Overview
AIR is currently seeking a Literacy Lead to join our International Development Division (IDD). Literacy Lead will work on a USDA-funded Food for Education 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.
Literacy Lead is field based in Lesotho 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 and location is TBD (dependent on program design). Lesotho citizens are encouraged to apply.
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 International Development Division (IDD) strives to improve the quality of life in developing countries by using rigorous research and evaluation to enhance education and social development. We work across a wide range of topics including workforce development, agriculture/food/nutrition, early childhood development, education, refugees and migration, social protection, water/sanitation/infrastructure, and women’s empowerment in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Central and Latin America as well as the Middle East. The IDD generates policy-relevant evidence through rigorous monitoring, evaluations, and research; helps improve program design through continuous learning and adaptation; and works with local organizations and governments to build sustainable solutions based on evidence.
Responsibilities
The Literacy Lead will work closely with the team 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 includes, but is not limited to:
- Literacy Lead will support the overall management and technical guidance of all literacy implementation and research activities throughout the lifecycle of the program
- Literacy Lead will closely work with AIR headquarters technical team and the prime implementing partner in design, development, and implementation of the interventions
- Literacy Lead will support in overseeing and managing the local team, operations and budget
- Literacy Lead will support in preparing expected donor’s deliverables (e.g., annual or semi-annual reports) as needed
- Literacy Lead will support in facilitating stakeholder workshops, dissemination events to improve the design and update the pedagogical materials
- Literacy Lead will support in facilitating development of school curricular materials based on effective pedagogical methodologies and strategies for learning to read and write agreed upon with HO
- Literacy Lead will support 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
- Literacy Lead will support in providing oversight for literacy research activities
- Literacy Lead will support 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 Ministry of Education and teacher training schools (e.g., the Lesotho College of Education and the Lesotho National Teacher Training College) and all literacy supervisors and any literacy coaches
- Ensure effective coordination with national and decentralized education institutions and local partners
- Work closely with all FFE staff based in the country
Qualifications
Education, Knowledge, and Experience:
- At minimum Masters degree or equivalent in a related area such as Education, Developmental Psychology, or Cognitive Psychology (focus on reading/literacy, early childhood, or elementary education)
- A minimum of 7 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 and supporting the transition to learning in Sesotho
- 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 Lesotho education system
- Ability and willingness to live outside of the capital, and travel to remote areas
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.