Job Description
 
Position: Program Officer, Literacy Field
Department: Literacy program
Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
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.
Position Overview:

TheProgramOfficer,LiteracyFieldleadstheplanningandexecutionforallworkrelatedto implementing Room to Read’s Literacy program at the field level. S/he will oversee the implementation,coordination, development and reporting of the Literacy program for a set of schools. S/he would serve as themain point of contact for the school and local government officialsand coordinate the work of other RtR staffin his/her jurisdiction. The Literacy Program Officer will report to the State Manager and will have 8-10 Fieldstaff(LiteracyFacilitator)reportingtohim/her.Inaddition,theLPOmayalsoneedtomanageone/twoLiteracyProgramAssociates(Operations&Technical).Thispositionwillinvolvefrequenttraveltofieldlocationsaswell.asregularinteractionwitheducationofficials,schooladministrators,teachersandstudents.Thispositionwould preferablybebasedneartheprojectlocation(District/Block/Mandal/Cluster).

Roles & Responsibilities:
  • DevelopathoroughunderstandingofRoomtoRead’sLiteracyprogram design.
  • Responsible for managing the implementation of the Literacy program for the set of schools underhis/her jurisdiction, ensuring timely, efficient and well-coordinated implementation, adhering to theprogramandbudgetguidelines.
  • Responsibleformanagingrelationshipswithschool,communityandgovernmentcounterpartsintheirjurisdictionandrespondtoissues thatmayariseintheserelationships.
  • Assist inselectingtheprogramschoolsasperprogramguidelines.
  • Ensurethatallprogram schoolsreceive books,materialsandfurniture attheappropriatetime.
  • Ensure that all teacher training and capacity building activities are held as per planand programguidelines,includingthereceiptof necessary approvals.
  • Overall Lead different trainings organized for teachers, field staff and review meeting. Also, play role ofkeyfacilitator forthesetrainings.
  • Ensure that program schools are monitored as per guidelines and the field staff perform their jobeffectively.
  • Ensureeffectiveutilizationofprogrambudgetthroughproperplanningandtrackingofplannedactivities. Ensure that financial and procurement norms are adhered to and efforts are made to bereduce costtotheextent possible,without compromisingonthequality.
  • Preparecashadvance,settlement,andreimbursementforprogram activities.
  • Supervise and ensure all data entry and compilation on monthly, quarterly and yearly basis, includingGSD data.Maintainhighlevelof dataquality.
  • Assist inpreparingallprogrammaticandfinancialreportsasrequired,includingdonorreports.
  • Analyzevariousdataandinformationemanatingfromthefield,developprogrammaticco-relationsandflagoff issuesfor largerdiscussion.
  • Organize andleadreviewmeetings atfieldlevel.
  • Trackprogressofimplementationandexpendituresthroughregularreviewmeetingsandfieldvisits;flagoff deviations anddelays attheearliest.
  • ParticipateinIDTSworkshopsonmaterialdevelopment,trainingmoduledevelopmentandtrainingoftrainers.
  • Assistto prepare annualplanofactionandbudgetfortheLiteracyprogram.
  • Support the State Manager in strategic planning and advocacy, including sustainability planning andfutureexpansiondecisions.
  • Participateinanyotheractivitieswhichmayberequiredtobeundertakentofulfilltheobjectivesoftheorganization.
  • Manage a set of Program Associates, Literacy Coaches and Library Management Facilitators, includingtheirperformanceevaluation, capacitybuildingandcoaching.
  • Makeregularvisitstoprogramschoolsaloneandwithkeygovernmentofficialsfromblock/district/statelevel, observe Classroom Instruction, Library Management, library activities, speak to teachers andheadmastersandsupervisethefunctioningoftheLC& LMF
  • Identifydesignandqualityissues,includingproblemsbeingfacedbyLC&LMF.Discusstheseissues
  • withsupervisorandbasedonthatprovidesolutionsatthefieldlevel.
  • Provide technical assistance to schools in teaching-learning by using instructional materials designedandproducedespeciallyforteachersandmakesuggestionsforimprovingqualityandutilizationofthesematerials.
  • ObserveandCoachLC& LMFbyusingstructuredobservationform duringregularschoolsupportvisit.
  • Attendreviewmeetingsatthenationallevelandprovidereflectivefeedbackonprogramimplementationanddesignissues.Atthesametimeactsastheconduitfortransferringinnovativeideasandpracticesfromthe nationallevel(orfromotherstates)ontothefield.
  • Attend government meetings, trainings, discussions and committees on early literacy and use thoseforumsto advocateforenablingpolicies andgovernmentordersinsupportofRtRliteracyprogram.
  • Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of reading and need forlibraries forchildren.
Qualification & Experience:

Required:

  • Bachelor’s degreein education/social sciencesorequivalent
  • Master’s degreeineducation/ socialsciencesorequivalent preferred
  • Minimum5yearsofrelevantexperienceintheeducationsector
  • Workingknowledge andunderstandingofprojectmanagementmethodologyandsoftware.
  • Strongplanning,budgetary,supervising,andproject implementationskills.
  • Criticalthinkingandanalyticalskills.
  • Abilitytotravelregularlytoprojectsitesinremotelocations.
  • Proventrackrecordof achievingresults.
  • Provenabilitytoworkeffectivelywith schoolsandcommunities.
  • Strongwritten andoralcommunicationskills
  • Goodinterpersonalskillsandateam player

Preferred:

  • Priorsuccessworkingcloselyandbuildingrelationshipswithdiversegroupsofpeople
  • Prior experience of working in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high qualityworkandlowoverhead.
  • Priorexperienceinafast-paced,growth-oriented globalorregionalorganization
  • Abilityto jugglemultipleprioritiessimultaneouslyandtake initiative.
  • Priorexperiencelivingand/orworkingin ruralareas.
  • Priorexperienceworkingwithschools,teachers,administratorsandgovernmentofficials
  • Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks as well as developing andimplementingimprovements ina prior position.

TobesuccessfulasamemberoftheRoomtoReadteam,youwillalso:

  • Have apassionforourmissionandastrongdesireto impactadynamic non-profitorganization.
  • Beaninnovativeandcreativethinker–notafraidtotrysomethingnewandinspireotherstodoso
  • Have asolution-oriented approach.
  • Have averyhighlevelofpersonalandprofessionalintegrityandtrustworthiness.
  • Have astrongworkethicandrequireminimaldirection.
  • Workwell independently as wellas partofa team.
  • Thriveinafast-pacedandfunenvironment.

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 bepart of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives ofmillionsofchildren indevelopingcountriesonliteracyandgender equality in education.

Room to Read is a child-safe organization. All personnel are expected to adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy and Child Protection Code of Conduct.

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.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.