Program Officer, Gender Equality Portfolio

Job Description

Title: Program Officer, Gender Equality Portfolio

Company Name: Room to Read Bangladesh

Vacancy: --

Age: At least 25 years

Job Location: Anywhere in Bangladesh

Salary: --

Experience:

• At least 7 years

• Masters

• Master’s degree required in a related field of study in Education, Social Work, Gender & Women Study or other related field;

• At least 7 years

• Age At least 25 years

• A minimum of 7 years of related professional work experience with NGOs, INGOs or other Development sector;

• Proven track record in developing and implementing program improvements that achieve results;

• Knowledge, understanding, and experience in conducting training for adults and adolescents;

• Experience adapting program and/or training content to fit different context;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills both in English and Bangla;

• Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office programs;

• Strong planning, supervising, and program development skills;

• Prior success working and building relationships with diverse groups of people;

• Understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and process documentation;

• Ability and desire to travel frequently to Room to Read program sites.

Preferred:

• Able to work independently and collaboratively under pressure while maintaining high-quality output and meeting deadlines.

• Significant experience working in Bangladesh with government schools, teachers, youth workers, and school-going adolescents

• Experience with mentoring, coaching, and/or providing capacity building support

• Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization

• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative independently

• Effectiveness in working in a non-governmental organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead

General Requirements:

• Demonstrated flexibility and readiness to conduct frequent field visits to program sites, including travel via public transport;

• Skill & experience of working with e-communication & people with diverse culture;

• Strong communication skills in Bangla and English;

• Excellent computer operating skill;

• Good team player and obey office time table;

• Comfortable in a performance-based organization working with low overhead budget;

• Proven track record of achieving results;

• Strong adaptability and resilience, with a commitment to maintaining mutual respect among all staff and stakeholders;

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

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 on a dynamic non-profit organization

• Be an innovative and creative thinker – 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 and require minimal direction

• Work well independently as well as part of a team

• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation (Child Protection Principles)

• 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.

Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. (PSEA Principles)

• 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-centred approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.

• Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.

Organization Profile

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read develops children’s foundational literacy skills, as well as life-skills that promote gender equality. As a leading implementer, Room to Read nurtures these essential skills in children by strengthening education systems – all while honoring the dignity of every child.

Our ‘Literacy Portfolio’ supports children in developing literacy skills and a love of reading by training and coaching educators, creating quality curriculum and children’s book content in local languages, and enriching learning spaces that enable children to become independent readers.

Our ‘Gender Equality Portfolio’ supports all adolescents, particularly girls, to develop life skills that promote gender equality with curriculum that focuses on collaboration, resilience, leadership, decision-making and critical thinking.

Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow. Visit us at www.roomtoread.org

UN World Food Programme (WFP) has entrusted Room to Read to implement a 5-year literacy intervention titled ‘McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program’ funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for over 31 thousand students of 149 Government Primary Schools in Madhabpur, Habiganj. As the education technical partner, Room to Read Bangladesh will deliver interventions to enhance students’ literacy skills from Pre-Primary up to Grade 5.

Position Overview:

The Program Officer of Gender Equality Portfolio (GEP) will be responsible for providing technical support in carrying out all activities of Room to Read’s Gender Equality Portfolio. This includes support to Manager in Program Management, Contextualization, facilitating training for Master Trainer, Teachers and GEP staffs on program content and delivery, providing technical guidance to ensure that filed level GEP staffs conduct activities in line with global program design.

This position will require frequent travel to all the working areas of Room to Read for training and monitoring purpose, as well as regular interaction with education officials, partners, school administrators, teachers and students. This position requires expertise in gender transformative approach, life skill training, mentoring, networking, advocacy, and supervising. The Program Officer Gender Equality Portfolio (GEP) will report to the Program Manager, Gender Equality Portfolio.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Support GEP Program Manager in Program Management, Contextualization, Training and Coordination (70%)

• Prepare session plan and conduct session with Program Manager, Gender Equality Portfolio to prepare Country Field & Partner Office Gender Equality Portfolio staff in the use of contextualized program content and professional learning materials.

• Provide technical oversight to Govt. Officials, Gender Equality Portfolio staff, Master Trainer and Teachers; including providing on-going capacity building, on-site coaching, and technical support as required to address issues of program implementation quality in content areas.

• Provide general technical support to Country Field & Partner Office Gender Equality Portfolio staff in program content areas where contextualized worldwide content and professional development are not yet available.

• Monitor and collect feedback/best practices on the use of contextualized program content and professional learning materials, including conducting regular field visits

• Provide feedback and input to Program Manager, Gender Equality Portfolio for sharing with the Global PDTA team on the use and effectiveness of contextualized program content and professional learning materials to improve design and content

• Revise contextualized program content and professional learning materials as needed based on learnings from field implementation, in collaboration with the Global Office Gender Equality Portfolio Manager

• Responsible for development of digital content and providing training and orientation to the target group and relevant staff

• Collect draft digital contents from the vendor and arrange for staff review session, compile feedback and comments for improvement and finalization of the digital content.

• Carry out other activities as may be required to fulfill the objectives of the organization

• Frequent travel to the field for overseeing the technical and quality aspects of Gender Equality Portfolio program.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation (20%)

• Provide program technical expertise to the Country Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (RM&E) team to support design, implementation and refinement of monitoring and evaluation systems and procedures used to track progress against planned program outcomes

• Prepare the program and donor reports as necessary

• Prepare field visit report and provide suggestions for program improvement.

• Check GSD data for Gender Equality Portfolio program and support the field GEP staff to update/ correct GSD data if required

• Document best practices, case studies and lessons learned and shared with the Gender Equality Portfolio team, as needed.

External Coordination and Networking (10%)

• Develop and maintain relationships with Govt. Officials, community and school members, local educational authorities, and other NGOs as needed to mobilize support for the program

• Represent Room to Read internally and externally by attending and speaking at relevant forums, advocating for the importance of girls’ education and gender equality program work

We offer a competitive salary. The benefits include:

• Provident Fund

• 13th Month Allowance

• Gratuity

• Health coverage for staff and dependents

• Insurances

• Professional Development opportunities. The most significant benefit is the opportunity to work with one of the fastest growing international organizations, which has sole focus on education & continuously innovating efficient & effective social entrepreneurship.