Associate, Literacy Field (LPA)

JOB DESCRIPTION

ASSOCIATE, LITERACY FIELD

GORKHA – 1 POSITION

A. Position Overview

The Associate, Literacy Field (LPA) in consultation/guidance with Officer, Literacy Field (LPO) is responsible for serving as the technical person in the field of literacy skills and the habit of reading. This position involves frequent travel to project sites as well as regular interaction with PLK’s Literacy Facilitators (LFs) and partners. This position will require about 30 percent of the time for administrative work and coordination for the Literacy program (LP) and 70% field visits.

B. Primary duties and responsibilities

The position will require performing the below-given job responsibilities not limited to:

Program Design, Development, Implementation, and Support:

• Takes an active role in selecting schools for LP implementation
  • Prepares bank of schools for selection survey in coordination with Education Development and Coordination Unit (EDCU) and local governments. Visit schools to conduct community meetings and collects survey data
  • Prepares data bank of the schools which have undergone selection survey
  • In coordination with LPO, recommends potential schools to Field Manager, Program Operations (FPM) for final selection at the district level. 
• Supports in managing the ongoing implementation of the LP for a set of schools, ensuring timely, efficient, and well-coordinated implementation of all operations program activities.  
• In coordination with LPO, serves as the primary person responsible for the project management of Literacy program implementation and fostering and monitoring relationships with Local Government (Education Unit), schools, SMC/PTA, and partner NGOs (PNGOs). 
• In coordination with LPO, serves as the main point of contact for school leaders, should any programmatic issues arise. Visits each allocated school under his/her responsibility at least once per quarter.  
• Supports as a technical person in the field to enhance literacy skills and habit of reading in children,
• and coordinates closely with LPO to implement the program effectively.
• Coordinates and collaborates with LFs to enrich their professional development and supports them to ensure they effectively conduct classroom and library activities in the school
• Works in close coordination with the LPO, PC, and LFs to facilitate orientations, meetings, workshops, and training events for headteachers, teachers, and librarians in promoting literacy skills and reading habits.
• Works in close coordination with the LPO, PC, and LFs regularly to develop the capacity of teachers via coaching/mentoring based on LP design and demonstrates activities for them to implement in schools 
• Support LPO during capacity-building activities to government officials as per program implementation strategy.
• Support the LPO and PNGO to ensure schools receive quality materials and furniture as per the program Implementation Calendar (IC). 
• Support the LPO in overseeing the fund request of PNGO, reviews expenditures, and supports in releasing the fund to PNGO as per the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PLK and PNGO.
• Supports PNGO staff in effectively implementing LP in the field. 
• Observes, monitor, interact with LFs and teachers and provide feedback on Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) and Supplementary Reading Materials-SRM (Room to Read’s (RtR’s) publications-Quality Reading Materials and locally purchased books) used in classrooms and libraries to promote literacy skills and the habit of reading.
• Provides feedback on classroom and library activities implemented in schools
• Supports LFs, teachers, and the LPO to conduct periodic student learning assessments of literacy skills, and supports LF to prepare remedial action plans based on the assessment.
• Verifies programmatic data quality reported by PNGO and enters the data in the Global Solution Database (GSD).
• Makes regular visits, as per program monitoring design, to project sites to support, coach, and deliver training to LFs.
• Participates in any other activities, as instructed by the LPO & Sr. Field Manager, Program Operations (Sr. FPM), which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization
  • Support LPO to ensure that all the program activities planned as per IC have been carried out with quality.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by direct supervisor.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation:

• Support the LPO in reviewing the progress of the implementation calendar, budget, annual plan, periodic program review, and overall tracking of program implementation and spending.
• Prepares and reviews program reports sent from PNGO and responds as necessary (prepares action plan based on LFs’ report to be submitted to LPO/FPM.)
• Documents best practices and lessons learned during fieldwork and shares with relevant LP staff.
• Supports annual, quarterly, and monthly planning and reporting activities as needed.
• Monitors and gathers information for reports on the status and progress of project sites.

External Coordination and Networking:

• Develops a strong relationship with the Education Section of Palikas & elected body of Local Government, Education Development and Coordination Unit (EDCU), District Project Advisory Committee (DPAC), and other stakeholders of the Palika & district level.  
• Coordinate with the Local Governments for the scaling-up of the literacy programs and, Support the LPO to prepare documentation for the collaboration & Expansion model of LP implementation. 
• Represent the organization in the Palika & school level meetings

C. Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education in Nepali/English as specialization or other related fields
• Good knowledge and understanding of primary education curriculum, teaching methodologies, teaching techniques and various approaches to managing multi-learning ability, multi-grade, multi-lingual and multi-community children in primary grades
• Experience in conducting workshops, meetings, seminars and teacher training 
• Minimum Three (3) years’ relevant work experience in education program implementation, monitoring, support and teacher training in the field Knowledge and skills in planning, budgeting, supervising, and project implementation 
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites and Province or District offices throughout the region
• Good command of Nepali and English (both written and oral) language
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
• Ability to use Microsoft word, excel and PowerPoint
• Proven ability to build the capacity of others to achieve desired outcomes 
• Proven ability to work effectively with schools and communities
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups (socio-cultural and multi-lingual)  of people 
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously
• Two-wheeler driving license 
• PLK has zero tolerance when it comes to child abuse and exploitation and believes that all children have equal protection rights. The colleague will be expected to adhere to the child protection policy, code of conduct and standards

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Education in Nepali/English as specialization or other related fields
• Experience in language teaching/training at the primary stage
• Knowledge of Early Grade teaching and learning strategy 
• Knowledge of teaching-learning strategy in a multilingual context especially for the beginners
• Experience in working with different communities.
• Experience in library management, use of library resources and literacy skills
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high-quality work and low overhead
• Prior track record of achieving results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization

Compensation:

Padhnako Lagi Kotha offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits; benefits including 13th month bonus, provident fund, medical insurance for staff and their dependents, accidental insurance for staff; leaves and staff professional development. 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.

PLK has zero tolerance when it comes to child abuse and exploitation and believes that all children have equal protection rights. The newly hired colleagues will be expected to adhere to the child protection policy, code of conduct and standards and will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. The 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

To be successful as a member of the PLK 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 that tries new things and inspires others to do so
• Have a strong work ethic, professional integrity, and trustworthiness and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
• Superior interpersonal abilities. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature, flexible
• Good reasoning abilities, Sound judgment
• Resourceful and well organized
• Participative management style-advocate of a team concept

Application Procedure:

Interested applicants can visit the below link for a detailed job description and click on "Apply" to apply for the position. 

Associate, Literacy Field (myworkdayjobs.com)    

E-mail or drop-in applications will not be entertained for this position.

In case you are not able to access our website, please send us an e-mail request to nepal.hiring@roomtoread.org.

Last date for application: June 08, 2022.

www.roomtotead.org