The Senior Program Officer, Quality Reading Materials (QRM)’s primary responsibilities include providing technical support in all aspects of QRM publishing initiatives including sourcing story manuscripts from local emerging writers; organizing story writing and illustrations workshops; carryout the graphics design work of storybooks, pupil books and other QRM and Instruction Design & Teacher Support (IDTS) materials; layout and design of Room to Read (RtR) reissue, adapted and new titles of storybooks; correcting and editing stories and artworks as per guidance from the Senior Program Manager, Quality Reading Materials (Sr. PM, QRM) and Global Office (GO); filing and archiving all QRM works; and take part in ideal book collection work and reviewing stories and artworks. The person should have clear understanding of children’s publications, local publishing industry, educational materials and country-context of the use of educational materials in primary grades. The position will require some travel and involves frequent interaction with authors, illustrators, publishers, printers and officials. The position will report directly to the Senior Program Manager, Quality Reading Materials.
Initiate and circulate annual call for manuscripts and sample illustrations from local writers and illustrators
Organize annual Writers and Illustrators Workshops as per implementation calendar through coordinating with other departments
Facilitating sessions of the writers’ and illustrators’ workshops to produce storybooks that fill the identified gaps as well conduct identified sessions suggested by the Sr. PM, QRM
Coordinate with selected writers and illustrators to ensure participation in the writers’ and illustrators’ workshops and follow up with them for post workshop activities
Developing, reviewing and finalizing manuscripts and illustrations of the selected storybooks
Finalizing the layouts, pre-press works and preparing final outputs of the storybooks including reissues and new titles
Coordinate with writers and illustrators for fine-tuning and developing stories and illustrations as per comments and feedback from the Sr. PM, QRM and Global Office counterparts.
Prepare printing plan and specifications of the story books and other RtR materials to submit to Administration and the Procurement Committee.
Visit printers to oversee printing works and provide necessary technical support during bulk printing, as required
Checking machine-proofs to ensure quality print of the storybooks and other RtR materials.
Preparing and finalizing the QRM Input-chart and Implementation Calendar prior to the Annual Plans and Budget
Support Sr. PM, QRM in preparing QRM budget, monthly cash forecast and expense tracking
Work with other departments at Country Office and Field Office as required and suggested by the Sr. PM, QRM
Deciding the layout of the Storybooks and other RtR materials
Finalize the graphics designs of the new storybooks in consultation with Sr. PM, QRM
Deciding in consultation with Sr. PM, QRM and GO the required changes of the layout and graphics design of the reissues of the storybooks of the previous years
Contextualize the layout and design of the storybooks to be adopted from other RtR countries as per consultation and agreement with Sr. PM, QRM and GO
Carry out the graphics designing of the Pupil Books of Grade 1 and Grade 2 of Bangla Language for the students of RtR supported schools
Carryout design and layout in InDesign, edit illustrations in Photoshop and conduct pre-press works of both RtR reissues and RtR new titles.
Visualize, plan, design, and produce a required graphics and illustrative material other than storybooks
Maintain files, naming conventions, templates, samples inventory, and stock art
Ensure all graphics and art are designed to meet color palette criteria
Ensure RtR branding guidelines are adhered in all designs and layouts
Communicate with local publishers to collect newly published children’s books for reviewing and selecting to distribute to the RtR libraries
Organize internal Ideal Book Collection workshop as directed by Sr. PM, QRM to review the storybooks collected to from local publishers
Calculate print runs of LLP titles and determine number of books to be purchased for distribution to RtR libraries
Coordinate with RtR Administration, field offices and Sr. PM, QRM and carryout book leveling and labeling of the RtR published and purchased books with level color strips and orient field staff for delivery of books to schools, as required
Visit libraries at RtR supported schools to learn about use of RtR published books and purchased books supplied to the libraries and get readers’ feedback about reading
Provide support to the Research and Monitoring department regarding research related to books and usage of books by the children in libraries
Provide services from start-end service for warehouse management
Controlling all books in the warehouses (in-out)
Daily inventory books record and update in both PC and Stock Card
Maintain an inventory of GINKI and LLP books and Track distribution to schools and partners
Planning/Support LP program on distribution books in the district and target schools
Work with LP program to implementation the program books distribution plan
Play an important role to implementation physical count of books process
Provide design and publishing support to IDTS unit for the different teaching learning- and supplementary reading materials
Provide support to IDTS, GEP, and Communication Unit and for overall RtR publishing works for design and pre-press works as per instruction by Sr. PM, QRM
Work with Administration department to coordinate purchase request, publishing specifications and negotiate deadlines of printing and ensure the distribution of the printed materials to the respective destinations
Archive all the design files in the right formats as well as the packaged design files for the different Units and the overall RtR publishing works
Master’s degree in education, language, communication, fine arts (master’s preferred)
A minimum of 7 years of related professional work experience with NGOs, INGOs or Publishing Companies
Knowledge and understanding of local book publishing industry and children’s literature
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Managing printing and publication process
Knowledge and understanding of book leveling
Experience in manuscript editing, graphics design and layout of books (experience in Photoshop and InDesign preferred)
Report writing and documentation skills
Proven track record of achieving results
Facilitation and Training Skills
Prior experience in the field of book publishing
Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously
Experience of working with writers and illustrators
Experience of working with government schools
Experience in translating excerpts from English into Bengali and vice versa.
We offer a competitive salary. The benefits include:
Provident Fund
13th Month Allowance
Gratuity
Health coverage for staff and dependents
Insurances
Professional Development opportunities. The most significant benefit is the opportunity to work with one of the fastest growing international organizations, which has sole focus on education & continuously innovating efficient & effective social entrepreneurship
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.