EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  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.

Project Description 

The goal of the five-year, $30 million, USAID-funded Basic Education Quality and Transition Activity is to improve foundational reading, writing, math, and social and emotional skills acquisition for children and youth through the formal education system and to increase the transition rate of students from primary to lower secondary education in targeted rural municipalities of Guatemala. The Activity is planned to be an initial award with a follow-on transition award to a local subrecipient(s), and as such aims to strengthen the organizational and technical capacities of local subrecipient(s) to manage funds from USAID or other donors and to sustain key components of the Activity. A key objective of BEQT is to build capacity of new and underutilized local subrecipient partner(s) to eventually become qualified lead implementers in a transition award, capable of implementing and sustaining key components of BEQT. 

BEQT will implement solutions to the development challenge in three municipalities each in Baja Verapaz, Huehuetenango, El Quiché, and San Marcos and must advance the following Activity Results: 

• Result 1: Reading, writing, math, SEL outcomes for all learners in primary school and primero básico in target areas improved 
• Result 2: Rate of student transition from the final grade of primary school to primero básico for all learners in target areas increased 
• Result 3: Local subrecipient(s) capacity to implement and sustain key components of the Activity strengthened 

Position Description:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) acts as the Chief of Party (COP) in the absence of the COP, and is responsible for management of the technical activities and implementation of the project. The DCOP oversees and ensures effective project implementation in Baja Verapaz, Huehuetenango, El Quiché, and San Marcos. Guatemalan citizens are encouraged to apply for this position.  

Reporting and Organizational Relationships:  

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) is a full-time position reporting to the Chief of Party, and will be based in Baja Verapas with 50% travel to project offices in  Huehuetenango, El Quiché, San Marcos,  and Guatemala City.    

Please Note: This position is not eligible for relocation or posting allowances and the salary will be paid in Guatemalan quetzal.

The candidate for the position of Deputy Chief of Party shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:   

Education: 

Requires a master’s degree in a relevant field such as education, management, social sciences or development studies (or bachelor’s degree with five years of relevant experience). 

Skills and Experience: 

• At least 8 years of experience successfully implementing international development activities, including 3 years’ senior program management experience and supervision of professional/support staff.  
• Management experience in areas such as finance, procurement, operations, and human resources preferred. 
• Latin America education sector working experience, particularly in Guatemala is preferred.   
• Education sector experience in early grade reading, community engagement,  monitoring, oversight, capacity building preferred; and  
• Experience in awarding and managing grants to local organizations to promote education-related goals preferred.   

Language: 

Full fluency in Spanish is required. Working proficiency with English and familiarity with Western Highlands local language is highly preferred.  

EDC is 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.