OFFICER QUALITY READING MATERIALS (QRM)

JOB DESCRIPTION 

OFFICER QUALITY READING MATERIALS (QRM)

A. ORGANIZATION PROFILE: PADHNAKO LAGI KOTHA

Padhanako Lagi Kotha (PLK) is a local non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing early-grade literacy and promoting gender equality in education for over 22 years. PLK is one of the local implementing partners for Room to Read's Literacy Program and Girls’ Education Program and specializes in developing the Quality Reading Material (QRM) to support both programs. Registered under the Associations Registration Act, 2034, PLK collaborates with communities, partner organizations, education sectors, and government agencies at all levels to cultivate literacy skills and foster a reading culture among primary school children.

B. POSITION OVERVIEW

The Officer - QRM is responsible for contributing to the design and development of quality reading materials including children’s books and Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) to support the successful implementation of the Literacy Program (LP) of RtR. S/he will also be responsible for conducting the writers’ and illustrators’ workshops, providing technical support to the LP team and other departments. S/he is also responsible for the supervision of all aspects of the material design, including ensuring the quality of materials and support to professional development activities of PLK staff.

C. PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

i. Management and Program Implementation:

• Participates in QRM design and development orientation in Room to Read initiated program and supports during LP/QRM design and development.
• Participates and supports during the orientation of staff professional development activities, teachers’ training packages, monitoring support (tools templates and formats) and work on program revision process.
• Leads to design/develop instructional and library program materials such as workbook, Teachers’ Guide, registers, stickers, posters and other Teaching Learning Materials.
• Develops LLP books based on book development guidelines like gender and diversity sensitive, age appropriate, strong story element and physically rich.
• Ensures the quality in each TLM and instructional material (workbook, teacher guides, posters, cubes, letter/word cards, story cards, decodable text, manuals etc.)
• Refine the PDF and develop the read-aloud audio/video and teacher’s and creator’s professional tips/materials for uploading in Room to Read’s online platform Literacy Cloud (LC).
• Participate in Room to Read initiated book development workshop, LCPU (Literacy Cloud Power Users) meeting and related orientation, training, webinar and workshops.
• Provide Technical Assistance to develop provisions of local reading materials for local/provincial government stakeholders.
• Review and develop a clear understanding of the design, development, and deliverables of instruction and library program activities for implementation.
• Provide information to PLK Program Manager for monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and helps to update monthly/quarterly budget in line with Literacy Program activities (based on Implementation Calendar - IC).
• Coordinates with Officer, Admin and Finance to explore the venue and potential creators and consultants based on the required activities and material procurement process as per Room to Read’s policy for:
• Materials –stationary, workbook, TG, TLM, and training materials
• Library material – LLP books, NCB books, library materials, stationery, training manuals/materials, books, posters, etc.
• Library activities materials - stationery, training manual/materials, book levelling registers, stickers etc.
• Develops tools for manuscript field testing and creators’ workshop and shares it with Room to Read’s Literacy Team and Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (RM&E) team for feedback and incorporates changes as per the feedback.
• Interacts and provides technical support to Room to Read’s LP team and takes an active part during ToT, orientation, and training, and conducts IBC workshop in coordination with Room to Read.  
• Tracks implemented, and planned activities based on IC keeping in mind tasks, time, budget, accountability, quality, resource allocation and expected results in coordination with Room to Read.
• Prepares training and workshop plan, content and schedules of creator’s workshop, manuscript selection/development and other materials development process.
• Prepares draft activities and budget during Room to Read’s Annual Planning and Budgeting in collaboration with RtR LP team.
• Keeps track and maintains a good filing system of all the design, development, training, monitoring, and related-report-related documents.
• Manages time to support local publishers, and local/provincial government and coordinates for planning, event management and picture book award establishment & distribution.
• Reviews, translates and develops landscape surveys, co-publishing documents and other guidelines and formats as per Room to Read’s guidelines.

ii. Coordination and Collaboration:

• Ensures the quality of LLP manuscript, printing, and quality of other TLM collaborations with Room to Read’s team and supports to enhance the whole program quality through mentoring, monitoring, visits, discussions, and other means of communication.
• Collaborates with Room to Read to provide technical assistance to edit, design, and improve the quality through review, revision and editing.
• Collaborates and supports reviewing and preparing books, and stationery specifications as per the LP guidelines.
• Prepares and finalizes Terms of Reference (ToR) and contract agreement for writers, illustrators, art editors and all the goods/ resource procurement if needed.
• Support in technical evaluation of the quality of procured goods, services and training.
• Collaborate with Admin and Finance team to procure materials and hire the consultant(s).
• Collaborate with publishers for co-publishing specifically for co-creation and book licensing in close coordination with Room to Read.
• Collaborate with the Govt. for planning, organizing and system-level integration of QRM components like book publishing, organizing children's literature, and establishing awards system for writers/creators from local/provincial/federal government under the guidance of Room to Read.

iii. Collaboration with Government

• Collaborate with government units at all levels to support the design and integration of high-quality reading materials and children’s literature into education systems.
• Partner with government officials to establish and maintain policies for book publishing, organizing literary events, and promoting inclusive reading practices in alignment with Room to Read’s objectives.
• Conduct training sessions for government stakeholders, educators, and library staff to enhance their skills in developing, managing, and utilizing educational and library resources in need.
• Engage in field visits and monitoring to ensure effective use of instructional materials and reading programs, guiding co-publishing and quality assurance practices and alignment of development in need.
• Support government efforts to incorporate quality reading materials into educational plans and ensure alignment with national and local policies for a more inclusive literacy environment jointly with government unites/Palikas and relevant stakeholders.

iv. Professional Development:

• • Conducts workshop/training for capacity buildings of local writers, illustrators, editors, librarians, teachers, students, publishers, and likeminded organizations:
    • Facilitates while conducting creators’ capacity development workshops, manuscript development workshops, ideal book collection workshops or manuscript field testing workshops.
    • Facilitates/Supports instructional training, Library Management training and Reading Activity Training. 
    • Facilitates during program meetings, seminars, and workshops including any other workshop organized by Room to Read as and when necessary:
      • Provides Technical Assistance to local publishers, writers, illustrators, designers, and editors for co-publishing, specifically co-creation.
      • Provides Technical Assistance to local, provincial and federal government to enlist quality reading materials under early-grade readers and primary school libraries resources including incorporating QRM components in their periodic or annual education plan.
• Participates in the self-professional development process (course, training, workshop, seminar, webinar, visits, and orientations).

v. Monitoring and Support:

• Travels to the field to observe material uses, training support, field testing, classroom teaching and meetings in the field.
• Mentoring and supports writers, illustrators, publishers, and like-minded organizations in co-creation, licensing or overall co-publishing program and regular LLP development procedure. 
• Updates and supports Room to Read’s LP team to review co-publishing landscape survey, and related documents as per the contextualization process.
• Updates and supports Room to Read’s LP team to review instructional materials and TLM during the contextualization and regular process.
• Monitors the co-publishing progress with the co-publisher in terms of progress, timeline and action plan, and shares report with Room to Read.

vi. Others:

• Participates in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfil the objectives of the organization.
• Participates in Children’s literature and educational activities which may be organized or conducted by other like-minded organizations or governments to fulfill the objectives of the organization.
• Undertakes any other activities as per the direction of the supervisor and organization leaders.

D. PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Required:

• Master’s degree in Education with specialization in Nepali or any other languages relevant subjects.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience (Children’s book writing, editing, developing, illustration, design etc. and good relationships with writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, and like-minded organizations).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Nepali and English.
• Experience in facilitating creative writing, illustration, and book development workshops.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills to type, edit and translate Nepali and English Languages.

Preferred:

• Experience of teaching Nepali in primary grades.
• Work experience in a non-profit organization.
• Experience working with government agencies in the field of Education.
• 5 years of supervisory experience in a previous position.
• Prior track record of achieving results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and team management skills.
• Knowledge of research, monitoring, and evaluation systems.
• Familiarity with local market trends in the publishing industry.
• Capacity to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

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 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 cover letter explaining with evidence how you meet the above specifications along with your recent resume in email: plknepal@gmail.com

Last date for application: November 25, 2024.