlessly in an advisory capacity to steer complex conversations, build multi-stakeholder consensus, and align technical work with overarching program objectives. As our program lead in Jordan, you will serve in a pivotal leadership capacity, managing DG’s arm of the ASAS program, bridging relationships both within the consortium and with external partners, strategic positioning, and technical execution. You will guide and mentor technical experts across both DG and IREX, ensuring diverse technical perspectives remain tightly focused, complementary, and directly linked to project goals. You will report to DG’s Deputy Director of Programs (based in the UK) while working in close daily alignment with Jordan country leadership and consortium partners. The role is embedded within the ASAS project office in Amman, Jordan, where you will regularly work alongside 30+ Jordan-based staff to ensure complete strategic and operational synergy. At DG, we are a creative, dynamic, and globally distributed team that values hard work, innovative thinking, proactive problem-solving, and a strong sense of humor. We are seeking an exceptional interlocutor and leader to serve as our primary strategic representative for the ASAS program in Amman. The work you get to do Project management and delivery Lead day-to-day management of DG’s activities under ASAS in Jordan, ensuring timelines, deliverables, and budgets are met. Develop, maintain, and update work plans, activity trackers, and budgets in close coordination with the Senior Program Coordinator. Ensure timely submission of programmatic reporting (quarterly and annual), coordinating across DG staff and partners. Coordinate weekly internal check-ins and quarterly meetings, ensuring smooth flow of information and accountability across teams. Identify gaps in capacity or expertise and flag the need for consultant support or additional hiring. Keep a strategic eye on progress, adjusting direction as needed to reflect new priorities or contextual realities. Support set-up and management of additional DG programs in Jordan or the broader MENA region as required. Strategic advisory & oversight Maintain a strategic view across all DG-led workstreams within ASAS, focusing on future opportunities and risks, and considering the impact on programming and recommending adjustments accordingly. Take a proactive approach to leadership, continuously critically assessing progress to foresee institutional shifts and plan strategically, while remaining comfortable diving deep into technical and operational details when bottlenecks arise. Identify emerging political, institutional, and technical risks early, framing proactive solutions and adjusting program direction to mirror shifting contextual realities. Provide analytical inputs into, and undertake quality review of, external-facing knowledge products, publications, briefs and blogs. Contribute expertise to relevant business development opportunities in Jordan, across the MENA region, and in your areas of strategic expertise as needed. Stakeholder convening & steering Act as a primary facilitator to convene working groups, structure strategic dialogues, and steer technical discussions toward actionable, high-impact outcomes. Drive relationships with government counterparts (such as the Ministry of Education and Queen Rania Center) and partner university leadership to align digital and data initiatives with national policies Represent DG and present ASAS’s impact at external events, potentially internationally, as required. Partnership building and maintenance Serve as DG’s embedded lead within the IREX-hosted ASAS office in Amman, Jordan, contributing to office culture and ensuring DG’s work is fully-integrated and aligned with other consortium partners. Mentor and guide technical experts from both DG and IREX, fostering collaborative, complementary working relationships across organizational lines and steering experts toward shared objectives. Represent DG externally in meetings and contribute to external communications content for the program. Following IREX’s lead, engage with Jordan’s MoE (e.g., Queen Rania Center, Examination and Testing Department, Planning and Statistics Department) and other key government and university stakeholders on project activities; maintain proactive, transparent communication to build trust. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications and experience requirements Experience: 8+ years of experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, with a proven track record of managing high-level institutional relationships. Government & Sector Expertise: Demonstrable experience building strategic relationships with government stakeholders in Jordan (particularly the Ministry of Education or related entities), alongside deep domain experience in digital policy, data ecosystems, or early grade education. Language & Communication: Professional fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English, with superior communication and diplomacy skills. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Education, Information Systems, STEM, or a related discipline required. Adaptability: Willing and able to support DG priorities in Jordan and MENA beyond ASAS as required, including potential travel to events and conferences, and supporting business development efforts. Preferred (desirable) qualifications Master’s degree in education, public policy, or a tech-related discipline. Experience designing and/or conducting qualitative research and assessments and trainings. Demonstrable AI policy/AI in education experience. International experience. Position Details This is a full-time staff position (not consultancy), embedded in the ASAS office in Amman. The expected annual salary range is USD 55,000–69,000, depending on relevant experience.