Literacy Coordinator

Join AIR as a Literacy Coordinator  with our International Development Division (IDD) and make a difference, improving the quality of life for individuals and communities in low and middle income countries. AIR’s IDD work spans the globe with projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East.

The Literacy Coordinator will work on a USDA-funded Food for Education (FFE) project in Lesotho. This is a five-year project aiming to achieve two main objectives: 1) improved literacy of school-aged children; and 2) increased nutrition, health and dietary practices of beneficiaries in Lesotho. This is a project position based in Maseru, Lesotho.

Literacy Coordinator is field based and will closely support AIR headquarters in designing, developing, and rolling-out of the literacy interventions in collaboration with implementing partners and other in-country stakeholders.  This is a full-time local position based in Maseru, Lesotho. Lesotho citizens are encouraged to apply.

Our IDD team is committed and engaged because we drive positive change in the following areas:

• Agriculture, food, and nutrition
• Early childhood development and education
• Refugees and migration
• Social protection
• Water, sanitation, and infrastructure
• Women's empowerment
• Workforce development

Use your experience, knowledge, and education to help us deliver on our mission: to contribute to a better, more equitable world.

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff by clicking here .

The responsibilities for the position include:

The Literacy Coordinator will work closely with the Literacy Lead and will be responsible for supporting the design and oversight of literacy assessments, materials mapping and development, and training for teachers and other educators. The full list of responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work closely with the Literacy Lead to support the overall management and technical guidance of all literacy implementation and research activities throughout the lifecycle of the program
• Work closely with AIR headquarters technical team and the prime implementing partner in design, development, and implementation of the interventions
• Support the Literacy Lead in overseeing and managing the local team, operations and budget
• Support the Literacy Lead in preparing expected donor’s deliverables (e.g., annual or semi-annual reports) as needed
• Support the Literacy Lead in facilitating stakeholder workshops, dissemination events to improve the design and update the pedagogical materials
• Support the Literacy Lead in facilitating development of school curricular materials based on effective pedagogical methodologies and strategies for learning to read and write agreed upon with HO
• Support the Literacy Lead in facilitating design and implementation of professional development activities for pre-service and in-service teachers on literacy instruction
• Provide coordination and support in linking evaluations and assessment (e.g., EGRA) results to the development of appropriate supplemental instructional materials, teacher training and parental/community support for language skills acquisition
• Support the Literacy Lead in providing oversight for literacy research activities
• Support the Literacy Lead in developing literacy content for distance learning modalities aimed at primary students and teachers
• Assist in project quality assurance efforts
• Have – and continue to develop and maintain – a good rapport with key government and stakeholder agencies, especially the Ministry of Education and Training, teacher Training Units, and all literacy supervisors and literacy Coaches
• Ensure effective coordination with national and decentralized education institutions and local partners
• Work closely with all FFE staff based in Maseru and the three project field offices

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• At minimum Master’s degree or equivalent in a related area such as Education, Developmental Psychology, or Cognitive Psychology (focus on reading/literacy, early childhood, or elementary education is preferred)
• A minimum of three - five years of experience in the design and implementation of international development programs with demonstrated expertise in education and literacy
• Understanding and experience working in bilingual environments
• Demonstrated proficiencies in writing, conceptualizing, analyzing, and consulting
• Experience managing detailed and complex projects and teams preferred but not required

 Skills: 

• Fluency in English
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
• Well-established knowledge of the Lesotho education system
• Ability and willingness to live outside of the capital, and travel to remote areas
• Proficiency in Sesotho or other local languages is preferred but not required

Disclosures:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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