Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in low-income countries during two time periods which are most critical in a child's schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls' education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. By focusing on the quality of education provided within the communities and ensuring these outcomes are measured, we have created a model that can be replicated, localized and sustained by governments. Room to Read has benefited 10 million children across 17,000 communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia, and aims to reach 15 million children by 2020.
Position Overview:
The Literacy Program Manager is a member of the Instructional Design and Teacher Support Unit ("IDTS"), based within the Country Office Literacy Program technical team. This unit is responsible for managing Room to Read's program design and training curriculum related to Grade 1 and 2 literacy instruction and primary grade library management and reading activities. In collaboration with the Global Literacy Team, Global and Regional Programs Team, and Country Teams, the Literacy Program Manager, IDTS is responsible for providing technical assistance, support and supervision on all aspects of the program design, including professional development to school and Room to Read staff about reading and writing instruction and library management and activities. This position will be based in the Country Office and will report directly to the Literacy Director. The IDTS Manager will directly manage the Library Program Associates. I at the Country Office level and provide technical oversight and training at the field level. This position will involve frequent travel to field offices (Kibaha and Bagamoyo), as well as regular interaction with education officials, partners, school administrators, teachers and students.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Management and Coordination
- Supports, mentors and builds capacity of the team to continue developing their skills in understanding literacy instruction and library management from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
- Provides technical assistance to the team and builds capacity for developing manuals, training modules and documenting best practices.
- Development of appropriate teaching resources and instructional materials and ensure reading materials are appropriate and enhance the literacy and library experience.
- Plans internal conferences and meetings for staff.
- Participates in any other activities, which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.
Program Design, Implementation, Training and Monitoring
- As needed, conducts an analysis of government curriculum to identify gaps for developing literacy and librarian skills, identifying content and structure for teaching materials, and designing training and workshop modules for Literacy Coaches, Literacy Program Associates and teachers.
- Responsible for designing Room to Read's approach to teacher and librarian professional support to improve learners' literacy skills and habit of reading, adapted as needed based on research, monitoring and evaluation data.
- Ensures the quality of all Room to Read Literacy trainings. This includes designing and conducting direct training for teachers, librarians, and Head Teachers, as well as building the capacity of RtR staff or partner staff to conduct the trainings.
- Ensures global guidelines are being adhered to and adapted as needed.
- Provides literacy and library expertise to the Research, Monitoring & Evaluation ("RM&E") team to support the design, implementation and refinement of monitoring and evaluation systems and procedures used to track progress against planned program outcomes.
Planning, Reporting and Documentation
- In collaboration with the Literacy Director analyzes annual program goals and budgets to ensure alignment with organizational strategies and priorities.
- Collaborates with the CO Program Operations team on developing and providing oversight of the implementation calendar, budget, annual planning, quarterly reporting, and overall tracking of program implementation and spending.
- Prepares and review program reports and responds as necessary.
- Collaborate with the GO Development and Communications Teams to write program-specific portions of funding proposals.
External Coordination and Networking
- Collaborates with the government to build support for the program and identify ways to supplement and augment the government curriculum.
- Represents Room to Read by attending and speaking at relevant forums and advocates for the importance of Literacy program work.
- Liaises with other NGOs running similar programs to identify areas of knowledge sharing and possible collaboration.
Qualifications:
Required:
- A master's preferred, degree in Education or a related field of study, or equivalent experience
- A minimum of 7 years of professional experience
- Experience with reading/literacy or learning improvement programs
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of teaching methodologies, curriculum and teacher training at primary stage
- Experience with library programming (e.g. book leveling, library management, reading/library activities that instill a habit of reading in children).
- Experience developing educational learning materials for students or teachers at the primary stage
- Experience developing and conducting training programs for teachers
- Experience in developing and implementing programmatic improvements
- Strong planning, supervising, and program development skills
- Understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and process documentation
- Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people and organizations
- Ability and desire to travel frequently to visit school sites
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Preferred:
- Experience teaching at the primary stage
- Experience in developing and conducting on-site school support and coaching initiatives for teachers
- Development and use of observation and other monitoring tools and practices to assess progress of primary school interventions
- Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
- Prior track record of achieving results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:
- Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
- Be an innovative and creative thinker that tries new things and inspires others to do so
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
- Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
- Work well independently as well as part of a team
- Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
Compensation:
Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits; benefits including 13thmonth bonus, provident fund, health and accidental insurances for staff and their family; leaves and staff professional development. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing, transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.
Application Procedure:
Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with IDTS Manager in the subject line, totz.info@roomtoread.org or send by post to Associate Director Africa, Room to Read Tanzania, Post Box 105459, Ileje Street, Mikocheni B, Plot No 36, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. If you do not hear from Room to Read within one month of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Please note that late applications will not be considered and correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only.
Room to Read is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.
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