Program Officer Literacy Field

Room to Read; India; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Thirteenth month bonus

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Room to Read India Trust and its FLN PMU initiative seek a Technical Specialist to provide strategic support for foundational literacy and numeracy in Bihar. The role requires collaboration with government bodies and education partners to strengthen policy, training, and monitoring systems.

Responsibilities include coordinating with SCERT/DIETs, guiding field implementation, and ensuring data-driven decision-making while building state capacity for sustainable literacy improvements.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education or social sciences; equivalent preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in education.
• In-depth knowledge of foundational literacy, language, and reading practices.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for FLN interventions across Bihar.
• Coordinate with SCERT, DIETs, and district education offices.
• Monitor program implementation and report progress.
• Build capacity through trainings and workshops under Mission NIPUN Bihar.
• Contribute to data collection, analysis, and policy recommendations.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication

Critical thinking and analytical

Team coordination

Willingness to travel

Education

Master’s degree in education / social sciences

Job description

Job Description:

World Change Starts with Educated Children®

IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Position Overview:

TheOfficer (Technical Specialist) – FLN PMU (Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Project Management Unit)will provide strategic and technical support to the Directorate of Primary Education, Government of Bihar, for strengthening the implementation of Mission NIPUN (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy) Bihar. The incumbent will support the Directorate in planning, coordinating, monitoring, and reviewing foundational literacy initiatives, while contributing to system strengthening across curriculum and content, educator training and coaching, delivery structures, and research and insights.

The Technical Specialist will serve as a key technical resource for the Directorate and work closely with SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training), BEPC (Bihar Education Project Council), DIETs (District Institute of Education and Training), district education functionaries, and other relevant stakeholders tofacilitateeffective implementation of FLN priorities. The role will support policy implementation, institutional capacity building, evidence-based decision-making, and integration of best practices to improve foundational literacy outcomes across the state.The position will coordinate with Room to Reads State Office and technical teams to ensure alignment with agreed work plans and provide high-quality technicalassistanceunder the FLN PMU. The role will involve regular field visits, participation in government review meetings, and close engagement with education officials and academic institutions across the state.

Responsibilities:

The Program officer willbe responsible forthe intervention intheirdistrict and will have the following specific key roles and responsibilities:

Program Understanding:

• Develop a thorough understanding of Room to Read India Trust’s FLNprogramdesign, implementation approach, and system strengthening model.
• Maintain a strong understanding of foundational literacyprograms, implementation strategies, and key education initiatives being implemented across Bihar.
• Develop andmaintaina comprehensive understanding of national and state education policies and frameworks, including NEP 2020, NCF-FS, NIPUN Bharat, NIPUN Bihar, SIQE, and other initiatives relevant to foundational literacy and numeracy.

On-ground Implementation and Monitoring:

• Oversee and provide technical support for the implementation of FLN interventions across the State, ensuring quality, timeliness, and adherence to agreed implementation plans andprogramguidelines.
• Undertake regular field visits to districts and schools, independently and jointly with State, District, and Block officials, toobserveclassroom instruction, library and reading activities, implementation of FLN interventions, and provide technical feedback for quality improvement.
• Support the Directorate in monitoringprogramimplementation across districts through regular review meetings, field observations, and follow-up on agreed action points.
• Analyzeimplementation, monitoring, and assessment data toidentifytrends, implementation gaps, and emerging priorities, and provide technical recommendations for evidence-based decision-making.
• Ensuretimelycompilation, validation, analysis, and reporting ofprogrammedata whilemaintaininghigh standardsof data quality and supporting strengthening of state monitoring systems.
• Track implementation progress against agreed work plans, milestones, and key performance indicators, and proactively flag implementation delays, risks, and deviations fortimelycourse correction.
• Support planning, coordination, and quality assurance of teacher professional development, capacity-buildingprogrammes, workshops, and review meetings conducted under Mission NIPUN Bihar.
• Facilitate state, district, and block-leveltrainingsand review meetings as a technical resource person, including development of training agendas, facilitation plans, and technical content.
• Support preparation and monitoring of Annual Work Plans, implementation calendars, andprogrammetracking systems to ensuretimelyexecution of planned activities.
• Monitor progress against keyprogrammeindicators and support periodicprogrammereviews using monitoring, assessment, and field-level evidence.
• Coordinate with SCERT, DIETs, District Education Offices, and other relevant stakeholders for effective implementation ofprogrammeactivities under the FLN PMU.
• Documentimplementationlearnings, best practices, and innovations to support knowledge management, policy dialogue, and system strengthening.
• Identifyimplementationbottlenecks and recommend practical solutions in consultation with the Directorate and Room to Read leadership.
• Support the Directorate in strategic planning, technicalassistance, quality assurance, sustainability planning, and scale-up of FLN interventions across Bihar.
• Undertake any other responsibilities assigned by the Directorate of Primary Education and Room to Read India Trust in furtherance of theobjectivesof the FLN PMU.

Government Liaison and Technical Support:

• Serve as a technical resource to the Directorate of Primary Education and provide technicalassistancefor strengthening foundational literacy under Mission NIPUN Bihar.
• Represent Room to Read India Trust in government meetings, technical committees, consultations, and review forums, and provide evidence-based technical inputs to strengthen FLN policies, strategies, and implementation.
• Liaise with key government stakeholders, including the Directorate of Primary Education, SCERT, BEPC, DIETs, District Education Offices, and other relevant institutions, to ensure effective coordination and systemic integration of FLN interventions.
• Support the Directorate and district education systems in strengthening institutional capacity for improving foundational literacy outcomes through technical guidance, mentoring, and implementation support.
• Provide technical support to SCERT, DIETs, and other government institutions in curriculum and content development, teacher professional development, libraries and reading promotion, student assessment, research, and other FLN initiatives aligned with NEP 2020, NCF, NIPUN Bharat, and NIPUN Bihar.

Team Coordination and Capacity Building:

• Provide technical and operational guidance to PMU personnel and support their capacity development to ensure effective implementation of activities under the FLN PMU.
• Mentor PMU personnel in technical facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and coordination with the Directorate, SCERT, DIETs, and district education functionaries, andidentifycapacity-building needs for continuous professional development.
• Support performance management, coaching, and periodic review of PMU personnel to ensure delivery of high-quality technicalassistanceandprogrammeoutcomes.
• Coordinate closely with Room to Reads State Office and technical teams to align PMU activities with state priorities, obtain technical inputs, and ensure effective implementation of agreed work plans.

Participate in Meeting/Workshops at State and India Country OfficeLevel:

• Participate in IDTS workshops on material development, training moduledevelopmentand training of trainers.
• Attend review meetings at the state/national level and provide reflective feedback on program implementation and design issues. At the same time acts as theconducive way to transferinnovative ideas and practices from the national level (or from other states) on to the field.
• Participate in reviewmeeting, trainingoftrainerand any other required meetings orworkshopat state/ INCO level.

Planning, Reporting and Documentation:

• Responsible for preparing regular (monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis, including program data) qualitative reports and documenting event reports, casestudiesand best practices.
• Responsible for high stake donor reporting, developing their annual, half yearly,quarterlyand monthly work plan for implementation.
• Responsible for preparing Implementation calendar, cash forecast, PurchaseRequisition’s budget outlook, AnnualPlanning&Budgetingand regular tracking of budget management.
• Assistin preparing all programmatic and financial reports asrequired.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree in education / social sciences or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in the education sector.Minimum 2 years of program management experience, preferably in education
• In-depth knowledgeoffoundational literacy, language and reading practices and approaches.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Good interpersonal skills anda team player.
• Prior experience of managing a large team.
• Proventrack recordof achieving results and managing large stake projects is preferred.
• Proven ability to work effectively with schools and communities.
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites in remote locations.

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include thirteenth month bonus, healthinsuranceand a retirement plan. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries on literacy and gender equality in education.

Room to Read is a child-safe organization

Child Protection Principles

• Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation
• 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.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles

• Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
• 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.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

About Room to Read:

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change

Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.

We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, 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 50 million children in 28 countries.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.

Requirements: