Field Academic Coordinator

Job Purpose:

This position reports to the Project Manager, consults with the field team, and interacts with other professionals and organizations working in the rural/sub-urban education sector. This position liaises with the school staff and collaborates with the DIL departments and project stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The Field Academic coordinator should be familiar with rural area primary education system and issues; have experience launching new initiatives; be comfortable with technology and communication tools; be flexible in adapting approaches to local conditions; and be able to articulate project objectives.

1. 1.      Project Coordination

• Ensure communication and coordination between DIL and the partner schools, including all stakeholders.
• Conduct participatory and comprehensive reviews of targets regularly and ensure the progress of all activities as per MOU.
• Oversee and facilitate the successful implementation of yearly, quarterly and monthly activity plans.
• Prepare and submit project plans and budgets for the assigned activities on the assigned dates.
• Share the plan with the schools and ensure all preparations for the activities are in place.
• Coordinate between the MDF, the partner schools and the Training Department for the execution of training.           

1. 2.      Monitoring and Information Management

• Monitor the project through participatory and transparent methods to oversee the best implementation of the objectives set and identify and report areas of concern.
• Monitor the resource and learning materials allocation to project schools, their timely distribution and appropriate use.
• Conduct monthly school visits for the following purposes:

1. To conduct Classroom Observations.
2.  To ensure availability and optimal utilization of all resources including, teaching and learning. material, manuals, library resources, and IT resources.
3.   To ensure timely collection and processing of data on given formats.
4.   To ensure all school facilities and staff are working at full capacit
5. 3.      Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain all project-related records.
• Prepare and submit quarterly narrative and budget reports for the project and disseminate them quarterly.
• Contribute towards the preparation of donor reports.
• Maintains photo library and shares with DIL team as needed.

1. 4.     Facilitation

• Work with principals in identifying & prioritizing the school's needs in coordination with the MDF.
• Hold quarterly cluster-based coordination meetings with the principals for information sharing, follow up progress on quarterly objectives, discuss community issues and generate ideas for continuous improvement.
• Maintain minutes of the discussions & decisions, update the Project manager on the same and seek guidance where needed.
• Guide and facilitate the principal in ensuring that school policy guidelines are implemented and adapted.

1. 5.         Field Coordination

• Work closely with communities, SMCs and PTAs & build their capacity to support principals/schools according to their roles and responsibilities.
• Hold quarterly meetings with PTAs/SMCs and record minutes of the meetings
• Interact with PTAs & parents to ensure participation in their children's academic progress and other school affairs as per school policy guidelines.
• Disseminate information and documents to schools on time in coordination with the partner.
• Coordinate with the PM for raising PRs ensuring timely delivery of books, teaching and learning material and all other assets including furniture items at schools.
• Coordinates with the Training team to organize training as per the project timeline.

Experience and Skills

Education, qualification, skills and experience :

Education :

• Masters Degree in Education, social sciences, or other related subject

Experience:

• 02-03 years experience in managing or implementing education projects at the field level
• Experience in directly working with primary teachers and children at the field level.

Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal, presentation and verbal/written communication skills in English and Urdu

Organizational and Other Skills: Excellent time, project management and related organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy. Ability to prioritize work effectively and adjust to multiple and competing demands.  Basic knowledge of budgets and budget management.

General: Highly motivated and versatile, with the ability to work independently, demonstrate sound judgment, participate as an effective team member, demonstrate cooperative behaviour with co-workers and supervisors at all times, and follow through on assigned tasks to completion. Ability to multi-task and work in cross-functional, multicultural settings with all levels of an organization and with diverse external partners.