Winrock International is inviting applications for the position of Senior Bangla Literacy Specialist   for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Esho Shikhi (Come and Learn) Activity in Bangladesh. Esho Shikhi is a five-year project (2021–2026). The overall objective of Esho Shikhi is to improve the Bangla reading skills of Grade 1 and Grade 2 students and develop them as independent readers. Esho Shikhi works to increase learning opportunities, improve quality education, and build the capacity of communities to support education and respond to disasters.

Salary:  will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits are offered.

To Apply: 

Interested applicants are requested to apply on or before March 31, 2024.  However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and Winrock reserves the right to make an offer prior to the closing date for applications.  Applicants are thus encouraged to submit their applications at the earliest opportunity. Applicants should go to https://www.winrock.org/join-us/careers/job-openings/ and submit a current curriculum vitae and cover letter referencing Bangladesh Esho Shiki “Come and Learn” Activity: Senior Bangla Literacy Specialist 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Technical Director of Education, the Senior Bangla Literacy Specialist   has the responsibility to improve the learning disabilities and those struggling with reading among the early- grade students and develop them as independent readers in reading Bangla following the national curriculum. The Senior Bangla Literacy Specialist will provide high-quality instruction, support, and leadership to produce high-quality outcomes in Bangla literacy for the students of marginalized Bangladeshi children in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. The Senior Bangla Literacy Specialist will provide interventions to researchers and work with teachers to implement additional support in the classroom; will lead the charge in creating a culture of reading that ensures strong reading instruction, excitement about books, and a genuine, institutional love for reading. The specialist tends to be a resource for teachers, working on reading curricula, ordering necessary materials, and creating new activities for teachers.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Work with teachers, the government, and other stakeholders on curriculum planning and Bangla literacy training.
• Contribute strategies to improve instruction to support literacy growth across the curriculum.
• Creates and examines data to measure the success of literacy programs and instruction.
• Teach targeted literacy intervention to small groups of teachers using research-based strategies and resources. Support to create the evidence and to inform the policy maker regarding the effective strategies and approaches of literacy
• Contribute technical vision, oversight, and guidance that supports achieving improved reading and writing instruction and student learning in Bangla.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight to the project approaches and materials to improve reading instruction at primary level.
• Contribute to the production of all project-supported materials for trainers, teachers, and students; supervise and provide quality assurance to produce activity-supported Literacy materials, training, mentoring, and student testing efforts.
• Develop and disseminate Literacy interventions building on the lessons learned and the study findings from ongoing cohort implementation.
• Collaborate with Government of Bangladesh education officials and implementing partners on teacher professional development and community engagement to ensure a unified and technically sound approach.
• Lead in developing and adapting teaching and learning materials; liaise with government representatives and technicians on technical matters.
• Contribute to technical dialogue on literacy (reading/writing) with key stakeholders such as GoB, providing technical insight on national reading policies and implementing the new cycle interventions in the classroom.
• Contribute to capacity-building activities for teacher mentors, Master trainers, and Govt primary school teachers.
• Contribute to interpreting monitoring and evaluation data to inform interventions to improve student reading.
• Collaborate with the international outcomes technical staff to write and publish project-related articles.
• Provide technical assistance on national-level strategy and Literacy-related policies.
• Promote research-based literacy practices to reform classrooms.
• Provide mentorship to technical literacy staff.
• Perform additional tasks as needed and requested by the Technical Director Education.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and work experience:    

Master’s degree and 5-7 years of experience or bachelor’s degree and 8 – 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in education, reading and literacy instruction, or related field; specialization in reading and literacy preferred. Prior experience developing early-grade reading materials, teacher training programs, classroom monitoring and mentoring protocols, and tests and assessments in Bangladesh preferred. Demonstrated experience working with the government will be preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Leadership skills that enable them to work with other adults, such as classroom teachers, Govt officials, other professionals, and the community.

• Strong Interpersonal Skills.

• Understanding the social, economic, and political context governing education and social inclusion issues in Bangladesh.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently, and manage multiple priorities at the same time.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications with Bangla typing proficiency.
• Excellent coordination skills, especially with project-specific stakeholders.
• Proven experience organizing training, workshops, meetings, and seminars.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with proficiency in Bangla, professional proficiency in English.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with local country counterparts, project staff, consultants, and other partners.
• Excellent organizational skills, process and systems-oriented, with a strong attention to detail.
• Prior experience working with donor-funded projects, particularly USAID.
• Strong candidates will exhibit excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, ability to work under difficult circumstances with limited resources, and ability to form productive relationships with counterparts and colleagues.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization