Student Learning & Curriculum Advisor at Creative Associates International

LEVERAGING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE RESOURCES IN NIGERIA (LEARN) TO READ ACTIVITY

Student Learning & Curriculum Advisor

Reports to: Senior Pupil & Teacher Performance Advisor                     

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

The Student Learning & Curriculum Advisor will supervise the development and production of all project-supported local language literacy teaching and learning material.
REPORTING & SUPERVISION

The Student Learning & Curriculum Advisor will report to the Senior Pupil & Teacher Performance Advisor.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, implement, and support teacher, school leader, and local government authority staff training in local language early literacy methods and materials, in coordination with the Teacher Professional Development Advisor.
• Develop and support all local language teacher and classroom supervision, monitoring/coaching, and pupil testing efforts.
• Ensure complementarity of activity approaches in literacy/ reading across all project states.
• Work closely with the Senior Pupil &Teacher Performance Advisor to develop working relationship with the relevant education MDA’s and other groups to support improved local language curriculum reform.
• Provide TA capacity development design leadership and advisory support to state learning partner teams in accordance with TA plans for Teaching and Learning Materials (TLM) development support.
• Provide support to improve the capacity of government education officials to develop leadership, managerial, and supervisory skills to sustain EGR policies and regulations.
• Provide technical assistance for the dissemination of new policies and opportunities for bottom-up feedback at all levels through state-level workshops involving government education officials, community meetings, paper publications, and ongoing media campaigns.

Any other duties as may be assigned.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in education or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least six years’ experience relevant to this position required, with at least four years in standards development, teacher training, and materials development in early grade literacy in local language and English.
• At least three years of supervisory experience with groups or teams of staff required.
• Experience working with complex projects and collaborating with professional peers on joint products.
• Prior experience with the development of early grade literacy materials, training programs, classroom monitoring protocols, and tests and assessments, including EGRA, required.
• Team player and willingness to learn.
• Prior experience with supporting civil society-based monitoring of literacy outcomes preferred.
• Experience working with Nigerian government counterparts (at national, state, and LGEA levels) to design, implement, support, and monitor education programming.
• Fluency in written and spoken English highly desired, advanced proficiency required.
• Fluency in written Hausa required; proficiency in one other relevant language highly desired.      

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.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are required.
• Excellent record keeping, and documentation skills are required.

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (gender/race/disability/veteran) and provides equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.

Please view Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.