Worldreader (www.worldreader.org) is on a mission to bring digital books to every child and her family, so that they can improve their lives through the power of technology. Globally, we are working in 39 countries, in 102 schools and libraries and are reaching a total of 35,000 people on our programs using e-readers, and over 300,000 people using our mobile reading app. In Ghana, we have half a dozen on-going projects in schools.

Job Summary

Leveraging her/his experience in the education sector in Ghana, the Education Specialist will  help develop the curricular and educational components of Worldreader’s projects, implement these components, and serve as a representative for the organization to other actors within the local education space.

S/he will be based in Accra, but will be required to travel to project sites outside of Accra regularly.  The Specialist will be supervised on a day-to-day basis by the Ghana Country Director, and will also report to the Senior Manager of Research based in California.

The Education Specialist will carry out the following tasks:
Program Development and Implementation

•   Develop and oversee program components, activities and lesson plans that focus on literacy improvement and cultivation of reading habits for a wide range of populations.  This may include working within school and library environments or leading the development of more informal mobile learning (m-learning) and mobile reading (m-reading) programs.
•   Conduct site visits and observations; work closely with teachers, project coordinators, students and other stakeholders to implement, support, and improve programs.
•   Review and recommend reading materials that are age-appropriate and culturally relevant for individual projects.

Teacher Training & Curriculum Development

•   Develop teacher training materials on literacy, reading and new technologies (including e-readers and mobile phones); conduct regular trainings for teachers.
•   Develop lesson plans and curriculum designed to increase the educational impacts of programs, particularly on literacy outcomes.
•   Develop m-learning materials and/or activities that promote reading outside of school settings.
•   Identify personnel to coordinate and execute ongoing extra-curricular reading activities at school sites and communities; monitor and report on extra-curricular activities, detailing observations, challenges and opportunities.

Monitoring and Evaluation

•   With input from the global research team, lead field-based data collection and verification for quantitative and qualitative project data.  Collect and disseminate best practices; develop policies based on lessons learned

External Relations

•   Pursue, develop and maintain partnerships with high-level government stakeholders (GES in particular), literacy experts, NGOs, research institutes and other stakeholders in the local education space, including helping to position Worldreader for inclusion in other projects and to expand the number of schools that we’re working in

Qualification Required & Experience

We are looking for a professional with a background in education and a high degree of professional maturity, self-motivation and adaptability. The ideal candidate possesses the following:

Extensive experience in the field of education

•   A bachelor’s degree in education or a relevant discipline
•   5-10 years of experience in education; at least 1-2 years of classroom teaching.
•   Demonstrated experience designing and delivering trainings for teachers and educators, as well as knowledge of best practices around teaching
•   Familiarity with National Literacy Acceleration Program (NALAP) and other national education system standards, as well as the overall education context in Ghana.
•   Experience and understanding of phonics-based literacy instruction is required, such as letter reading, sounding letters and spelling.
•   Experience working on educational projects in under-resourced areas is a plus.

Technology and communication skills

•   High level of comfort with technology (mobile phones, tablets & e-readers); Background in ICT for education and/or willingness and capacity to learn.
•   Strong oral and written communications skills, with professional proficiency in English required; Fluency in Twi or Ewe highly preferred
•   Excellent proficiency in Word, Excel, and productivity/communication tools such as Skype and email.
•   Structured and organized thinker.

Additional characteristics

•   Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in cross-cultural settings, including working with remote teams
•   Ability to work both individually and closely with teams
•   Good rapport with children and young adults
•   Flexibility and a “get the job done” attitude.
•   Demonstrable passion for education and the mission of Worldreader
•   All applicants must have legal right to work in Ghana.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Please send your resume and a cover letter explaining what you think Worldreader is about and why you would like to become the Worldreader Ghana Education Specialist.

Send your application in an email with the subject “Education Specialist - Ghana” to hr@worldreader.org

Closing Date: 26 March, 2015

•   If shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview, where you will also be asked to complete a series of tasks on an e-reader.
•   Due to the volume of applications, only those candidates shortlisted for an interview will be contacted.