Field Manager, Program Operations

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 Field Manager (FM) provides overall leadership and management of the Room to Read Bangladesh field office and its program portfolio, ensuring effective, high-quality, cost-efficient and timely implementation of the annual plan and achievement of program targets. The Field Manager is responsible for overall program management, people leadership, planning and budgeting, resource management, performance management, government and partner engagement, risk management, and field-level coordination. The position ensures that program teams have the appropriate staffing, resources, systems and support to deliver intended outcomes for children and to strengthen program quality, scale and sustainability. The Field Manager provides overall management oversight to the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy () Officers, who provide technical leadership and supervision to Facilitators responsible for school-level implementation. The FM ensures effective coordination between the team and other Room to Read teams and departments, including RM&E, Finance, Administration, Operations and Country Office Technical Teams. The Field Manager reports to the Program Operations Director and will have various positions reporting to him. The Field Manager directly manages the Senior/ Officers, Senior/Program officer-Girls’ education Program, Admin and Accounts Associate. With the Officers having dotted line reporting to the CO Literacy Technical team. This position is based in Dinajpur.

Duties and responsibilities: A. Field Office and Program Leadership Provide overall leadership for the field office and its program portfolio, ensuring achievement of annual targets and intended outcomes for children in accordance with Room to Read’s strategy, policies, standards and guidelines. Lead and coordinate the implementation of the annual field-office plan, ensuring quality, timeliness, cost-effectiveness and effective use of resources across programs. Ensure effective coordination between program, technical and support functions to facilitate smooth field implementation and timely resolution of operational and programmatic issues. Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, problem-solving and continuous improvement across the field office. Ensure that field-office approaches and practices contribute to the quality, scale, sustainability and institutionalization of Room to Read programs. B. Management of Program and Technical Team Provide overall management oversight to the Senior Officers/Officers and ensure that they have the resources, guidance and organizational support required to effectively lead implementation. Review progress with Officers against program targets, implementation plans, quality indicators, budgets and milestones, and provide direction on priorities and corrective actions. Review aggregated findings from implementation, fidelity, assessment, coaching and other program data with Officers and use evidence to inform management decisions, resource allocation and implementation priorities. Support Officers in addressing significant technical, implementation, staffing, government coordination and resource-related challenges that require field-management intervention. Facilitate effective collaboration between the team and Country Office Technical, RM&E, Finance, Administration and Operations teams. C. Annual Planning, Budgeting and Resource Management Lead the development of the field office’s annual and longer-term plans and budgets in consultation with relevant program, technical and support teams. Ensure that program plans, staffing, procurement, materials, travel, training and other resources are appropriately aligned with program priorities, targets and available budgets. Prepare and review monthly and quarterly implementation and budget forecasts and take timely action to address variances, delays and resource gaps. Ensure effective and compliant management of field-office funds and resources in accordance with Room to Read financial, procurement and administrative policies and procedures. Manage field-office financial and operational resources, including reviewing and approving expenses and fund disbursements within delegated authority, and coordinating timely procurement, logistics, materials, travel and other operational support with Finance, Administration and Operations teams. D. People Leadership and Performance Management Provide effective leadership and management to field-office staff, promoting accountability, teamwork, staff wellbeing, professional growth and a positive working environment. Assess organizational and staff capacity needs and coordinate with relevant technical and HR teams to address identified gaps through coaching, training, mentoring and other development opportunities. Conduct regular field-office meetings to review progress, address challenges, share learning and strengthen collaboration across teams. Ensure that staff understand the organizational strategy, program objectives, annual plans, targets, implementation priorities, policies and relevant procedures. E. Program Monitoring, Accountability and Reporting Ensure effective monitoring of overall program implementation, quality, progress, risks and resource utilization across the field portfolio. Review regular program reports prepared by Officers and other program leads and ensure that reports accurately reflect progress, achievements, challenges, risks, lessons learned and recommended actions. Work with RM&E and program teams to ensure that data and evidence are used for management decisions, program improvement and accountability. Ensure timely submission of required monthly, quarterly, annual and other field-office reports to the Country Office. Monitor implementation against annual plans and budgets and ensure timely follow-up on underperformance, implementation gaps and agreed actions. Promote documentation and sharing of best practices, innovations, lessons learned and evidence of program impact across the organization. F. Government, Partner and Stakeholder Engagement Lead coordination with relevant district and Upazila-level government authorities on program implementation, approvals, monitoring, review and collaboration, while Officers provide technical coordination on matters. Represent Room to Read in relevant government meetings, coordination forums, partner meetings and other external platforms as required. Build and maintain strategic relationships with government agencies, NGO partners, education stakeholders and local institutions to support program implementation, scale and sustainability. Support engagement with government stakeholders to strengthen government ownership, institutionalization and sustainability of Room to Read-supported approaches. Coordinate with relevant Country Office teams to support donor visits, partner visits, external events and other stakeholder engagements in the field. G. Risk Management, Compliance and Organizational Standards Ensure that all field-office staff comply with Room to Read policies, procedures, safeguarding requirements, financial controls and operational standards. Identify and proactively manage programmatic, operational, financial, staffing, reputational and implementation risks. Promote professional conduct and protect the reputation, integrity and credibility of Room to Read in all external engagements. H. Coordination, Learning and Organizational Contribution Facilitate regular cross-functional field-office meetings to review implementation progress, resolve operational bottlenecks and strengthen collaboration between program and support teams. Provide regular feedback to the Country Office on field-level implementation, emerging risks, partnership opportunities, resource needs and opportunities for program improvement and scale. Contribute field-level perspectives and evidence to program design, strategic planning, scale planning and organizational learning. Support the development and strengthening of new implementation approaches, partnerships and opportunities that can improve program effectiveness, efficiency and scale. Other Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Program Operations Director or Country Director Participate in other activities required to fulfill the objectives of the organization.

Qualifications: Required: Master’s degree in Education, Development Studies, Social Science, Project Management, Public Administration, or another relevant field. Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience in education program implementation, program management, teacher professional development, or a related field. At least 3 years of experience in managing and supervising field-based teams, preferably including staff responsible for school-level implementation, coaching or community engagement. Demonstrated experience in managing education programs at field/district level, including planning, budgeting, implementation monitoring, resource management and reporting. Good understanding of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), Life-skill and mentoring program for adolescents, teacher professional development and Family & Community engagement. Experience working with primary & Secondary schools and education officials at district and Upazila levels, with demonstrated ability to build effective institutional relationships. Demonstrated ability to use program data, monitoring findings and evidence for management decisions, resource allocation, quality improvement and problem-solving. Strong skills in annual planning, budgeting, implementation tracking, financial/resource management, risk management and reporting. Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, facilitation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to represent Room to Read effectively with government, donors, partners and other stakeholders. Proficiency in Bangla and English, particularly for professional communication, documentation, presentations and reporting. Good computer skills, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and relevant digital management, data and reporting tools. Willingness and ability to travel regularly to project schools, communities, government offices and other field locations. Commitment to Room to Read’s mission, values and principles of quality, equity, sustainability and evidence-based programming.

Compensation: We offer a competitive salary.

The benefits include: Provident Fund 13th Month Allowance Gratuity Health coverage for staff and dependents Insurances Professional Development opportunities. The most significant benefit is the opportunity to work with one of the fastest growing international organizations, which has sole focus on education & continuously innovating efficient & effective social entrepreneurship 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. Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. 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. 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