Room To Read Job Vacancy: Literacy Program Associate Director - South Asia

Job Description 

Literacy Program Associate Director

South Asia

Location: India/Nepal/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka

Organization Profile:

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted more than 9.7 million children by constructing more than 1,700 schools, establishing more than 17,500 libraries, publishing 1150 new children’s book titles in 27 local languages, and reaching more than 31,000 girls through our Girls’ Education program.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$44 million and our global staff numbers more than 1000. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller offices in New York, Hong Kong, London, Zurich, New Delhi, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. Our country offices are located in Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.

Position Overview:

The Literacy Program Associate Director, South Asia is part of Room to Read’s Literacy Program Team. The primary duty of this position is to provide technical leadership for the Literacy Program in the region. They will manage a team of regionally based staff who, in turn, provide technical support to our Country to contextualize and utilize our worldwide program materials. This person may also provide direct technical support to Country Offices as needed. They will work with Country Offices to advocate on behalf of Room to Read on national literacy issues; liaise with governments, NGOs and universities to drive program design, development and delivery; and lead specific research and design efforts of the global program design. This position reports directly to the Global Literacy Program Director, and is part of Room to Read’s Global Office.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead regional technical support efforts to ensure that countries in South Asia are meeting the agreed targets for:

1. Reading fluency: Grade 2 students reading at the specified number of words per minute for their language, and made significantly greater gains than comparison school children as measured by annual EGRA results.  
2. Reading habit: Students are reading regularly, as demonstrated by our habit of reading survey

• Manage South Asia projects and work plans to ensure the quality and timeliness of technical support to the Literacy Program, including providing guidance around prioritization. 
• In collaboration with the regionally-based team, ensure Room to Read country team members have an excellent understanding of the literacy curriculum from both a theoretical and practical perspective
• Facilitate learning throughout the Literacy Program team, across countries and regions, though leadership and participation in Literacy Program activities and events (both online and face-to-face meetings and conferences)
• Facilitate collaboration between the program team in the region and other teams/departments (including Research Monitoring and Evaluations, Operations, Finance and HR)
• Work with colleagues in the Operations team to provide high-level inputs and oversight for annual planning and budgeting for the Literacy Program in the region.
• Provide thought leadership at a national level to help position Room to Read as a leading organization in literacy in each country in South Asia

1. Attend external stakeholder (government, donor, university and other ngo) meetings to provide thought leadership and advocacy on behalf of Room to Read
2. Share updates, research and discussion about national literacy policy
3. Educate external stakeholders from partner organizations on Room to Read’s literacy philosophy, design, data, and theory of change
4. Liaise with external stakeholders to further Room to Read literacy program through supporting site visits, sharing new learning, research, and partnership

• Collect feedback on the Literacy Program strategy, design and delivery, and work with the rest of the Global Literacy Program to refine this.
• Lead specific efforts in the development of the worldwide Literacy Program frameworks and materials, this may include:

1. Reviewing and developing global curriculum materials, including the scope and sequence manuals, teacher’s guides, pupil books, and other instructional materials
2. Reviewing and developing professional development materials.
3. Provide high level review of guidelines for our book publishing work.

• Provide input into business development opportunities as well as communication with the Fundraising team as related to donor reporting on program design and technical assistance activities
• Participate in interviewing and training of new Literacy Program team staff
• Frequent travel internationally (30-40% time)

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree or higher preferred in a related field of study, e.g., Education or related development sector
• Expert knowledge, understanding and experience of technical work in reading/literacy at the primary stage
• Prior experience living and/or working in South Asia
• Experience in developing and implementing complex curricular improvements and ability to do so independently
• Experience developing and conducting high quality training programs for teachers and coaches and ability to do so independently
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Candidate located in South Asia
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally (30-40% time)

Preferred:

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience
• Significant experience in one or more South Asia countries including visiting primary classrooms and working with teachers and children around issues of learning
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
• Prior experience 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 a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire 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 13th month bonus, retirement benefits such as Provident Fund, medical insurance, performance bonus etc. 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 “Literacy Program Associate Director - South Asia” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to asiahiring@roomtoread.org .  Due to high applicant volume, we regret that we are not able to send personalized responses to all applicants.  Applications are accepted until the position is filled.

Deadline: 02 Jan 2016

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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