Multilingual Education (MLE) Design Manager

The Citizens Foundation; Karachi Division; On-site; PKR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

The Citizens Foundation seeks an experienced educator to lead the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MLE) framework rollout at secondary schools in Tharparkar, focusing on language policy design, resource development, training, and monitoring.

The Manager will engage stakeholders across TCF departments, guide implementation, and ensure alignment with plans and budgets while preparing for the bilingual model expansion.

Qualifications

• Strong English communication; Urdu/Sindhi skills encouraged.
• Design-thinking mindset and research-driven problem solving.
• Willingness to engage in subject-level discussions.
• Excellent interpersonal and team-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the MLE project implementation across Tharparkar secondary schools.
• Oversee stakeholder management and cross-department collaboration.
• Guide curriculum design, resources, training, and evaluation tools.
• Ensure timely deliverables within approved budgets and scope.
• Support scaling conversations across TCF departments to broader rollout.

Skills

Verbal and written English comms

Design thinking

Research-driven problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Team management

Education

Master's degree in Social Sciences or Education

Job description

TCF opened its first schools in Tharparkar in 2018 and is developing a Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MLE) framework for these schools, with aims to expand it across the province. The framework introduces students' mother tongue alongside Sindhi (the regional language), Urdu (the language of common use), and English (a global language) at different stages of a child's schooling. A 4-member team currently designs this framework, develops resources and oversees its rollout, grade by grade, in 8 TCF secondary schools in Tharparkar.

Additionally, TCF is aiming to convert its Urdu-medium schools to a bilingual education framework, which allows for learners to begin with Urdu as the language of instruction, and gradually move to learning in English over a number of years. This project is at the planning stage.

Role Summary

We are looking for an experienced educator with a strong interest in how language affects learning outcomes at different stages of schooling in Pakistan. The role involves engaging with school language policy, and leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of the MLE programme at a secondary school level. The Manager will carry out stakeholder analysis, guide the development of resources, training, and evaluation tools, and ensure implementation deliverables are met on time. As this is a pilot project, the role also involves leading conversations across TCF departments to support in scaling the programme.

The Manager will also be responsible for setting the stage for conversion of Urdu-medium schools to the bilingual model, which would involve development of frameoworks, policies, guidelines; ensuring stakeholder alignment; supporting resource developers; and supporting training and implementation.

MLE & BLE Project Implementation

• Oversee the grade-wise rollout plan across Tharparkar schools
• Ensure insights from classrooms are recorded, analysed, and used to strengthen design and implementation
• Oversee capacity-building for teachers and other stakeholders involved
• Ensure programme and process evaluations are planned, carried out, and documented
• Ensure the rollout stays within the approved budget

Design Thinking

• Support the effectiveness of all curriculum and design components making sure they meet learner needs
• Maintain design quality and rigour
• Test and make improvements as needed
• Lead research on language transition and progression across grades, and ensure it is reflected in teaching materials and training
• Build the capacity of the team to develop quality deliverables on time
• Build research and design thinking capacity of team

Stakeholder Management

• Lead meetings to strengthen partnerships
• Organise scale-focused dialogues with leads across other TCF departments
• Engage with language consultation groups within Pakistan and internationally, including the Government of Pakistan, on school language policy
• Engage with the public on language policy and its implementation

Other Projects

• Collaborate with multiple departments on curriculum development, student learning outcomes, testing, and related activities

Required Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; willingness to strengthen Urdu or Sindhi skills (fluency in Urdu and/or Sindhi preferred)
• A design-thinking mindset and a research-driven approach to problem-solving
• Willingness to engage in subject-level discussions and dialogue
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships
• Sound understanding of team management

Education

Master's degree, preferably in Social Sciences and/or Education

Experience

At least 5 years of experience in leading education program design/research and team leadership