Senior Pupil and Teacher Performance Advisor at Creative Associates International

Overview

• 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

• The Senior Pupil & Teacher Performance Advisor will be responsible for ensuring that children in activity-supported schools and communities achieve improved literacy outcomes.
• Provide technical leadership to project team, USAID, and other stakeholders on high-quality and developmentally appropriate learning interventions.
• Supervise and provide quality assurance to the production of activity-supported materials, training, coaching, and pupil assessments.
• Supervise and provide quality assurance to the production of TA materials and support.
• Provide leadership in organizing curation and authoring of materials that are leveled and differentiated to meet learning needs.
• Ensure activities and approaches across geographic areas are complementary, equitable, and include underserved populations and those in need of inclusive education.
• Liaise with government representatives and technicians on technical matter.
• Responsible for management, leadership, and mentorship of technical staff.
• Work with Senior TA Coordination and Learning Advisor to develop plans to monitor and support TA Teacher and Learning Performance gaps as needed. Provide capacity building, coordination, and monitoring support to Data Systems TA staff and consultants in Abuja and in Legacy, Launching, and On-Demand states.
• Reporting & Supervision: The Senior Pupil & Teacher Performance Advisor will report to the Deputy Chief of Party.

Responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities:

• Supervise and provide quality assurance to the production of activity-supported materials, training, coaching, and pupil assessments.
• Supervise and provide quality assurance to the production of TA materials and support. Provide leadership in organizing curation and authoring of materials that are leveled and differentiated to meet learning needs.
• Ensure activities and approaches across geographic areas are complementary, equitable, and include underserved populations and those in need of inclusive education.
• Liaise with government representatives and technicians on technical matter.
• Responsible for management, leadership, and mentorship of technical staff.
• Work with Senior TA Coordination and Learning Advisor to develop plans to monitor and support TA Teacher and Learning Performance gaps as needed.
• Provide capacity building, coordination, and monitoring support to Data Systems TA staff and consultants in Abuja and in Legacy, Launching, and On-Demand states.

Qualifications
Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Requires a Master's Degree in Education, preferably with a specialty in Early Grade Reading.
• PhD in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education and/or Early Grade Learning preferred.
• At least eight years of experience in programs in sub-Saharan Africa that work specifically to improve early grade reading is required.
• At least four years of direct supervising experience is required.
• Prior experience with the development and implementation of evidence-based, local language education materials, training programs, classroom monitoring protocols, and assessments.
• Demonstrated experience improving evidence-based education programming including rural, multilingual, and underserved populations.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba is highly desired.

Preferred Experience & Skills:

• Previous experience in a 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.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Excellent record-keeping and documentation skills are required.