The selection of an Operations Lead for the Education Modernization Office (EMO)

Terms of Reference: Education Modernization Office – Operations Lead Background The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has embarked on extensive and ambitious reforms in 2022, by launching three pathways to modernization: political, economic, and administrative. Two of the three pathways, the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV) and the Public Sector Modernization (PSM), prioritize reforming the education sector to better prepare local talent to meet future skill requirements and enhance quality of life. To actualize this vision, the Public Sector Modernization Roadmap has specifically addressed restructuring the education sector under its “organizational structure and governance” pillar. The roadmap proposes centralizing educational policy-making alongside planning, programming, and educational services to support citizens’ lifelong learning trajectories across all phases - from early childhood development and education to primary and secondary education, higher education, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). This will be done through establishing the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MoEHRD), which will have a broader mandate, integrating the mandates of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and partial mandates of other stakeholders in the ecosystem. The Government of Jordan has received financing from the World Bank through “The Modernizing Education, Skills, and Administrative Reforms” (MASAR) Program, which became effective in September 2024 and will continue until 2029. MASAR is a transformative, system-wide reform initiative anchored in Jordan’s EMV, and its operation is designed to support the Ministry of Education (which is the implementing agency) in addressing foundational bottlenecks in access, quality, and relevance of education, with a dual emphasis on equity and efficiency. The operation aims to strengthen institutional capacity while enabling measurable improvements in learning outcomes and employability, particularly through early childhood education and labor-market-aligned TVET. To drive and coordinate the transition of the education ecosystem, the Education Modernization Office (EMO) has been recently launched as part of Jordan’s broader public sector reform. It is a dedicated governmental unit established to oversee, coordinate, and drive the implementation of large-scale institutional reforms within the education sector. It functions as the central engine for alignment, execution, and coordination to ensure reforms are delivered effectively and in line with Jordan’s Public Sector Modernization Roadmap. The EMO provides central oversight, coordination, and governance to support the restructuring of the education ecosystem; ensures strategic alignment across mandates and systems; oversees change management and capacity-building efforts; facilitates evidence-based decision-making; and provides technical and operational support across legal, HR, operations, and policy domains to enable effective implementation. The EMO seeks to hire an Operations Lead to strategically oversee financial modeling and planning, asset mapping, systems and processes harmonization, compliance with financial governance standards, and facilities planning. This role ensures that facilities, budgets, and administrative support functions including systems and services are unified smoothly and that the new ministry is financially and operationally ready to deliver its expanded mandate. Job Overview The Operations Lead will oversee the integration of operations across the merging entities including finance, budgeting, systems, services, processes, assets, and procurement. The role ensures financial modeling and planning, compliance with governance standards, consolidation of budget structures, and preparation of physical facilities for staff relocation. Regular updates on risks, milestones, and readiness will be provided to the EMO Director. Key Responsibilities A. Operational Readiness and Effectiveness

• Ensure operational readiness for the new Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
• Map systems and processes in place at both the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
• Devise and oversee implementation of plans to merge and activate systems, services, and processes in collaboration with concerned departments and staff members

B. Strategic Oversight of Assets & Facilities

• Provide overall direction for asset mapping, facilities planning, and consolidation across merging entities.
• Oversee staff allocation and facilities decisions, including lease management and site assignments, and readiness of physical premises (Furniture, IT, and supplies).
• Guide the formulation and implementation of facility consolidation and reallocation strategies.
• Ensure readiness of physical premises for staff relocation, including furniture, IT infrastructure, and supplies.
• Provide oversight on office fit-out planning, ensuring design, layout, and connectivity meet operational needs.
• Endorse and communicate space allocation and relocation strategies.

C. Financial Integration & Governance

• Ensure financial modeling and planning efforts across merging entities.
• Oversee the mapping of existing budget structures and funding streams.
• Provide strategic guidance on asset and liability mapping and opening balance definitions.
• Identify and validate cost synergies and savings opportunities.
• Direct the integration of budget requirements and the development of a consolidated budget for MoEHRD.
• Ensure alignment with financial reporting and governance standards.
• Ensure cash management readiness, including banking infrastructure and treasury functions.
• Liaise with the Ministry of Finance, the General Budget Department and align with the Public Financial Management System.

D. Administrative Integration Oversight & Coordination

• Provide strategic oversight for the consolidation of administrative and support functions related to assets, finance, systems, and processes.
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration to ensure smooth execution and timely delivery.
• Monitor risks and report regularly to the EMO Director.
• Maintain proactive communication with the EMO Director, including updates on progress, challenges, bottlenecks, risks, and milestone tracking.
• Ensure timely escalation of critical issues and alignment with EMO priorities.

E. Procurement Oversight & Harmonization

• Ensure harmonization of procurement processes across entities.
• Ensure strategic alignment with Jordanian public procurement law and international donor requirements.
• Oversee the consolidated procurement framework to ensure consistency and transparency.
• Ensure procurement reporting and audit mechanisms align with the new ministry’s governance standards.
• Advise on cost-efficiency measures and long-term procurement strategies to support sustainability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or any related field required.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in financial management and planning, public finance, or procurement within complex organizational environments.
• Management and financial consulting experience in multinational corporations highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in asset management, facilities planning, and budget integration across multiple entities.
• Proven track record in financial modeling and planning, compliance, and reporting frameworks.
• Experience managing office consolidation and large-scale relocations.
• In depth knowledge of Jordanian public finance and procurement laws.
• Master’s degree in finance, Public Administration, or related field preferred.
• Fluent in Arabic and English (spoken and written).

Key Competencies

• Financial integration and governance
• Asset and facility management
• Budgeting, procurement, and compliance
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Stakeholder collaboration and engagement
• Leadership and supervision of finance/admin teams
• Analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills
• Strong communication skills
• Conflict management

Reporting The Operations Lead will report directly to the EMO Director. Duration & Location The assignment is considered as a full-time job, starting in January 2026 for a duration of one year, with the possibility of renewal based on performance. The Operations Lead will be based in Amman, Jordan. For submission info, Please refer to: https://moe.gov.jo/ar/international-tenders Agency: Ministry of Education Procurement method: Individual Consultant Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 37250.0 USD