Senior Associate, Literacy Field

Senior Associate, Literacy Field

Room to Read

Uttarakhand, India

Position Overview:

The Senior Associate, Literacy Field will oversee the program implementation and lead the agenda of system strengthening at state level. They will be responsible for coordination, development, and reporting of existing multiple variants of the Literacy program in a state. They would serve as the main point of contact for the school and local government officials and coordinate the work of other RtR staff in the state.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Programme Planning, Management & Implementation:

• Develop a thorough understanding of Room to Read’s Literacy program design
• Oversee the implementation of the existing multiple variants of the Literacy programs, including both demonstration, partnership or technical assistance in the state, ensuring timely, efficient and well-coordinated implementation, adhering to the program and budget guidelines.
• Manage relationships with school, community and government counterparts in their jurisdiction and respond to issues that may arise in these relationships.
• Ensure that all program schools receive books, materials and furniture at the appropriate time
• Ensure that all teacher training and capacity building activities are held as per plan and program guidelines, including the receipt of necessary approvals.
• Overall Lead different online and offline trainings organized for teachers, field staff and review meeting. Also, play role of key facilitator for these trainings.
• 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 be reduce cost to the extent possible, without compromising on the quality.
• Support the State Manager in strategic planning and advocacy, including sustainability planning and future expansion decisions.
• Participate actively on social media in all RtR campaigns.
• Supervise and ensure proper implementation of community engagement plans.
• Participate in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfil the objectives of the organization.

Technical Expertise & System Strengthening:

• Stay updated regarding the changing trends and any new state level policies, programmes or interventions in EGL, as announced by the government. Engage in discussions with the country team regarding future opportunities.
• Serve as a technical resource at the state level and participate in technical assistance discussions. Attend government meetings, discussions and committees on early literacy and use those forums to advocate for enabling policies and government orders in support of RtR literacy program. Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of reading and need for libraries for children.
• Regularly interact with the Government officials and explore opportunities for systemic integration.
• Stay updated regarding new programs/interventions of the like-minded organizations in states. Engage in discussions to explore opportunities.
• 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.
• Attend review meetings at the national level and provide reflective feedback on program implementation and design issues. At the same time acts as the conduit for transferring innovative ideas and practices from the national level (or from other states) on to the field.
• Read and update oneself regarding the current national/international research in the field.
• Provide technical oversight to DIET/ district level officials and support them in their coaching and communication with government teachers and schools. Identify gaps in their capabilities and plan for their capacity building in discussion with the team.
• Participate in workshops on material development, training module development and training of trainers.

Program Coordination and Monitoring:

• Responsible for managing the implementation of the Literacy program for the set of schools 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 donor in their jurisdiction and respond 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 be reduce cost 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.
• Manage a set of PC, including their performance evaluation, capacity building and coaching.

Training, Workshop and Meeting:

• Provide technical oversight to the PC and support them in their monitoring visits and communication with government teachers and schools. Identify gaps in their capabilities and plan for their capacity building in discussion with the IDTS unit;
• Act as the point person with respect to teacher training and capacity building of program staff at the state level. Plan for and lead all teacher trainings at the state level;
• Participate in IDTS workshops on material development, training module development and training of trainers;
• Attend review meetings at the national level and provide reflective feedback on program implementation and design issues. At the same time acts as the conduit for transferring innovative ideas and practices from the national level (or from other states) on to the field.

Planning, Reporting and Documentation:

• 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;
• Support the State Manager in strategic planning and advocacy, technical assistance, quality assurance, sustainability planning and future expansion decisions;
• Participate in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor Degree in education/social sciences or equivalent;
• Master 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;
• 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 to project sites in remote locations.

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