Program Officer, Literacy

Job Description

Program Officer, Quality Reading Materials

Organization Profile

Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in low-income countries during two time periods which are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. By focusing on the quality of education provided within the communities and ensuring these outcomes are measured, we have created a model that can be replicated, localized and sustained by governments. Room to Read has benefited 10 million children across 17,000 communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia, and aims to reach 15 million children by 2020.

Position Overview

This position will work under the guidance and direction of Literacy Director. The Program Officer - QRM will organize and operationalize the complete process of QRM Unit of RtR in Nepal ensuring the quality of children’s books in coordination with Instruction Design and Teacher Support (IDTS) Unit and Curriculum Development Centre/Ministry of Education and other relevant organizations.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Organize and oversee the complete process of publishing Room to Read books inNepal.  This involves: sourcing local authors and illustrators, advising on story development, reviewing, editing, securing copy rights and ISBN codes, obtaining government approval, sending to print, etc.
• Responsible for evaluating, selecting and procuring materials from the marketplace that meet these criteria; where gaps are identified, work with local authors and illustrators to fill the gaps by commissioning and publishing reading materials, which involves sourcing local authors and illustrators, advising on story development, reviewing, editing, securing copy rights and ISBN codes, obtaining government approval, and sending to print.
• Collaborates with Admin/Procurement team to source needed materials and ensure delivery to schools.
• Coordinates with Global Office staff to facilitate donor allocation of book titles including providing information about titles, and sending copies of books once they are printed.
• Coordinates with Global Office to finalize English portions of published books, including dedication language, copyright information, story summaries, and author/illustrator biographies.
• Submits printing plan, including specifications and budget estimation, to procurement committee. Confirms specification and information as required by procurement committee.
• Organizes training for Illustrators and Writers on writing and illustrating high quality child friendly books.
• Work with authors and illustrators to produce original, high quality content that is appropriate for target age groups, suitable for the local cultural context and functional as a tool for education,
• Ensures global guidelines are being adhered to and adapted as needed.
• Establishes guidelines for authors and illustrators to produce original, high quality content that is appropriate for target age groups, suitable for the local cultural context and functional as a tool for education.
• Facilitate in translation of manuscripts (approved) in English or Nepali,
• Facilitate dialogues between authors, translators and illustrators; ensure attention to detail and steer efforts towards shared vision of a final product
• Liaises with IDTS team for recommendations on improving the content and layout of books and materials before submitting final drafts to Literacy Director for approval.
• Analyze and make recommendations for improving book content and layouts before submitting final drafts to Book Development Advisory Committee (BADC)
• Take part in meeting with Book Development Advisory Committees (internal and external) to select and finalize manuscripts sourced through workshops, individual submissions and through partners
• Help finalize layout and design of all the reading and instructional materials in close coordination with IDTS team
• Complete editing of all the reading and instructional materials before sending them into printing
• Take active role during facilitation and conducting writer’s and illustrator’s workshops in different districts of Nepal to build capacity of new children’s writers and source new manuscripts to be published by Room to Read that are locally and culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate.
• Work with Literacy Director to prepare detailed cost estimations of each book title, prepare annual budget and IC based on the cost and ensure that the publishing projects stick to budget.
• Coordinate with other programs such as IDTS and GEP during sourcing and development of manuscripts to make sure that the manuscripts meet the needs, requirement and criteria for other programs as well.
• Coordinate with Literacy Director and RM&E team to field test all the manuscripts before sending them to press for printing.
• Finalize manuscripts, make print ready copies and send to the press for printing on time.
• Verify the data that has been entered into the GSD for QRM program.
• Prepare reports such as MIU, monthly reports, quarterly reports and annual reports and share it with LD, CD and GO.
• Conduct program orientation to new staffs, partner organizations or any other concerned authority about QRM program 
• Collaborates with the CO Program Operations team on developing and providing oversight of the implementation calendar, budget, annual planning, quarterly reporting, and overall tracking of program implementation and spending.
• Completes detailed written reports in a timely basis to the Literacy Director regarding the status and progress of developing and printing books and other materials.
• Documents best practices and lessons learned during field work and shares with other project sites, relevant local staff, the Country Director and appropriate Regional and Global Office team members.
• Supports donor affairs including supporting donor site visits and documenting anecdotes that evolve through field work.
• Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of reading and the need for children’s books in Nepali language as well as early grade children’s books.
• Stay informed about Nepal’s children’s book publishing industry, investigating major children’s book publishers and local market demand
• Track changes in market trends with respect to content, format, types, age/grade levels, themes, languages (bi-lingual and/or minority languages) etc., and use this information to evaluate and inform Room to Read’s publishing initiatives
• Build partnerships with organizations and associations involved with children’s books (NGOs involved with content development, writers groups, creative writing departments of universities, etc.) with the goal of becoming a key player in this community.
• Participates in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization. 

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor Degree in Education or relevant field
• Minimum five years of professional experience
• Prior experience of working as  authors, illustrators or working experiences with authors and illustrators
• Knowledge and understanding of book publishing process
• Must have good project management skills e.g. budgeting, planning, implementation, coordination, reporting etc.
• Proficiency in graphic design, Nepali & English  Language Skills
• Proven experiences in designing and facilitating training and workshops using participatory methods.

Preferred

• Mastered Degree in Education or relevant field
• 3-5 years’ experience in  children literature development and publication

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker - you are not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.

Application Procedure

Please submit a cover letter explaining with evidences how you meet the above specifications along with your recent resume by email (no calls, faxes, or drop-ins, please) to “nepal.hiring@roomtoread.org” OR by post through G.P.O. Box 21103, Kathmandu with “Application for Program Officer - QRM as the case might be in the subject line.

For further details please visit http://www.roomtoread.org/page.aspx?pid=262 or emailnepal.hiring@roomtoread.org

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

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