Team Leader/Senior Curriculum Development Specialist - Solomon Islands

Project: Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project (ADB-Funded)

Job Title: Senior Curriculum Development Specialist / Team Leader
Location: Honiara, Solomon Islands
Duration: 30 months

Project Background:

The Solomon Islands Senior Secondary Education Improvement Project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to enhance the quality, relevance, and gender-responsiveness of senior secondary education (Years 10-12) to support a climate-resilient economy. With the Solomon Islands facing growing vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters, the project supports curriculum reform to equip students with practical skills and knowledge for adaptive livelihoods and sustainable development. The project includes the modernization of curricula, improvement of assessment practices, development of teaching and learning materials. MEHRD (Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development) is the implementing agency, working in close partnership with development stakeholders and consulting teams.

Position Summary:
The Senior Curriculum Development Specialist / Team Leader will play a central role in leading the design and implementation of a comprehensive curriculum reform for senior secondary education in the Solomon Islands. As the project’s principal technical expert and team leader, the incumbent will be responsible for guiding the development of competency-based curricula, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international best practices. This role is pivotal to advancing the Solomon Islands' goal of a more relevant, inclusive, and climate-resilient education system that prepares students for both local livelihoods and global challenges.

This position involves coordinating a multi-disciplinary team of international and local specialists working across curriculum design, assessment, inclusive education, and climate change education. The Team Leader will collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) to co-develop curriculum frameworks, subject syllabi, and teaching and learning materials (TLMs). Stakeholder engagement will be key to ensuring reforms reflect national identity, cultural context, and equity-focused learning goals, including the integration of gender-responsive and inclusive pedagogical approaches.

In addition to technical leadership, the Team Leader will be responsible for mentoring national staff and strengthening institutional capacity to sustain ongoing reforms. This includes supporting the development of teacher training tools and ensuring coherence between the revised curriculum, associated TLMs, and student assessment strategies. The ideal candidate will bring a depth of experience in secondary-level curriculum reform, a strong background in team leadership, and a proven ability to work effectively with government partners and diverse stakeholders in low-resource settings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with MEHRD and other relevant stakeholders to lead the team in all aspects of curriculum development and related activities.
• Establish work plans, implementation schedules, and deliverables related to curriculum development, include inputs into the performance management system, and ensure the teams’ inputs result into expected outputs in a timely manner to achieve contract outcomes.
• Develop a detailed plan to transition from the old to the new curriculum and assessments, consulting with MEHRD, education authorities and schools – and support MEHRD with the implementation of the plan.
• Ensure the successful delivery of the pilots for the Climate Youth Ambassadors Scheme, Healthy Living unit and Homerooms is implemented, and the content and delivery strengthened before it is introduced nationally.
• Ensure quality control processes are in place for all deliverables.
• Ensure articulation with: Other project outputs, especially the professional development firm activities; Other organizations/stakeholders working in curriculum development in Solomon Islands.
• Supervise and mentor local curriculum writers and subject specialists, strengthening national capacity.
• Support the communications with all project stakeholders, MEHRD staff and development partners to ensure coherence across curriculum, assessment, and TLMs to support learning outcomes.
• Support monitoring, documentation, and reporting of curriculum development progress.
• Provide monthly financial reports of outputs to the PMU and contribute to quarterly progress reports, with inputs from relevant consultants and stakeholders.

  Required Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree in Education, Curriculum Development, Instructional Design, or a related field.
  • Minimum 10+ years of experience (15 preferred) in education development, preferably at the secondary level.
  • At least 8 years of experience in leading teams to develop innovative curriculum, particularly secondary level.
  • Experience integrating climate change, inclusive education, and gender-responsive pedagogy into curriculum products is highly desirable.
  • Experience with the education systems of Pacific Island nations is highly desirable.
  • Strong facilitation, team management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Experience mentoring and building capacity of local education professionals.
  • Excellent writing, communication, and intercultural collaboration skills.
  • Fluent in English.

    This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

    FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

    Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

    FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

    FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email CareerCenterSupport@fhi360.org.
    
    FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

    Please click here to continue searching FHI 360's Career Portal.