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.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The International Basic Education Team in the International Development Division has an opening for a Senior International Technical Advisor (Senior Basic Education Advisor), reporting to the Director for International Basic Education, in Washington DC.

LOCATION: The Senior Basic Education Advisor may be based out of any of EDC's U.S. offices (Chicago, IL, NYC, Waltham, MA, or Washington, DC) or remote.                                                                               

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Basic Education Advisor will collaborate with colleagues to support EDC’s vision of effective basic education programming, including direct technical work; the development of productive relationships with clients, counterparts, and peer institutions; proposal development and writing for new business opportunities; and management of specific basic education projects. This position will involve periodic travel to provide short term technical assistance to active EDC projects. Work may include support to early childhood development, early grade literacy, mathematics, science, and/or social emotional learning and critical thinking programming; accelerated and/or alternative basic education for children and youth; programming to support learners with disabilities; technology solutions for basic education, etc. EDC’s international basic education work is largely in contexts of limited resources and capacity; fragility; and conflict/post-conflict environments; candidates are expected to have experience or interest in working in such contexts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

Basic Education Technical Functions

• Provides technical assistance for basic education projects in developing and middle income countries, including periodic travel to and work from field offices and remote collaboration with project teams;
• Stays abreast of, synthesizes, and communicates research, needs, and trends in basic education to support program improvement;
• Contributes to IDD International Basic Education Team quality assurance process;   
• Collaborates with the IBE Director and Director of Program Strategy to adjust technical strategies and approaches within the strategic plan, as needed, and to reflect lessons learned and emerging research findings;
• Supports the implementation of a robust research agenda to inform EDC’s work;
• Train IDD staff as needed on issues pertinent to basic education;
• Represents EDC’s basic education work in technical venues and to clients and potential clients.

Business Development Functions

• Participates in the design of potential new basic education interventions and contributes to writing technical sections of proposals
• Serves as lead writer for selected basic education proposals;
• Leads capture efforts for new business in selected countries;
• May act as technical lead for proposal design, as needed;
• Develops and maintains strong connections to funders and peer organizations and a presence in the international basic education community, in order to support new business positioning.

Project Management Functions

• Serves as home office project director for selected basic education projects, providing overall program management to support field activities;
• Coordinates with portfolio leads to ensure compliance, monitor and manage for results.

The role requires educational achievement and a strategic mind set; demonstrated technical expertise in basic education; writing skills, creativity, and flexibility; the ability to work independently and effectively; and strong interpersonal and organizational skills. Specific requirements include: 

• Master’s Degree required;
• With Master’s degree, 7–10 years related experience, including technical experience with USAID-funded projects;
• With PhD, 5–7 years related experience (as above);
• Knowledge of best practices and demonstrated experience in field-based education programming are required;
• Desired technical skill areas could include a combination of some of the following: curriculum development; standards development; literacy and mathematics assessment; materials development and production; teacher training; coaching and instructional supervision; community development to support education; gender and social inclusion; and instructional media;
• Experience writing successful proposals for international education programming is required.  Experience with USAID proposal writing preferred;
• Minimum of 3 years of project management experience in education is required;
• Professional proficiency in English and at least one other language required.  French preferred; Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, or local languages of EDC implementing contexts also preferred options;
• At least 5 years of international experience is required; experience in a developing country is preferred.

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, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.