Job Description
Program Officer, Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Portfolio

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read develops children’s foundational literacy skills, as well as life-skills that promote gender equality. As a leading implementer, Room to Read nurtures these essential skills in children by strengthening education systems – all while honoring the dignity of every child.

Our ‘Literacy Portfolio’ supports children in developing literacy skills and a love of reading by training and coaching educators, creating quality curriculum and children’s book content in local languages, and enriching learning spaces that enable children to become independent readers.
Our ‘Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Portfolio’ supports all adolescents, particularly girls, to develop life skills that promote gender equality with curriculum that focuses on collaboration, resilience, leadership, decision-making and critical thinking.

Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow. Visit us at www.roomtoread.org.

UN World Food Programme (WFP) has entrusted Room to Read to implement a 5-year literacy intervention titled ‘McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program’ funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for over 31 thousand students of 149 Government Primary Schools in Madhabpur, Habiganj. As the education technical partner, Room to Read Bangladesh will deliver interventions to enhance students’ literacy skills from Pre-Primary up to Grade 5.

Position Overview:

The Program Officer of Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Portfolio (GEP) will be responsible for providing technical support in carrying out all activities of Room to Read’s Girls’ Education program.  This includes support to Manager in Program Management, Contextualization, facilitating training for Social Mobilizers on program content and delivery, providing technical guidance to ensure Social Mobilizers conduct activities in line with global program design.

This position will require travel to all the working areas of Room to Read as well as regular interaction with education officials, partners, school administrators, teachers and students. This position requires expertise in life skill training, mentoring, networking, advocacy, and supervising. The Program Officer of Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Portfolio (GEP) will report to the Program Manager, Girls’ Education and Gender Equality Portfolio.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Support GEP Program Manager in Program Management, Contextualization, Training and Coordination (70%)

  • Prepare session plan and conduct session with PM GEP to prepare Country Field & Partner Office GEP staff in the use of contextualized program content and professional learning materials.
  • Provide technical oversight of GEP staff and Social Mobilizers (SMs); including providing on-going capacity building, on-site coaching, and technical support as required to address issues of program implementation quality in content areas.
  • Provide general technical support to Country Field & Partner Office GEP staff in program content areas where contextualized worldwide content and professional development are not yet available.
  • Monitor and collect feedback/best practices on the use of contextualized program content and professional learning materials, including conducting regular field visits
  • Provide feedback & input to  PM GEP for sharing with the Global PDTA team on the use and effectiveness of contextualized program content and professional learning materials to improve design and content
  • Revise contextualized program content and professional learning materials as needed based on learnings from field implementation, in collaboration with the Global Office GEP Manager
  • Responsible for development of digital content and providing training and orientation to the target group and relevant staff
  • Collect draft digital contents from the vendor and arrange for staff review session, compile feedback and comments for improvement and finalization of the digital content.
  • Carry out other activities as may be required to fulfill the objectives of the organization
  • Frequent travel to the field for overseeing the technical and quality aspects of GEP program.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation (20%)

  • Provide program technical expertise to the Country Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (RM&E) team to support design, implementation and refinement of monitoring and evaluation systems and procedures used to track progress against planned program outcomes
  • Prepare the program & donor reports as necessary
  • Prepare field visit report and provide suggestions for program improvement.
  • Check GSD data for GEP program and support the field GEP staff to update/ correct GSD data if required
  • Document best practices, case studies and lessons learned and shared with the GEP team, as needed.

External Coordination and Networking (10%)

  • Develop and maintain relationships with community and school members, local educational authorities, government officials, and other NGOs as needed to mobilize support for the program
  • Represent Room to Read internally and externally by attending and speaking at relevant forums, advocating for the importance of girls’ education and gender equality program work

Qualification:

Required

  • Master’s degree required in a related field of study in Education, Social Work, Gender & Women Study or other related field;
  • A minimum of 5 years of related professional work experience with NGOs, INGOs or other Development sector;
  • Proven track record in developing and implementing program improvements that achieve results;
  • Knowledge, understanding, and experience in conducting trainings for adults and adolescents;
  • Experience adapting program and/or training content to fit different contexts;
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English;
  • Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office programs;
  • Strong planning, supervising, and program development skills;
  • Prior success working and building relationships with diverse groups of people;
  • Understanding of monitoring, evaluation, and process documentation;
  • Ability and desire to travel frequently to Room to Read program sites.

Preferred:

  • Significant experience working in Bangladesh with government schools, teachers, youth workers, and school-going adolescents
  • Experience with mentoring, coaching, and/or providing capacity building support
  • Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
  • Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative
  • Effectiveness in working in a non-governmental organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead

General Requirements

  • Willingness & ability to visit program sites extensively;
  • Skill & experience of working with e-communication & people with diverse culture;
  • Strong communication skills in Bangla and English;
  • Excellent computer operating skill;
  • Ability to work under pressure;
  • Comfortable in a performance-based organization working with low overhead budget;
  • Proven track record of achieving results;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

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 on 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-centred 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 https://osv-rtr.wd5.myworkdayjobs
.com/en-US/RoomToRead/job/Bangladesh---Main---Dhaka/Program-Officer--Girls--Education-and-Gender-Equality-Portfolio_R-03010-1 on or before 30 June 2025. Any persuasion attempt will disqualify your candidacy. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

“Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply”