Program Coordinator-Quality Reading Material.

Delhi

Organization: Room to Read
Location: Delhi
Grade: Mid level - Mid level
Occupational Groups:
- Project and Programme Management
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: Program Coordinator-Quality Reading Material.

Location: Dwarka, New Delhi

Organization Profile:

Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income communities 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 during two time periods that 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. With its global headquarters in San Francisco, Room to Read till date has benefited 32 million children across 21 low-income countries.

Room to Read India was established in 2003 and presently has programs in twelve states – Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi NCR, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

By working closely with the government and other partner organizations to create equal and robust education systems that reach the most vulnerable children and improve teaching and learning environments and materials, as of 31st December 2021, Room to Read India’s interventions resulted in:

Establishment of 15,553 libraries
367,844 girls benefitting
Training of 31, 395 teachers in various programs
Tertiary education/job opportunities for 63.8% of scholars within a year after graduation
Publishing of 220 Room to Read India titles, and distribution over 9.35 million books

Position Overview:

Program Coordinator - QRM position will be based at New Delhi, Country Office, and report directly to the Associate Director - Quality Reading Material. The position will require some travel and networking with authors, illustrators, publishers, like-minded organizations, and education officials. The Program Coordinator will be responsible for planning and execution of national campaigns, capacity building workshops at state and national level, other events and collaterals. Support in planning and tracking of IC & budget, budget review and forecast.Oversee team to ensure projectsare on track, Inputs into QPR, budget documents, strategic documents, reporting etc. The person will also contribute on growth plans and custom project proposals, Capacity Building and Technical Guidance to QRM team and states team on quality reading material.

About QRM:

QRM create and publishes local language books for children between the ages group of 5 to 12 years. These books cover topics that capture children’s imaginations and make reading fun. Our goal is to inspire children to read, expand their minds, and develops a lifelong love for reading and learning.

Apart from publishing books for our libraries, the department is also responsible for procuring relevant reading material for the libraries.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Develop a thorough understanding of RtR’s Literacy program design and role of QRM within the program.
Plan, oversee and enable various events held by the department through the year, both at state and national levels, like Author and illustrator workshops to produce new reading material every year. Workshops for book selection for RtR libraries, both at state and national levels. Other events or workshops with stakeholders in the children literature field like publishers, other like-minded organizations.
Planning and organizing QRM Annual Events and/or support other events/webinars being organized by the organizations at national and state level.
The person will lead the development and publishing of RtR books as well as other forms of reading material being developed in the department.
Support and assist in sourcing, purchasing and distribution of books. Also seeks and arrange opportunities for book rights and licencing.
Leading the Annual Planning and Budgeting for the department and will track the budget, IC and procurements on a monthly basis.
Ensure QRM department is planning and executing book selection events on regular basis for all languages that we work in.
Explore and support the opportunities of co-creations, co-publishing, technical assistance at state level and national level.
Work with Communications Team on promotional material for QRM events, campaigns and as well as contribute on any need for various collaterals being developed by Communications Team.
Regularly communicate with Operations/ Administration/ Finance/ HR teams at the CO and State levels to ensure smooth execution of activities around children’s literature and other quality reading material.
Ensure proper reporting and documentation in the department.
Keep track of progress towards the defined and agreed outcomes.
To coordinate with the consultants in creation of material, as and when needed.
To read and update oneself regarding the current national/international trends in the field of children’s literature.
To read and update oneself regarding the current national/international research in the field.
Undertake any other work assigned from time to time to meet the technical needs of the organization.

Overall Technical Support, Guidance and Coordination:

Oversee Reading material and book development, review and ensure quality.
Contribute to preparation of conceptual notes, proposals, operation manuals/guidelines and workshop related session plan and materials/modules in local language.
Support state team in analysing and identifying the gaps/needs in the state with respect to good reading material. Design and develop state specific approach and scope & sequence to help build awareness around children’s literature need.
Provide technical support and assistance to the Program Officers, Associates, and state teams with respect to all aspects of the QRM.
In consultation with RM&E colleagues, support research and analysis, both at the local/field level as well as at the country level in the areas proposed for coming years.
Communicate with GO and other external stakeholders as per need.
Oversee any GO level need /requirement and workshops.
Identify the supplemental materials needed, both digital and non-digital for multiple stakeholders, including states.
Explore and ideate creation of new content or repackaging existing material/books, including for edtech platforms.
Assist reading supplemental material requirement in the program. Also participate in workshops/ discussions regarding decidable reading material need in the instructional program.

Qualification and Experience:

Required:

Bachelor’s Degree in education / Business Administration/ social sciences or equivalent
Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in developing good quality children educational/learning material like storybooks, textbooks etc.
In-depth understanding of the role of supplementary materials on reading skills and habits of children
Experience in book development and publishing and /or other educational materials will be a plus.
Good project planning and execution skills
Strong time and budget planning skills.
In-depth understanding of report generation and documentation.
Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Preferred:

Masters in education / Business Administration/ social sciences or equivalent preferred
Experience of state level government initiatives around library, reading material for children and its strengthening process.

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 non-profit 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 include thirteenth month bonus, health insurance and a retirement plan. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries on literacy and gender equality in education.

Room to Read has zero tolerance when it comes to child abuse and exploitation and believes that all children have equal rights to protection. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to the child protection policy, code of conduct and standards and will undergo rigorous reference and background check through third party. Background check will include the verification of employment history and criminal check. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Room To Read is a Child Safe Organization.

Application Procedure:

Please CLICK HERE to apply for this position.

Due to the high volume of applicant response, not all applicants may receive a response from Room to Read. Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

This vacancy is now closed.