Senior Program Officer, Gender Equality Portfolio, Champasack
Organization: Room to Read
Country: Lao PDR
Field location: Champasak
Office: Room to Read in Champasak

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IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Position Overview:
The Senior Program Officer for Life Skill Education for Gender Equality Portfolio primarily provides technical support, including training facilitation, guidance, and coaching for National Master Trainers (NMT) and school principals on Life Skill Education. This position reports to the Program Manager and works closely with the Senior Program Operations Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

Program design, content/materials development and training

• Support and work with Program Manager to review and contextualize program contents and manuals.

• Support and work with Program Manager to develop additional manuals/training materials needed for training teachers to improve program activities.

• Support and work with Program Manager to design training agenda and materials for training.

Ensure timely Program Implementation and Training

• Prepare and facilitate training for the National Master of Trainers (NMT) and School principals on Life Skill Education (LSE) and coaching, and other necessary contents to support program objectives.

• Conduct regular site visits to schools to observe and monitor NMT and School principals’ implementation of program activities.

• Provide technical guidance and coaching to National Master Trainer and School principals on program implementation in line with global program design.

Support the National Master of Trainers and School principals

• Prepare and facilitate training of trainer (TOT) for National Master Trainer.

• Prepare and facilitate coaching training for National Master Trainer and School principals.

• Prepare and facilitate other manuals training for National Master Trainer and School principals.

• Prepare and facilitate teacher’s manual training to National Master Trainer and School principals.

• Support National Master Trainer and School principals in planning and conducting meetings/workshops.

• Prepare and facilitate monthly meetings with National Master Trainer and School principals for each school through both online and face-to-face sessions.

• Support the NMT’s scheduling of school principal session observations and schoolteachers conducting LSE for students.

Program monitoring and coaching to National Master of Trainers and School principals

• Conduct field visits, observe life skills classes, and provide coaching to National Master Trainers and School principals as needed, collecting feedback and best practices.

• Prepare and participate in monthly operational/technical meetings with Program Manager and Senior Program Operations Manager.

• Participate in and support quarterly review meetings with National Master Trainer and school principals for feedback and lessons learned.

Planning, Reporting and Documentation

• Gather and provide inputs for strategic planning and Annual Planning and Budgeting (AP&B).

• Participate in annual planning and budgeting for project areas of assignment.

• Work with Program Operations Associate on quarterly/monthly forecasting, advance requests, spending and expense reports in compliance with financial guidelines.

• Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual reports ensuring quality and timeliness.

• Provide input for Global Solution Database (GSD) reports as needed.

• Support Program Manager to ensure overall program quality meets Room to Read Gender Equality Portfolio (GEP) standards.

• Participate in regular training and meetings with Room to Read and other activities required to fulfill organizational objectives.

• Participate in donor site visits and provide information about programs as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., education, social work, community development).

• At least 5–8 years of relevant work experience.

• Prior experience in planning and facilitating training.

• Prior experience coaching or supervising others.

• Experience working with and/or counseling adolescent girls and life skills development is preferable.

• Good interpersonal skills and a team player.

• Strong organizational, planning, and budgeting skills, including monitoring program implementation progress.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and take initiative.

• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people.

• Willingness and ability to spend a quarter or more time traveling.

• English fluency is strongly preferred.

Compensation
Room to Read Laos offers a professional working environment, competitive monthly salary, and benefits such as annual salary review, Wellbeing allowance, 13th month salary bonus, gratuity bonus, performance bonus, Staff Medical Insurance, Social Security Organization (SSO) for staff and family members, annual medical check-up, phone allowance, and leave benefits based on Lao Labour Law.

Child Protection Principles

• Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation.

• Zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.

• All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental, or sexual violence.

• All children should be treated with respect and dignity.

• Child well-being is Room to Read’s first priority.

• Child protection is integrated into all organizational strategies, structures, and practices.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles

• Room to Read representatives must maintain an environment preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

• Zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.

• All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.

• Survivor-centered approach with referrals to professional assistance upon consent.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Room to Read is committed to identifying and developing skills and leadership from diverse backgrounds. All personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct, and PSEA Policy.

About Room to Read:
Founded in 2000, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children can read, learn, and grow. Through the Literacy Portfolio, we train teachers in literacy instruction, create and publish quality books in local languages, and establish children’s libraries. The Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, enabling lifelong learning and informed decision-making.

Room to Read collaborates with communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to implement innovative models at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.