Program Associate - Jharkhand (Ranchi)

Room to Read India Trust

Last Date: February 28, 2010
Email: in.hiring@roomtoread.org
Date of Issue: 30th Jan 2010

Organization Profile:
Room to Read is an international educational non-governmental organization (NGO) that partners with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, and providing education to girls. We seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries, and future generations. Through the opportunities that only education can provide, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zambia - countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children.

Since our inception, Room to Read's worldwide team has impacted over 3.1 million children by constructing more than 760 schools, establishing over 7,000 libraries, publishing 327 new children's book titles in 11 local languages, and putting over 6,800 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships. We are one of ten non-profits to have won the Fast Company / Monitor Group Social Capitalist award five years in a row, we've received Charity Navigator’s highest rating (4 stars) for three straight years, and we've been featured in a variety of media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and PBS.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$25 million and our global staff numbers over 300. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Hong Kong, London, and Delhi. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.

Position Overview:
The Reading Room Program Associate will be located at our Jharkhand state office(Ranchi ) will assist and report to the Reading Room Program Officer. S/he will provide logistical and organizational assistance to the RRPO in implementing the library program. Primary responsibilities will include procuring, organizing and preparing books for distribution to Room to Read libraries. Additional duties towards fulfilling objectives of the library program will be determined as needed. This position will involve frequent travel to districts in which Room to Read’s Reading Room Program is implementing.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
• Identify, categorize and database suitable books and materials for libraries supported by Room to Read

• Procure books from different sources and develop a desirable package of materials for the libraries

• Assist in receiving, sorting and storing English children’s books received from overseas

• Maintain an inventory of books and track distribution to schools and partners

• Work with appropriate staff to organize the packaging and handing over of selected books to beneficiary schools and partners

• Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of reading and need for libraries for children

• Assist in gathering information for reports on the status and progress of project sites

• Assist in hosting donor site visits as needed and document anecdotes that evolve through field work

• Make recommendations on improving the program’s impact and sustainability in schools and communities, with particular focus on maximizing quality and the community’s challenge grant contribution

• Extend support to local and outside volunteers in order to get their inputs in to the program.

• Entering data in the GSD and updating the GSD on regular basis and submitting the report to concerned supervisor on the basis of request

• Participate in any other activities, which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.

• Any other jobs assigned by the supervisor/ Program Officer .

Qualifications and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in education or social sciences.
• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks.
• Experience in conducting trainings and developing curriculum.
• Ability to travel frequently and spend up to several weeks at a time in rural areas.
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and a low overhead.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Hindi.

Preferred:
• A minimum two years of professional experience.
• Prior experience of working in rural areas.
• Prior experience in working with schools, teachers, administrators and government officials.
• Prior experience in working with children or youth and/or working in rural areas

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming nonprofit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:
The salary range for this position will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. Health benefits are also provided. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.

Application Procedure:
Please submit your resume and cover letter by email (no calls, faxes, or drop-ins, please) to in.hiring@roomtoread.org with “Reading Room – Program Associate - Jharkhand” as the case might be in the subject line.

Due to the high volume of applicant response, not all applicants may receive a response from Room to Read.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Last date for application: 28th February 2010