Program Officer, Girlsâ Education and Gender Equality
New Delhi | Delhi
- Organization: Room to Read
- Location: New Delhi | Delhi
- Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
-
Occupational Groups:
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Education, Learning and Training
- Project and Programme Management
- Closing Date: Closed
JOB DESCRIPTION
Position title: Program Officer, Girls’ Education and Gender Equality
Location: Qutub Institutional Area, 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.
About Girls Education and Gender Equality Program:
Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Through our Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Program (GEP), we support girls to stay in school longer, progress towards completion of secondary school, and acquire the skills and agency (life skills) they need to make informed choices about their lives and realize their potential. Our approach allows these girls to be prepared for their next steps in life - be it tertiary or vocational education, employment, or domestic life - and become agents of change.
Our program prepares them to realize their own potential and take purposeful action towards personal and community goals. RtR implements GEGEP in a direct implementation modal as well as in close partnership with the government in two states in a pan state existence. The incumbent will be a thought leader of the issue and the organization at several levels and platforms.
Position Overview:
The Program officer at the Country office will be responsible for supporting the India Country Office in achieving the Country goals set out for the Girls Education and Gender Equality Program (GEGEP) in direct implementation sites as well as scale-up and technical assistance interventions. This is a key position housed in the national office, responsible to provide technical support to the direct implementation program as well as program being implemented in partnership with the government in 8 states of India.
The role requires expertise in gender, life skills and a thorough understanding of girls’ education issues in India and an ability to enhance both kinds of programing at the same time. The position will require the incumbent to understand the varied state contexts with an expectation of devoting 40% time to field travel and working with the state program team as well as the state leadership team.
The position is responsible for ensuring robust implementation and support in realizing state lead vision for the program. The position will also require regular interaction with key stakeholders like state teams, government, field staff and colleagues in different offices.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Program Implementation Support:
- Leads in ensuring that the program(s) (depending upon the allocated state) are being implemented on agreed benchmarks and stays on top of implementation of the allocated states by working with relevant stakeholders.
- Works closely with Program Operations team and the State Team in identifying bottlenecks of implementation and resolving it.
- Takes initiative in identifying and resolving quality issues in the program while working together with the country office colleagues and other stakeholders as required.
- Ensures that relevant data (reports/ dashboards) are analyzed timely, and the feedback loop is closed by using it in the program.
- Regularly undertakes and documents the monthly check in calls conducted with the relevant stakeholder(s).
- Ensures that Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) are being followed, keep abreast of the ground zero challenges being faced by the state teams.
- Takes corrective measures and proposes relevant changes/process improvement(s) (if any) that might be required to fine-tune the existing SOPs for better implementation of the tasks.
- Undertakes monthly field visits to ensure quality implementation of the program as per the prescribed standards. Supports Capacity Building efforts of States on specific themes.
- Develop an understanding of state budget and keep track of program implementation at state level.
Leading quality discourse:
- Supports the National Program Coordinator to develop standards and checklists for defining them.
- Assess the quality parameters of the programs and shares and takes on board for further discussion and follow up with team at State level.
- Play a leading role in getting all the teammates (across the country) on a common page for delivering a quality program – whether in direct model or in partnership.
- Supports Research/Baseline studies as well as Action Research as required and interfaces with external and internal stakeholders, as and when required.
- Participates in Special Task forces as and when required.
- Anchors and delivers different activities of the Country office as assigned from time to time.
- Contribute to development of strategic documents at the country level; Contribute to QPR,AnnualReports,Donor reports,andother documentsas necessary
- Helpdevelopproposalsandbudget as and when required.
Liaison with other departments to strengthen the program (all models):
- Liaison with other departments like administration for follow-up on Requisitions for workshops, Logistics, other services required like translationsetc.
- Liaise closely with Operations on tracking spending and initiating corrective measures for budget utilization, lead the budget exercise for GEGEP – contribute in making budgets, reviewing state budgets etc (depending on the role assigned by the National Program Coordinator and to track implementation.
- Works closely with RM&E on using the existing monitoring mechanisms and data points for enhancing program quality and exactness of delivery, as well as designing new ones as need be.
- Works closely with HR if any support is required being a part of the interviewpanel or revising role expectation etc.
- Work with Communications Dept. to support in developing outreach materials for the program including brochures,yearbook,casestudies, filmsetc. as and when required.
Qualifications:
Required:
- Master’s degree in education/Social work/development studies/Gender or socialsciences.
- Experience of working in the areas of secondary education, girls’ education,gender, school development.
- Experience in developing training modules, conducting trainings, and managingevents.
- Experience or working with the government, teacher training, reviewing government programs.
- Ability to travel frequently and spend time in thefield.
- Good verbal and written communication skills in English andHindi.
- At least 6 years relevant experience in working with anNGO/INGO.
Preferred:
- Prior experience living and/or working in ruralareas.
- Prior experience working with schools, teachers, and governmentofficials.
To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:
- Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic non-profitorganization.
- Be an innovative and creative thinker—not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so.
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity andtrustworthiness.
- Have a strong work ethic and require minimaldirection.
- Work well independently as well as part of ateam.
Compensation:
Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include a 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.
Application Procedure:
Please Click here to apply .
Due to the high volume of applicant response, not all applicants may receive a response from Room to Read. Regret the inconvenience. Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to
identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. We always encourage women to apply.
This vacancy is now closed.