The Senior Associate, Program Associate leads the planning and execution for all work related to implementing Room to Read’s Literacy program at the field and state level and provides technical and management support. They will oversee the quality of implementation, coordination, development, and reporting of the Literacy program for the whole state. They would identify intervention areas in alignment with State Government’s priorities and Room to Read’s vision and accordingly conceptualize programs, discuss them with the relevant internal and external teams, keeping supervisors in loop and implementing the agreed programs at the field level.This position will involve frequent travel to field locations as well as regular interaction with education officials at State, District and Block level, school administrators, teachers and students.
Have an excellent understanding of Room to Read’s Literacy program design and the ability to present and make sure program is adopted as is in various forums.
Awareness of literacy programs, their design and strategies operating in project region.
Oversee the quality of program implementation and adherence to program guidelines for the set of schools under their jurisdiction.
Have an excellent understanding of the scale up designs and implementation of literacy interventions.
Serve as a technical resource at the state/district level and participate proactively in technical assistance discussions. Attend government meetings, discussions and committees on literacy and use those forums to advocate for enabling policies and government orders in support of Room to Read literacy program. Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of reading and need for libraries for children.
Regularly communicate and work with government counterparts to build awareness and understanding among them with respect to the Room to Read literacy program and its main features.
Participate in the state level discussions organized by government counterparts and advocate for Room to Read approach through developing good understanding of state curriculum, textbooks and various education projects/programs.
Provide technical assistance to project area school/block/district in teaching-learning by using instructional materials designed and produced especially for teachers and make suggestions for improving quality and utilization of these materials.
Responsible for managing the implementation of the Literacy program being implemented in the State under his/her jurisdiction, ensuring timely, efficient and well-coordinated implementation, adhering to the program and budget guidelines.
Responsible for managing relationships with school, community, government counterparts and donors in their jurisdiction and responding to issues that may arise in these relationships.
Ensure effective utilization of program budget through proper planning and tracking of planned activities. Ensure that financial and procurement norms are adhered to, and efforts are made to reduce costs to the extent possible, without compromising on the quality.
Analyze various data and information emanating from the field, develop programmatic co-relations and flag off issues for larger discussion. Undertake at least one action research project every year.
Monitor and maintain high level of data quality coming from field and generating reports as and when required.
Make regular visits to program schools, as required, to assess program implementation and impact. Observe classroom instruction and library activities, engage with teachers and headmasters, and provide timely, constructive feedback along with actionable corrective measures.
Identify gaps in design and quality, including challenges faced during implementation. Discuss these issues with relevant internal and external stakeholders, and support the development and execution of appropriate solutions at the field level.
Provide technical oversight to the team in line with the program structure, supporting them during monitoring visits and in their engagement with government teachers and schools. Identify capability gaps and, in collaboration with the IDTS (Instruction Designing and Technical Support) unit, develop and implement targeted capacity-building plans.
Serve as the focal point for teacher training and program staff capacity building at the state level. Plan, design, and lead training sessions at both state and district levels to ensure quality implementation.
Actively participate in IDTS workshops related to material development, training module design, and training of trainers initiatives.
Attend national and state-level review meetings, offering reflective feedback on program implementation and design challenges. Facilitate the transfer of innovative practices and learnings from national or cross-state contexts to strengthen field-level implementation.
Responsible for preparing regular (monthly, quarterly and yearly basis, including program data) qualitative reports and documenting case studies and best practices.
Responsible for high stake donor reporting, developing their annual work plan and its implementation.
Participate in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.
Master’s degree in education / social sciences or equivalent preferred.
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in the education sector.
In-depth knowledge about language and reading practices and approaches.
In-depth understanding of State’s FLN Mission Plan.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Critical thinking and analytical skills.
Good interpersonal skills and a team player.
Proven track record of achieving results.
Proven ability to work effectively with schools and communities.
Ability to travel regularly and frequently to project sites in remote locations.
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 be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries on literacy and gender equality in education.
Child Protection Principles
Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation
Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.
All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.
All children should be treated with respect and dignity.
The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.
Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles
Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.
Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.
All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.
Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.
Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.
About Room to Read:
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.
We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.
Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.