Education Specialist – Rwanda 

Position Description 

Organization Summary 

Edify’s mission is improving and expanding sustainable, Christ-centered education globally. Edify is a  non-profit organization registered in the U.S. since 2009 and has operations in Sierra Leone, the  Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Peru, Panama, Uganda, El  Salvador, and Rwanda.

Learn more at www.edify.org

Location: Kigali, Rwanda

Reports to: Country Director – Edify Rwanda

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience and education

Job Type: Full-time

Position Summary 

One of the strategic pillars of Edify’s mission to improve and expand sustainable Christ centered education is helping Edify’s partner schools to improve both school administration as well as teaching and learning in order to enhance learning outcomes and employability. The ideal candidate is an experienced educator capable of training adult learners to effectively lead a school and implement education programs in classrooms. The Education Specialist must  possess excellent interpersonal skills and be able to relate to the needs of school proprietors,  head teachers/principals and teachers, receiving their feedback and requests gracefully while  maintaining focus on Edify’s mission.

Here are some of the current initiatives that Edify is implementing in schools:

• The Edify Leadership Training Modules for school proprietors/head teachers/principals and other academic leaders in the school
• The training and implementation of Early Childhood (EC) Programs
• The training and implementation of literacy programs: Phonics by Phone (PbP), Reading Centers and Book Festivals
• The annual Edify Leadership Institute (ELI)
• Edify Teaching Certificate – online training for teachers

Work Environment 

This position will be a full-time role based in Edify’s office in Kigali, Rwanda. There will also be collaboration with Edify’s global team in the other countries where we work. The  atmosphere of Edify is one where you can expect to perform widely-varied tasks across the  education spectrum.

Edify believes in the importance of using local resources in order to avoid duplication and build  local capacity. Most of its program activities are, therefore, implemented in partnership with  local microfinance and training organizations.

The Education Specialist will be responsible for designing, implementing, following up and  assessing Edify’s programs for school improvement and school leadership development in its  partner schools in Rwanda. S/he will act as a coach and mentor for leaders of Edify partner  schools and will work closely with other members of the Rwanda team and Edify’s international  Education Team.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Develop and Support Education Initiatives 

• Creatively design interventions, trainings, content and strategic approaches.

• Develop close partnerships and school support mechanisms with Edify partner schools.
• Identify experts and resources that can support and enrich Edify’s school  improvement programs.
• Coordinate all school leadership trainings and serve as a back-up trainer for Edify  partner schools.
• Visits schools to provide follow-up and support after the delivery of each leadership  training module.
• Support trainers as they offer leadership trainings to Edify partner schools.
• Update training modules and help design improvements to increase effectiveness.
• Assist with the design of new education programs.
• Execute program implementation plans.
• Work closely with the VP for Education to carry out training programs including the  Edify Leadership Institute, research and other capacity-building interventions.
• Oversee the Phonics by Phone program in a cohort of Edify Core schools.
• Monitor and evaluate teacher implementation and student progress of the EC  Initiative.
• Design and deliver a variety of literacy workshops and trainings for EC and lower  primary teachers, including phonics training, creation of literacy related Teaching  and Learning Materials, etc.
• Serve as a support and resource to all Edify partner schools (e.g., offer an annual  workshop at the ELI).
• Create an education strategic plan for Rwanda that targets CORE schools but  includes opportunities for all partner schools.

Collaborating with Partners/Agencies 

• Liaise with Edify’s partners in the design and assessment of programs.
• Liaise with agencies involved in the education sector, including the Ministry of  Education, professional associations, universities, donors and NGOs.
• Develop linkages with other education organizations that enable Edify to learn as  well as share its experience with others in the education sector.
• Remain abreast of education sector developments in Rwanda that are relevant to low-fee independent schools.
• Keep Edify partner schools informed of developments in government education policies and standards.

Administration and Reporting 

• Monitor and evaluate specific program initiatives.
• Complete and submit quarterly reports to the Country Director and the VP of Education.
• Document Edify’s experience and write reports as required.
• Input information in the Edify database and sign-off on training programs.
• Assess program effectiveness and sustainability.

Other 

• Work with Edify’s Education Team and staff from other Edify departments to support the integration of education  technology interventions, develop new strategies, monitor progress and assess impact.
• Participate in regularly-scheduled online/telephone meetings with the Education Team from all Edify partner countries.
• Provide support to other staff when they create and deliver training.
• Provide input on curriculum development and training initiatives spearheaded within Edify’s Education Team.
• Carry out other activities that may be required.

Position Requirements:  

• Fluency in English
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field (Master’s degree  preferred).
• A minimum of three years teaching experience in a school and/or five years as an  educator/trainer.

Other Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience as a school administrator.
• Experience in/with private Christian schools.
• Experience coaching and/or mentoring adult learners.
• Experience integrating technology into teachers’ pedagogy.
• EGRA/EGMA trained.

Minimum Requirements: 

• Personal confession of faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to Edify’s mission.
• Living example of servant leadership, humble and willing to learn.
• Passionate about Edify’s mission and alleviating global poverty.
• High degree of integrity.
• Excellent time management skills and ability to take self-directed initiative to achieve  agreed-upon goals.
• Ability, willingness, and flexibility to learn.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team.
• Must be capable of designing and delivering effective presentations.
• Must be able to travel throughout Rwanda as needed to train and support  the implementation of education initiatives in schools.
• Commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults as you carry out work with schools and partners.

Application Deadline: July 31, 2022.

Note: Only successful candidates will be contacted.