World Change Starts with Educated Children® 

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IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

 Position Overview

The Literacy Program Officer (LPO) is responsible for leading the planning and implementation of Room to Read’s Literacy Program under Happy Cambodian Children (HCC) project in the province. S/he oversees project partnerships and engagement, supervises project staff, and manages the execution of all project activities, including training and mentoring to improve pedagogy practices and to enhance literacy outcomes for students from kindergarten to grade 6. S/he serves as the primary technical resource for project schools and local government stakeholders. This role requires frequent travel to project sites and reports directly to the Field Manager and dot line to HCC Project Manager.

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Management, Implementation, and Coordination

• Serve as the field-level technical expert on literacy skills and reading habits, coordinating closely with the HCC Project Manager to ensure fidelity to the program design.

• Provide managerial and technical supervision to Literacy Facilitators, supporting their professional development and effectiveness in mentoring teachers and librarians.

• Lead and facilitate training and capacity building workshops on children’s learning and reading skills improvement, reading habit promotion, early childhood learning activities to promote art and literacy development in kindergarten to grade 6.

• Provides regular mentoring and support LF to ensure the new instructional material and library packages deliver effectively to reach children learning outcome based on the project roadmap.

• Provide technical input to improve the learning environment and support the use of age-appropriate learning aids and print-rich materials.

• Lead and coordinate schools to enhance classroom administration and management to enrich activities for children learning to improve inclusiveness, quality, and utilization of new literacy materials and resources.

• Support schools in establishing and ensuring on-going well-functioning and child-friendly libraries

• Oversee all logistics and operation related to Literacy Program training, meeting, and other activities in schools to ensure all schools receive enough learning and teaching materials in a timely manner.

• Collaborate in conducting technical gap analyses and field testing of new teaching and learning materials.

School Governance and Community Engagement:

• Contribute recommendations to enhance the Literacy Program’s long-term impact and sustainability in project schools, with a focus on improving learning outcomes, fostering community engagement.

• Collaborate with local education stakeholders and actively participate in leadership meetings at district or provincial levels to promote awareness of and support literacy activities in the project schools.

• Lead and support School-Based Management Committee (SMC) in the development and implementation of School Development Plans, ensuring that literacy activities are aligned with broader school improvement objectives.

• Coordinate with project schools to organize literacy-focused meetings and events aimed at increasing community and caregiver awareness and support children’s learning activities.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation

• Develop the project annual plan and budget, the implementation calendar to ensure timely and effective delivery of activities.

• Oversee project budgeting, monthly forecasting, and expense related to the project implementation alignment with Room to Read’s financial policy and guideline.

• Lead and facilitate program meetings with staff to reflect on progress, challenges, and suggestions for project implementation improvements on a quarterly and monthly basis.

• Review and consolidate progress reports from assigned schools and submit them to the Field Manager and HCC Project Manager on a quarterly and monthly basis.

• Oversee collection and entry of all project data and information for project management purposes sufficiently, regularly, timely and accurately.

• Manage goal setting, mid-year and year-end reviews, and one-on-one performance discussions with Literacy Facilitators under their supervision.

• Documents and reports best practices and lessons learned from the field visits and submit to direct supervisor and relevant sections for communicating to external parties (government, donors, regional & global staff).

• Participate in review meetings and other required organizational activities.

• Carry out other duties as assigned by the management line.

External Coordination and Networking

• Engage with Department of Education, government partners and other stakeholders at the provincial and district levels (e.g., PoE and DoE) to build strong partnerships and secure support for project activities and sustainability.

• Coordinate and participate in donor visits and provide relevant program updates as needed.

• Represent Room to Read in relevant forums and actively advocate for early literacy and the importance of children’s libraries.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, communities, and partner NGOs.

Qualifications

Required: 

• University degree in Education, Social development, or other related field 

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of teaching methodologies, curriculum and teacher training at the primary stage 

• Minimum of 5 years’ related work experience 

• Experience developing and delivering teacher training

• Working knowledge and understanding of project management methodology and software

• Strong planning, budgetary, supervising, and project implementation skills

• Proven ability to work effectively with schools and communities

• Good interpersonal skills and a team player 

• Proven ability to build the capacity of others to achieve desired outcomes  

• Ability and desire to travel frequently  

• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously 

Preferred: 

• Master’s degree in Education or related field  

• Experience teaching at the primary grade level 

• Experience working with rural communities  

• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organisation that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead 

• Prior track record of achieving results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organisation 

• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks as well as developing and implementing improvements in a prior position

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with attractive benefits. Benefits include 13th month salary, provident funds, monthly medical allowance and yearly medical check-up, health and accidental insurances for staff and their family, leaves and staff professional development are also provided. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organisation that is changing, transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing 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.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. Disabled people of all types are encouraged to apply. Room to Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

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.