Job Description
Field Manager

Organization Profile

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education. We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build life skills to succeed in secondary school and negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 39 million children and has worked in 24 countries and in more than 192,000 communities, providing additional support through remote solutions that facilitate learning beyond the classroom. Room to Read aims to benefit 40 million children by 2025. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.  

Since 2009 in Bangladesh, Room to Read has been implementing education support Programs in low-income and remote communities in Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Moulvibazar, Narail and Natore districts. Till 2023, we have supported the education of more than 0.4 million children in Primary and 7,386 girls in Secondary schools. We are proud to have worked with DPE, NCTB, NAPE, DSHE, a2i as well as national radio and TV in executing scalable and systemic initiatives to eradicate illiteracy and embed life-skills.

Field Manager
(Based in Narail/Jhalakathi Office and Reports to the Program Operations Director)

Position Overview:

The Field Manager (FM) is the representative of the Room to Read Bangladesh office in Narail/Jhalakathi. The FM is primarily responsible for leading and managing the field office and its cluster in efficiently and effectively implementing the annual calendar.  The position is required to take initiative for project management, improving work approaches, partnerships, and contributing to the development and strengthening of Country Office (CO) programs and ensure adequate staff to work at the field level. He/She will work to strengthen coordination and collaboration within teams and across all CO program teams, maintain and ensure constructive communication, build team morale within individual teams and within the organization and, contribute to a positive working environment. He/She will report to the Program Operations Director and will have various positions reporting to him/her.  The Field Manager directly manages the Literacy Program Officers, Program officer-Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Program, Admin and Accounts Associate and manages all the field staff approximately 15 to 25.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • This role involves leading, coordinating and reporting on the implementation and achievement of the CO's programs targets within the assigned region. This position will focus on maximizing impact for children while maintaining quality and cost-effectiveness, all in alignment with RtR strategy, policies and guidelines
  • Lead the development of field office’s annual and long-term plans, as well as creating budgets that align with RtRs goals and objectives
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly implementation and budget forecasting
  • Oversee fund disbursement, review field monthly financial expenses and approve them in alignment with RtR financial and purchasing policies and procedures  
  • Ensure that staff consistently comply with and adhere to the policies, procedures, and guidelines outlined in the CO handbooks. Additionally, facilitate the dissemination of information to all staff members, promoting transparency across the organization
  • Supervise and oversee the work of the field staff and is responsible for optimizing their productivity through effective management and leadership techniques, which involves coaching and advising. Additionally, conduct regular field visits to monitor and verify program progress and impact. During these visits, seek to understand the challenges and needs of various stakeholders (RtR’s staff, Social Mobilizers, Literacy Facilitators, communities, children etc..), and the appropriate RtR solutions
  • Support staff in areas of his/her responsibilities through consultation with CO technical team to regularly assess staff capacity building needs that prevent them from fully contributing to the CO's vision, mission, and programs’ objectives
  • Lead and facilitate field staff in quarterly or monthly meetings to review progress against plan, to find solutions to problems, share lesson learned, exchange expertise across programs and, to motivate and encourage teamwork
  • Ensure that staff is aware of and understands the programs’ goals/objectives, working approaches/methodology; and have all necessary information related to annual plan, targets, and implementation calendar
  • Coordinate the timely completion of annual planning & budgeting and ensure the performance management process is well planned and conducted timely for all field staff. This shall include setting performance goals, conducting progress check-ins, providing feedback, conducting year-end appraisal, and recommendation for staff development and career advancement
  • Regular meetings with local government representatives, NGO partners, school administrators and parent groups
  • Obtain necessary approval from local level government administrative authorities e.g. Project Completion Certificate, approval on school selection, approval on conducting training
  • Promote and protect the reputation of Room to Read in external settings, ensuring that the organization’s experience and expertise is well communicated and consistently presented, and that we are looked upon as a professional Education organization
  • Liaison with NGO Partner and Government Agencies especially at Divisional and district education levels. This includes periodic meetings with partners to exchange information and updating programs work progresses
  • Develop monthly, quarterly and other required reports for RtR, Donor and Government.
  • Attend to donor affairs including hosting donor and project site visits in collaboration with Communications & Documentation Team and Program Team
  • Represent Room to Read at relevant government meetings and in different forums and advocate for educating children
  • Ensures family and community engagement activities are managed in the region
  • Perform other tasks as assigned by the Program Operations Director or Country Director
  • Participate in any other activities, which may be required to fulfill the objectives of the organization

Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree in education, Social Science, or related fields
  • Minimum of 10 years related work experience with at least 5 years in similar position
  • Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, including teaching methodologies and community involvement in schools
  • Strong planning, budgeting/financial management, administrative, supervisory, coaching and program development skills
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • High commitment and trustworthy person
  • Work more effectively in problem solving and delegation approach
  • Ability to stay in the field and travel to designated project sites
  • Proven track record of achieving results
  • Experience in leadership and management roles
  • Computer literate (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Workshop/training and facilitation skill
  • Report writing experience
  • Networking and good interpersonal skills
  • Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
  • Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
  • Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
  • Proven track record of achieving results
  • Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative
  • Prior experience working with schools, teachers, administrators and government officials
  • Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks as well as developing and implementing improvements in a prior position

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also: 

  • Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic non-profit organization
  • Be an innovative and creative thinker – not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
  • Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
  • Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction 
  • Work well independently as well as part of a team
  •  Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation (Child Protection Principles)
Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. (PSEA Principles)
  • Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.
  • All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.
  • All children should be treated with respect and dignity.
  • The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.
  • Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.
  • Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.  
  • Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.
  • All adults should be treated with respect and dignity. 
  • Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.
  • Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.

Compensation:

We offer a competitive salary. The benefits include:

  • Provident Fund
  • 13th Month Allowance
  • Gratuity
  • Health coverage for staff and dependents
  • Insurances
  • Professional Development opportunities. The most significant benefit is the opportunity to work with one of the fastest growing international organizations, which has sole focus on education & continuously innovating efficient & effective social entrepreneurship

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates meeting the above requirements should apply online

on or before 20 October 2024. Any persuasion attempt will disqualify your candidacy. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

“Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply”