Country: Kyrgyzstan
Closing date: 18 Jan 2019
Project Summary:
Creative is seeking a Senior Reading/Literacy Specialist for an anticipated USAID-funded education project in Kyrgyzstan. Based in Bishkek, the project seeks to improve early grade learning outcomes in the Kyrgyz Republic for 300,000 students in grades one through four. To reach this goal, the project seeks to improve instructional quality in reading and math; improve formal and non-formal learning environments; and strengthen the Kyrgyz education system. The project will also include a focus on inclusive education and community engagement.
Position Summary:
The Senior Reading/Literacy Specialist provides overall technical oversight and guidance to the activity’s support to improved reading instruction, including reading standards, benchmarks, curricula, and assessment systems.
Reporting & Supervision:
This position reports to the Chief of Party.
Expected Outcomes:
- Improved teaching and learning pedagogy in Grades 1-4.
- Improved supplementary reading materials for Grades 1-4, in Kyrgyz, Uzbek and Tajik languages
- Improved environments in classrooms, libraries, communities and home.
- Improved equity and inclusion of disadvantaged populations among the target school-age population.
- Improved Ministry of Education and Science capacity to deliver professional development services.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Supervises the design and delivery of teacher professional development support;
- Provides leadership in organizing curation and authoring of supplemental reading materials that are leveled and differentiated to meet the learning needs;
- Supports environmental improvements in classrooms, libraries, communities and home;
- Supports assessment (formative and summative) of reading skill development of students Grade 1-4;
- Ensures that activities and approaches across geographic areas are complementary and equitable, including underserved populations in need of inclusive education; and
- Liaises with government representatives and technicians on technical matters and bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring that children in activity-supported schools achieve improved outcomes in reading.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in education with a specialty in early grade reading or another pedagogically-oriented specialty;
- At least four (4) years of experience in work specifically to improve evidence-based early grade reading programming directed to rural, ethno-linguistic underserved populations;
- At least four (4) additional years of experience improving educational quality in developing countries is required;
- At least five (5) years of experience in Central Asia is highly desired and prior experience in Kyrgyzstan is preferred;
- Prior proven experience with the development and implementation of evidence-based early grade reading materials, and preferably early grade reading materials in local languages, training programs, classroom monitoring protocols, and tests and assessments, including EGRA, is required;
- Prior experience with supporting family/community engagement and civil-society based monitoring of reading outcomes is required; and
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken Russian and Kyrgyz (ILR 3+) required; English (ILR 3+) proficiency preferred.
Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Position contingent upon donor funding.
How to apply:
Please apply on our website: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/CRE1010CREAI/JobBoard/b093422a-53ee-4b40-ae33-72edfc017f55/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=877e8d03-5826-40df-a85d-3d4f579a3333