Senior Early Grade Literacy/Reading Advisor, Worldwide
RTI International is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 4000 provide research and technical services to governments and businesses in more than 75 countries in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, international development, economic and social policy, energy and the environment, and laboratory testing and chemical analysis.
RTI's International Education Division is supporting education development around the world by strengthening education policy, management and practice in order to achieve measurable improvement in teaching and learning. From our well-established reputation in education system strengthening, to innovative work in early grade learning assessments and teaching and learning programmatic interventions, RTI is improving education quality, relevance and efficiency through implementation of projects funded by USAID, DFID, DFAT and other donors and clients. RTI’s current portfolio of international education projects includes countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The International Education Division is currently accepting applications for Senior Early Grade Literacy/Reading Advisors for upcoming donor-funded projects focused on improving early grade literacy/reading outcomes. The Senior Early Grade Literacy/Reading Advisor provides pedagogical leadership in the design and implementation of early grade literacy/reading interventions and technical assistance. S/he oversees the development of the overall program approach, curriculum and materials development, teacher training and support, and strategies for community involvement. Collaboration with, and capacity building of, government and stakeholder counterparts is also critical for success.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Provide technical leadership and quality assurance in the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of programming that supports early grade literacy/reading, focused on formal and/or non-formal education.
- Design and coordinate student assessments and classroom-based evaluations, from the school to national level.
- Review existing curricula and coordinate the development of high quality instructional materials for learners, teachers and teacher trainers.
- Design and implement teacher education and support activities, as well as related capacity building programs of ministry of education counterparts and staff.
- Organize, manage and support technical teams and external technical assistance.
- Oversee early grade literacy/reading instruction activities of project partners and ensure pedagogical alignment across project activities.
- Collaborate with project operational teams in developing operational plans and budgets for project early grade literacy/reading instruction activities.
- Monitor and adapt early grade literacy/reading instruction activities as needed based on lessons learned and changes in the external environment.
- Build partnerships with education institutions that contribute to the creation and delivery of early grade literacy/reading programming and teacher professional development.
- Collaborate closely with, and build capacity for, ministries of education, non-ministry partners, as well as short-term technical experts, on all aspects of literacy/reading interventions and assessment.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree in education (PhD preferred), with a focus on curriculum and instruction, early grade reading/ literacy, teacher training/professional development, and/or assessment.
- At least 8 years of experience working in the field of early grade reading, literacy or reading instruction, and/or teacher training/professional development.
- At least 2 years long-term in-country experience in the implementation of education improvement programming in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and/or the Middle East.
- Direct experience with the development of early grade literacy/reading materials, teacher and head teacher training programs, classroom monitoring protocols, and tests and assessments.
- Demonstrated ability to work with host government counterparts and project partners in the design and implementation of interventions to support early grade literacy/reading.
- Prior experience working on donor-funded education programs (USAID, DFID, or DFAT).
- Ability to collaborate with local stakeholders and other NGOs to design, implement, and monitor/evaluate parent, family, and community mobilization activities, including activities designed to sensitize families and communities about the needs of children with disabilities and other marginalized children, in support of early grade literacy outcomes.
- Ability to ensure that all early grade literacy activities are respectful and inclusive of all children, including girls, children with disabilities, and children from other marginalized sub-groups.
- Fluency in English. Fluency in another language, specifically French or Arabic, a plus.
To Apply: If you would like to be considered for future opportunities as a Senior Early Grade Literacy/Reading Advisor on a donor-funded education development project with RTI International in Africa, Asia, or MENA, please submit your resume to the following link: www.rti.org/job16992. Compensation and allowance packages are commensurate with experience and post location.Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short listed applicants will be contacted.
RTI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
