Country Education and Policy Lead

Country Education and Policy Lead Job Details | Plan International

Careers Home

About Us

The Organisation

Our Strategy

Our Approach

Our History

Our Structure

Annual Review

Finance and Accountability

Donate

Jobs by Function

View All Jobs

Emergency Response

Business Support & Administration

Monitoring, Evaluation & Research

Programmes

Finance

Global Influencing & Partnerships

Information Technology

Procurement & Logistics

Legal and Governance

Global Assurance

Human Resources & Organisational Development

Ukraine Refugee Crisis Response

Jobs by Region

Asia Pacific Region

Central and Eastern Europe Hub

Global Hub – Location Flexible

Global Hub – UK

Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa

Region of the Americas

West and Central Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

Careers Home

About Us

The Organisation

Our Strategy

Our Approach

Our History

Our Structure

Annual Review

Finance and Accountability

Donate

Jobs by Function

View All Jobs

Emergency Response

Business Support & Administration

Monitoring, Evaluation & Research

Programmes

Finance

Global Influencing & Partnerships

Information Technology

Procurement & Logistics

Legal and Governance

Global Assurance

Human Resources & Organisational Development

Ukraine Refugee Crisis Response

Jobs by Region

Asia Pacific Region

Central and Eastern Europe Hub

Global Hub – Location Flexible

Global Hub – UK

Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa

Region of the Americas

West and Central Africa

Frequently Asked Questions

Language

English (United Kingdom)

English (United States)

Español (España)

Français (France)

View profile

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Create Alert

Country Education and Policy Lead

Apply now »

Date: 10 May 2026

Location:

flexible, Cambodia

Company: Plan International

The Organisation

 

Plan International is a rights-based development and humanitarian organisation working for better lives for all children. We are independent of government and have no political or religious affiliation.

 

Our purpose is to strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

 

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries

 

Our global strategy has a specific focus on girls, as they are often the most marginalised and most often left behind. We have committed ourselves to the ambitious target of reaching 100 million girls over 5 years, to ensure they can learn, lead, decide and thrive. This is our contribution to reaching the sustainable development goals, and in particular the goals on gender equality.

 

  The Opportunity

 

Plan International is seeking 4  experienced and highly credible Education and Policy Leads to provide senior technical and policy leadership for the ASEAN–UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Phase II Programme—the UK Government’s flagship regional education partnership with ASEAN.

 

Phase II (2026–2029) will sharpen its focus on foundational learning, deepen engagement in priority countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Timor-Leste), and expand evidence-based approaches that strengthen national education systems and drive sustainable reform. You will play a pivotal role in shaping national education policy, influencing reform processes, and supporting Ministries of Education to deliver lasting system-level change.

 

In this senior role, you will,  among other things :

 

Provide strategic technical leadership and serve as the principal advisor to Ministries of Education on policy development, reform, and system strengthening

Lead high-level policy engagement and dialogue with government, development partners, ASEAN bodies, and key education stakeholders

Drive policy reform efforts, particularly in foundational learning, ensuring alignment with national priorities and education sector plans

Design and oversee targeted pilots as policy instruments to generate evidence, test innovations, and inform system-wide reform

Translate research, data, and programme learning into actionable policy recommendations and reform pathways

Lead the generation, synthesis, and use of evidence to inform education policy, planning, and implementation

Manage and coordinate national technical teams, consultants, and advisory inputs to ensure high-quality technical delivery

Facilitate linkages between country-level work and regional ASEAN SAGE initiatives, contributing to cross-country learning and regional influence

Ensure integration of gender equality, inclusion, and safeguarding across all aspects of policy engagement and technical support

 

 

 

Do you have what it takes?

 

To be successful in this role you will need among other things:

 

A Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Education, Education Policy, Public Policy, or a related field

At least 10 years of progressively senior experience in the education sector, with strong focus on policy, reform, or system strengthening

Demonstrated experience working closely with Ministries of Education and advising on policy, strategy, or reform processes

Strong technical expertise in foundational learning , including literacy, numeracy, and inclusive education

Proven ability to translate evidence, research, and data into policy and practice at national level

Experience leading policy dialogue and engaging with senior government officials, development partners, and regional bodies

Experience managing technical teams, consultants, or advisory workstreams

Familiarity with donor-funded programmes (e.g. FCDO, World Bank, UNICEF, USAID) and evidence-driven programming approaches

Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills; fluency in English is essential

 

Desirable :

Experience engaging with ASEAN, SEAMEO, or regional education platforms

Experience in policy research, political economy analysis, or large-scale reform initiatives

Exposure to multi-country or regional programmes

   

Location:                    Manila, Phnom Penh, Dili, Vientiane   (4 roles)

Type of Role:             Up to 3 year Fixed Term contract with the possibility of extension

Reports to:                 SAGE Phase II Team Leader

Remuneration:          Competitive salary and package available (local T&C)

Closing Date:            Open recruitment (until filled)

 

THIS ROLE IS CONTINGENT ON PLAN WINNNING BID

This is a national staff contract position under competitive local terms and conditions.   There are no expat benefits available.   

 

The contracting body will be the Plan Country Office

 

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

 

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy.

 

As an international child centred community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realisation of children's rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into

[Click the Apply button below to see the contact details]