Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.    

The USAID Let’s Read Project is a 5-year, $48.9 million project in the five target provinces of Eastern, Muchinga, Southern, Northwestern and Western Zambia that works to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending pre-primary (kindergarten) through to Grade 3 and provide professional development for teachers to support reading interventions in Zambian public and community schools.

Position Description

The Reading Specialist (RS) will be an integral part of the USAID Let’s Read Strategy Team comprised of the Senior Reading Director (SRD), Reading Materials Development Specialist (RMDS), MoGE and other key stakeholders and partners to develop, adapt, finalize and implement  teaching and learning materials and approaches to support Early Grade Reading objectives.

Essential Functions, but are not limited to:

• Work collaboratively and proactively with the Let’s Read Strategy Team and associated experts to advance successful outcomes for K-3 learners and ensure sustainability of interventions;
• Collaborate with government and private sector partners to guide the development of strategies, tools and products in a timely manner
• Represent the interests of USAID Let’s Read Project in public communications
• Provide technical leadership at the provincial and district levels to program work related to improving early grade reading outcomes;
• Work toward building capacity of sector partners – government and private through intentional communication on literacy development
• Provide technical leadership, in collaboration with Let’s Read Strategy Team and associated experts, to successfully carryout essential components of the comprehensive reading program, including curriculum design, lesson planning, instructional approach, teacher professional development, materials development and distribution, classroom-level assessment, and large-scale assessment, to develop and integrate highly effective activities for maximum effectiveness at the program level;
• Engage collaboratively with actors across the education system to optimize use of available resources with specific attention to school and classroom management practice, including quality assurance, supportive supervision, and coaching leading to improvement in learning outcomes at the primary-school level;
• Ensure the quality of teaching and learning materials and training and coaching resources in at least one Mother Tongue (potentially up to three Mother Tongues depending on province);
• Contribute to the design and implementation of the project’s learning agenda;
• Support other project specialists, including on the operations side (Financial, Procurement, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning) to ensure timely design, procurement, distribution, and implementation;
• Work with counterparts in all Let’s Read target provinces, as well as the Main Office, to ensure coherent design and implementation across the project’s target regions;
• Contribute to Quarterly and Annual Reports (narratives, photos, success stories, training agendas, and other inputs as requested);
• Facilitate site visits by key stakeholders as requested; and
• Other duties, as assigned.

Reporting and Organizational Relationships:

The Reading Specialist reports to the Senior Reading Director.

The candidate for the position of Reading Specialist shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Bachelors’ degree in education or other related field, preferably with a specialty in early grade reading.

Skills and Experience:

• At least 8 years’ experience coordinating national training events;
• Demonstrated expertise in early grade reading and primary curriculum development;
• Experience in early grade teacher training design and delivery;
• Experience in teacher continuous professional development, including instructional coaching/supervision, preferably in reading;
• Experience developing early grade reading curriculum and instructional materials;
• Familiarity with best practices in early grade reading assessment, including continuous classroom assessment (formative and summative);
• Understanding of and experience working with or within the Zambian Ministry of General Education;
• Understanding of and experience working with or within Zambian community schools;
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of professionals;
• Ability to manage multiple, time-sensitive tasks professionally and with high quality;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Must be able to work within a cross cultural setting, negotiate diplomatically, and function well under pressure;
• Ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in difficult work environment; and
• Willingness to travel to provinces covered by the project.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of (and proficiency in) Chinyanja, Chitonga, Silozi, Lunda, Luvale, Kiikaonde and Icibemba languages highly preferred.

Job Closing Date: June 7,  2019

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified. No phone calls, please.

Applications submitted without a resume will not be considered.

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EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.