Literacy Program Operation Officer

Job Description

Position: Literacy Program Operation Officer
Type of employment: Full time
Location: Ha Noi and frequent travel to project sites
Expected to start: December 2018

Organization Profile

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 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. Room to Read has benefited 11.5 million children across over 20,000 communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia, and aims to reach 15 million children by 2020.

Position Overview

The Literacy Program Operation Officer (LPOO) will work at HN office and travel frequently to project sites in which Literacy Program activities are implemented. LPOO will be part of the Literacy Program team to be responsible for all aspects of Room to Read (RtR)’s literacy program, including program development, planning, implementing and monitoring of libraries. S/he will be constantly engaged in working to improve the library program, with the aim of ensuring that Room to Read libraries are effectively and fully utilized by schools and communities as a tool for increasing student motivation as well as for development of educational activities and promotion of reading. This position requires skills in project management, training facilitation skills, curriculum development, networking, accounting, and supervising. The LPOO will report to the North Field Manager.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Liaise with government officials and/or school principals to implement Literacy program at the selected project sites, including school surveying, assessment, selection, implementation of program activities, and monitoring;
• Prepare detailed cost estimations for each project, specifying each school’s and/or NGO partner’s cost-sharing contribution and items contributed for the challenge grant;
• Gather feedback and ensure that they deliver on their portion of the challenge grant and on all terms of agreement with RtR;
• Visit project sites as needed on monthly/quarterly basis to supervise the projects, monitor and support project activities;
• Organize review meetings with provincial Project Management Board and between field facilitators, principals and teaching librarians; assist in conducting monitoring and evaluation of RtR libraries and follow through with recommendations for improvement;
• Manage and provide data, input and update information/pictures related to school projects to Global Solutions Data (GSD);
• Write project reports to the supervisor in a timely manner, documenting best practices and lessons learned during field work and share with other project sites, relevant local staff, the Country and Program Directors, Program Operation Director, Literacy Director and appropriate US based Program Officers, if required;
• In consultation with the supervisor and appropriate regional/headquarter staff, work to develop training sessions and conduct an effective RtR librarian training model on library management and activities, update training materials and manuals accordingly; with assistance of other Program Officer(s)/Associates(s);
• Organize activities/events to promote reading;
• Participate in any other activities/events which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.

Technical Responsibility related to Program Management, Implementation, and Coordination

• Provides feedback to the IDTS team on the materials provided by RtR for use in libraries and library period to promote a habit of reading;
• Provides feedback and suggestions to the IDTS PM on the quality of training design, materials and delivery;
• Facilitates sessions in workshops for teachers, librarians and principals where appropriate in agreement with provincial key trainers;
• Provides technical support to Head Field Facilitator/Field Facilitators through coaching during school visits and review meetings/reporting to ensure they are able to effectively implement the Literacy program.
• Provide technical feedback to school principal, teacher and librarian during school visits to ensure the high quality of library and reading activities.

Technical responsibility related to Planning, Reporting and Documentation

• Provides information in meetings to the IDTS Program Manager to assist in development of materials for librarians’, teachers’ and principals’ trainings and support;
• Documents best practices and lessons learned during field work and shares with IDTS;
• Supports annual, quarterly and monthly planning of Literacy Program activities as needed.

Meetings/Networking:

• Explore opportunities for partnerships and knowledge sharing with NGOs, experts and institutions involved in teacher training and literacy initiatives;
• Establish and manage relationships with other NGO’s, government officials and local educational facilities/authorities; schedule and attend meetings with them to coordinate planning and implementation of libraries;
• Represent RtR at relevant meetings and occasionally assist in hosting key donor visits;
• Provide regular updates on program activities and plans at regular meetings with Literacy Program Team Meetings;
• Perform other agreed tasks assigned by the supervisor;

Qualifications:

• Vietnamese natives
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in library science or education;
• At least 5 years of professional experience in education or community development;
• Prior experience in working with schools, teachers, administrators and government officials;
• Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, including teaching methodologies and community involvement in schools;
• Strong planning, budgeting, report writing skills;
• Ability to travel frequently to project sites;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.

Preferred:

• Good knowledge and understanding of children’s books issues, including the publishing trends in Viet Nam and the world, and children’s habit of reading;
• Long working experience with INGOs or international development organization/project;
• Prior experience in delivering or facilitating training workshops;
• Experience in developing and/or implementing large-scale literacy initiatives.

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

Application Procedure:

• Please submit your application preferably with a cover letter, online by visiting our website www.roomtoread.org (about us > careers > see current vacancies).
• Or send your resume and cover letter directly to [email protected]

We regret that we cannot respond to all applicants personally due to high applicant volume.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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.