Program Field Coordinator, GEP

World Change Starts with Educated Children® 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 Program Field Coordinator (PFC) will be responsible for supporting the implementation of Project Saksham across assigned tribal residential hostels within one or more districts. The PFC will work closely with Hostel Wardens, District Coordinators, Assistant Commissioners, and other Tribal Department officials to ensure high-quality implementation of the Life Skills curriculum. Project Saksham is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development, Government of Chhattisgarh and Room to Read India. The project aims to strengthen the life skills, confidence, leadership, gender equality, and decision-making abilities of adolescent girls residing in Tribal Residential Hostels through a structured Life Skills curriculum and capacity-building of hostel warden. The PFC will provide regular mentoring, monitoring, coaching, documentation, and implementation support to hostel wardens while ensuring adherence to Room to Read's quality standards and project timelines. The position will report to the Program Associate/Program Officer. The base location for this position is Surajpur (Chhattisgarh).

Key Responsibilities: Program

Understanding and Preparedness: Develop a comprehensive understanding of Project Saksham, its objectives, implementation strategy, and monitoring framework. Gain thorough knowledge of the Life Skills curriculum, Teacher Handbook, facilitator guides, and monitoring tools. Support district-level planning of program activities in consultation with the Program Associate/Officer. Ensure implementation follows the approved project timelines and quality standards. Participate in monthly reviews, quarterly meetings, refresher trainings, and capacity-building workshops.

Field Implementation and Capacity Building: Provide regular handholding support to Hostel Wardens for effective facilitation of Life Skills sessions. Conduct demonstration sessions whenever required. Observe Life Skills sessions and provide constructive feedback to wardens. Support wardens in annual and monthly planning of Life Skills sessions. Assist wardens in integrating Life Skills activities into hostel routines. Facilitate refresher trainings and mentoring sessions for wardens. Support newly appointed wardens through orientation and induction.

Quality Assurance: Conduct regular monitoring visits to assigned hostels as per project benchmarks. Use standardized observation tools to assess session quality and fidelity. Provide on-site coaching to improve facilitation skills. Track implementation indicators and recommend corrective actions. Ensure timely completion of Life Skills sessions according to the project calendar. Monitor utilization of Teacher Handbooks and learning materials. Identify implementation challenges and coordinate solutions with supervisors. Monitoring,

Reporting and Documentation: Collect and verify monthly monitoring data from hostel wardens. Ensure timely submission of monitoring formats through the digital monitoring system/QR-based reporting mechanism. Maintain accurate field records, attendance registers, visit reports, and observation reports. Document success stories, case studies, photographs, innovations, and lessons learned. Prepare monthly field reports highlighting achievements, challenges, and support required. Support data validation exercises and periodic assessments.

Government Liaison and Coordination: Maintain effective coordination with Assistant Commissioners, District Coordinators, Hostel wardens, and other Tribal Department officials. Support district-level review meetings and government consultations. Facilitate official visits by government representatives, donors, and Room to Read teams. Represent Room to Read professionally during district meetings and project events. Strengthen partnerships with district administration to support smooth implementation.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Support hostel-level events promoting girls' leadership, gender equality, and life skills. Facilitate parent/community engagement activities whenever required. Encourage participation of local stakeholders in project initiatives. Promote ownership and sustainability of Project Saksham within hostels.

Organizational Responsibilities: Participate actively in organizational trainings, review meetings, and planning exercises. Adhere to Room to Read's Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct. Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all interactions. Perform other project-related responsibilities assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications: Required: Bachelor’s / Master’s degree in social work, Education, Psychology, Sociology, Rural Development, or related discipline. Minimum 2–4 years of experience in the education or development sector. Experience working with adolescent girls, life skills education, gender, youth development, or community mobilization. Strong communication skills in Hindi and the local language. Basic computer proficiency (MS Office, Google Forms, Excel). Willingness to undertake extensive field travel with own vehicle within assigned districts.

Preferred: Experience working with Tribal Departments, Education Departments, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), Ashram schools, or residential hostels. Experience in teacher/warden mentoring and capacity building. Familiarity with digital monitoring systems and data collection tools. Strong facilitation, coaching, and interpersonal skills. Ability to build effective relationships with government stakeholders.

Compensation: Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include thirteenth month bonus, health insurance, and a retirement plan. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries on literacy and gender equality in education. Room to Read is a child-safe organization. Child Protection Principles Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation Room to Read has 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, injury or abuse. All children should be treated with respect and dignity. The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse. Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse. Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated. All adults should be treated with respect and dignity. Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront. Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent. Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. Read is a child-safe organization

• all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy. About Room to Read:  Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction
• create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages
• and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions. We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education. Thank you for considering a career with Room to Read. I was first attracted to Room to Read because of the mission to create a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. What I have found here is the joy in working with a group of extraordinary people towards this bold goal. In my work, I aim to shape an inclusive and supportive organizational culture where everyone feels valued and respected, and where we each thrive. Our team members are our greatest asset, and I am personally committed to creating an environment that supports both personal and professional growth and empowers individuals from everywhere in the world to contribute their best. I hope you will join us in creating a better, more equal world. Cynthia Orme Chief People and Technology Officer