Chemonics International, a U.S. based international development consulting firm, is seeking senior level technical and program specialists for the anticipated USAID-funded Let’s Read Zambia activity. This five-year, $25-50 million project will target approximately 1.4 million students in 4,000 public and community primary schools, including Early Childhood Centers that are clustered in an estimated 400 zones in 48 districts in the provinces of Lusaka, Southern, Muchinga, Eastern, and Northwestern. The Activity will ensure that students attending Grades 1, 2, and 3 in Zambian public and community schools in five targeted provinces will have an opportunity to learn to read grade level text with comprehension and to write at grade level in one of the seven local official languages of instruction: Cinyanja, Chitonga, Icibemba, Kiikaonde, Lunda, Luvale and Silozi after three years of primary schooling in Grades 1-3. Chemonics has a proud history of project implementation in Zambia, including the Strengthening Education Performance–Up (STEP UP) and the Zambia Communications Support for Health (CSH) projects. STEP-Up worked nationwide to integrate and strengthen systems for managing improved learner performance and to promote equity as a central theme in policy development and education management reform. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world. Zambian nationals are highly encouraged to apply.
Early Grade Reading Specialist
- Master’s degree (Ph.D. preferred) or foreign equivalent in education, reading, literacy, linguistics or a related field
- Seven years of demonstrated experience working in improving early grade reading
- Strong understanding of the development and education issues in Zambia
- Experience developing materials for early-grade reading and designing pre-service and in-service teacher training programs
- Knowledge of a balanced literacy framework, early literacy competencies, and reading diagnostics
- Knowledge of mother tongue and English transition instruction strategies
- Experience liaising with Zambian or Ministry counterparts and organizations active in education
- Familiarity with USAID tools and methodologies to improve reading outcomes
- Experience implementing interventions that promote gender equity preferred
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Fluency in spoken and written English
Early Grade Reading Advisor
- A Master’s degree in education or a related field and at least three years of experience working to improve primary grade literacy, or a Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, and at least seven years of experience working to improve primary grade literacy
- Demonstrated knowledge of Zambia’s early grade language/reading curriculum in the seven local official languages of instruction
- Proven track record of contribution to knowledge management and policy development is preferred
- Experience promoting equity in learning outcomes among boys, girls, and children with special needs preferred
- Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
Early Childhood Development Advisor
- A Master’s degree in education or a related field and at least three years of experience working in early childhood development, or a Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of experience
- Recognized expertise in early childhood development and pre-primary education approaches and practices
- Experience promoting equity in learning outcomes among boys, girls, and children with special needs preferred
- Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in written and spoken English
System Strengthening Advisor
- A Master’s degree and five years of experience supporting early grade reading and/or early grade teacher education or a Bachelor’s degree and ten years of experience.
- Recognized expertise in early-grade reading systems strengthening approaches and activities
- Expertise in policy for early-grade reading reform is highly desirable
- Familiarity with USAID Education Strategy and associated documents (Technical Notes, Implementation Guidance, and Reference Materials)
- Experience promoting equity in learning outcomes among boys, girls, and children with special needs preferred
- Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Written and spoken proficiency in English
Community Engagement Advisor
- Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in education, reading, social work, project management, or other relevant field and five years of experience of progressive responsibility or Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and ten years of experience of progressive responsibility
- Recognized expertise in community engagement and behavior change approaches and activities
- Demonstrated ability to effectively engage government and other stakeholders at the provincial, district, and zonal levels to build collaborative relationships that promote effective project implementation
- Experience working with donor-funded projects strongly preferred
- Experience or familiarity with the education sector in Zambia
- Experience promoting equity in learning outcomes among boys, girls, and children with special needs preferred
- Proven ability to supervise, mentor, train, and support staff
- Demonstrated exemplary diplomatic, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Written and spoken proficiency in English and local languages of instruction
Application Instructions: Please complete the online application here by October 25, 2017. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted. More information about Chemonics International can be found at www.chemonics.com.