Job Description
Program Officer, Gender Equality Portfolio

Organization Profile
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 in 29 countries. As a leading implementer, we nurture 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 ‘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.bd.

Since 2009 in Bangladesh, Room to Read is implementing education support Programs in low-income and remote communities in Natore, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Moulvibazar, Narail and Jhalokathi districts. Till 2024, we have supported the education of more than 2.4 million children in Primary and 3.1 million girls in Secondary schools in various capacities. 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.

Position Overview:

The Program Officer, Gender Equality Portfolio (PO, GEP) at Room to Read will oversee all aspects of the Program at the field level. The role involves developing, planning, training, implementing, and monitoring programs for Social Mobilizers, supporting teachers, and enhancing the progress of participants. The position focuses on scaling up GEP activities at the school level, assisting teachers in effectively delivering global life skill sessions, improving the sustainability of the Gender Equality Portfolio, and ensuring that Room to Read participants receive a quality education and perform well academically. The position requires skills in project management, Gender responsive approach life skill education, mentoring, networking, accounting, and supervising. The Program Officer, GEP will report to the Field Manager. The Social Mobilizers are the direct reports to Program Officer, GEP.

Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Program Implementation and Training:
    • Support Social Mobilizers (SM) to ensure they are providing targeted and appropriate support so that girls receive quality life skills sessions and parents receive quality parent workshops aligned to the standards in our worldwide program content packages.
    • Support Social Mobilizers to facilitate group discussions which may include providing ideas for discussion topics and coaching the SMs on how to handle difficult topics.
    • Ensure Social Mobilizers know how to coach to identify and support girls at risk of dropping or failing out of school using Room to Read’s risk and response protocol.
    • Conduct Social Mobilizers performance reviews.
    • Facilitate Social Mobilizers review meetings to discuss and identify solutions to challenges Social Mobilizers are facing, challenges with data collection, or other field- level program implementation challenges.
    • Supports the Senior Program Manager to ensure overall program implementation quality, including local adaptation of Room to Read’s worldwide program content, meets Room to Read’s standards.
    • Ensure school authorities and communities are supportive of the program and fulfilling the agreements they made.
    • Conduct training for Social Mobilizers which may include co-facilitating training sessions with Senior Program Manager.
    • Participate in regular training and meetings with Room to Read staff, as planned;
    • Participate in regular review meetings and any other activities that may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.
    • Coordinate with other Program Officers/Program Manager to implement GEP activities.
    • Participate in donor site visits and provide information to donors about Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program as needed.
  • Planning, Reporting and Documentation:
    • Ensure the Social Mobilizers are monitoring and keeping records of girls including attendance, academic performance, and other program activities as required by program design.
    • Prepare and review regular staff reports.
    • Participate in annual planning and budgeting for project areas of assignment.
    • Responsible for expenses and expense reporting in project areas of assignment.
    • Document best practices, case studies and lessons learned and shared with the GEP Team, as needed.

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

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 https://osv-rtr.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/RoomToRead/job/Bangladesh---Dhaka/Program-Officer--GEP_R-03127-1?locations=0cda115124c7105de70089aad523c0db&locations=6706d3461dbd100138df918993200000&locations=92fc31e3a9f2011f66dc592a30013089&locations=71fd72b1ef2d4bb486a438572d85262c&locations=75da7d7327fc100136cd6fed9d800000&locations=49c1c294faed100133a793864c830000&locations=2947b8d3b7cc10f1e74fdbdc70be7a40&locations=bb798b7a879646629ba66234dedb914d  on or before 24 December 2025. Any persuasion attempt will disqualify your candidacy. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

“Only qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply”