Parent Community Leadership Specialist at Creative Associates International

BACKGROUND

Creative Associates International is a fast-growing, social impact company that specializes in the areas of education, economic growth, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this global development organization has a field presence is more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. Creative Associates International has been working in Nigeria for more than a decade to support education programs in Nigeria.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and in close partnership with federal partners and select Nigeria States (designated as legacy [Bauchi and Sokoto], launching and technical assistance), the five-year Leveraging Education Assistance Resources in Nigeria (LEARN) project will support sustainable improvements in reading outcomes for first and second grade pupils. The goal of LEARN is to strengthen and scale early grade reading (EGR) best practice by ensuring that standards-based, context-appropriate assessment, materials, training, and administrative supports needed to improve literacy skills for P1-2 pupils are embedded within the federal policy, funding, and monitoring frameworks, and state and local authorities have the implementation protocols, capacity, and resources to carry out and sustain standards-based, data-driven EGR reform. The project objective is to instill ownership in and build capacity of school-community, local, state, and federal systems to establish a base for adequate, consistent data-driven funding, monitoring and performance that increase the equity, inclusion, and wellbeing necessary to achieve sustained EGR gains. LEARN will therefore be building on lessons learned from prior Nigeria reading programs to introduce a flexible, cost- efficient EGR intervention model that can be tailored to state contexts.

POSITION SUMMARY

Support design/implementation of community assessment that identifies barriers to action. Support communities to develop action plans to improve the quality and safety of basic education, as well as the reading success for all learners in grades 1-2, and success of Early Grade Reading (EGR) including the most marginalized such as those with disabilities, especially when education services are disrupted by crises or conflict.

POSITION LOCATION: Yola, Adamawa State

REPORTING & SUPERVISION

The Parents/Community Leadership Specialist will report to State Regional Advisor.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promote local level collective actions on EGR Reform efforts, increase community ownership of education decisions, strengthen accountability by developing strategies to identify funding needs, and monitor school-based implementation in collaboration with community-level networks.
• Engage Nigerian organizations to develop and lead projects aimed at piloting or scaling-up effective models to stimulate literacy/EGR and introduce additional literacy/EGR materials at the community level.
• Support state and local governments to make education performance data accessible to communities (e.g., learner reading outcomes, etc.).
• Support local governments to empower parents and community leaders in school/classroom monitoring and advocacy for EGR in mother-tongue through community-based organizations, including Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), SBMCs, youth groups, community coalitions, and others to support learning in their communities.
• Explore partnership between community leaders or organizations to provide psychological first aid or, if school closes due to crisis or conflict, monitor distance learning access and participation.
• Provide TA capacity development design leadership and advisory support to state learning partner teams in accordance with TA plans for Community Mobilization support.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in education policy, public policy, or related field preferred, Master’s degree required.
• At least four years’ experience relevant to this position required, with at least two years in communications required, preferably for a USAID-funded project.
• At least one year of supervisory experience required if supervising staff.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.
• Proficiency in Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba preferred.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Previous experience in similar role.
• Proven experience directly and indirectly supervising and managing staff and teams.
• Experience with a USAID-funded or other international organization implementing a program operating in insecure areas is desired.
• Strong ability to deploy and use various forms of tracking tools.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Excellent record keeping, and documentation skills are required.