Program Officer, Literacy Field

Job Description

Position Overview:

We work in collaboration with State Education Departments to bring reform by implementing large-scale system-led projects, with the goal of improving foundational learning (FLN) outcomes in students. Our team supports the State in designing and implementing an integrated program that encompasses multiple aspects of a reform processranging from designing effective classroom pedagogy to building salience and state capacity to deliver FLN at scale, while also strengthening governance and other critical enablers. Room to Read has partnered with the Education Department of Madhya Pradesh on a long-term engagement for system reform and a demonstration program in selected districts.

The Program Officer, Literacy Field will support the State Manager in the design of the program, execution, coordination with various stakeholders (government and non-profit partners), and delivering on a roadmap for building government capacity to sustain the impact and interventions from the program. The Program Officer, Literacy Field will report to the State Manager and will have Program Associates reporting to him/her. This position will involve frequent travel to field locations as well as regular interaction with state and district education officials, school administrators, teachers, and students.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Program Understanding:

- Develop a thorough understanding of Room to Read's Literacy program design and project deliverables.
- Possess strong awareness of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy programs, their design and strategies in the project region.
- Understand key government education policies such as NEP 2020, NCF, FLN, SIQE, Mission Ankur, etc.

On-ground Implementation and Monitoring:

- Oversee quality implementation of the project in the district and blocks, ensuring efficiency and adherence to program and budget guidelines.
- Conduct regular school visits, observe classrooms, interact with teachers and headmasters, and suggest improvements.
- Attend government forums like Mission Ankur to advocate for supportive policies.
- Provide feedback from field insights to State and Country Offices.
- Analyze field data and identify key programmatic issues and correlations.
- Track progress and expenditures; flag deviations promptly.
- Ensure adherence to financial and procurement norms.
- Use M&E framework to monitor key indicators.
- Actively participate in Room to Read's social media campaigns.
- Stay informed on interventions by like-minded organizations.
- Identify and resolve operational challenges in coordination with the State Manager.
- Lead all technical tasks at district level, build stakeholder capacity, and ensure material uptake.
- Support strategic planning, quality assurance, and sustainability efforts with the State Manager.

Government Liaison and Technical Support:

- Serve as a district-level technical resource and represent RtR in government forums.
- Advocate for foundational literacy and children's literature at district-level events.
- Interact regularly with government officials (CDEO, ADPC, DEEO, DIET, etc.).
- Facilitate discussions using field data to align on strategic decisions.
- Provide technical support to DIETs per NEP 2020 and NIPUN Bharat.

Team Coordination and Capacity Building:

- Oversee and coach Program Associates and Coordinators.
- Identify capability gaps and plan their professional development with the State Manager.
- Align with State Program Officers for technical support and program coordination.

Participation in Workshops/Meetings:

- Join IDTS workshops for material/module development and training.
- Attend state/national level review meetings, share feedback, and transfer innovations from national to field level.

Planning, Reporting and Documentation:

- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports including qualitative updates, case studies, and best practices.
- Lead donor reporting and manage timelines for planning and documentation.
- Supervise and ensure quality data entry for GSD, dashboards, etc.
- Analyze monitoring data for actionable insights.
- Create implementation calendars, forecasts, budgets, and financial reports.

Qualifications:

Required:

- Master's degree in education, social sciences, or equivalent preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in the education sector.
- Minimum 2 years of program management experience, preferably in education.
- Deep knowledge of foundational literacy, language and reading practices.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
- Prior team management experience.
- Proven ability to manage complex projects and achieve results.
- Willingness to travel frequently to remote project sites.

Location(s):

India - Madhya Pradesh

To be successful at Room to Read, you will also:

- Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization.
- Be a proactive and innovative thinker who achieves results and creates positive change.
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness.
- Embrace diversity and a commitment to collaboration.
- Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment.

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