Program Officer, Education Promotion & Impact

BACKGROUND

RAI serves clients and communities through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at five core outcomes: Health, Safety, Economic Empowerment, Education, and Power. RAI’s Education & Youth work seeks to ensure children and youth are supported to overcome the challenges to their well-being, learning, and development wrought by forced migration, and gain the skills and knowledge to achieve their goals. This is accomplished through collaboration with affected communities, direct programs and services, training and technical assistance with formal and non-formal education systems and providers, and formal and informal partnerships.

RAI’s Learning and Impact department provides thought and practice leadership and training and technical assistance that helps IRC and partners grow and sustain high quality, evidence-based, impactful, and cost-effective programs. The Consultant will work with the Education & Youth team.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Program Officer (PO) will advance strategy development and key projects to increase the reach, impact, and influence of RAI Education & Youth programming that supports newcomer language learners and Students with Limited and/or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE). The PO will manage two key projects: 1) a project to transition IRC’s tutor training curriculum online; 2) a project to market and disseminate IRC education products developed for the New Jersey Office for Refugees (including e-courses, toolkits, etc.) and promote their use within and beyond New Jersey. Additionally, the PO will be a key driver of improving the knowledge management, dissemination, and promotion of the RAI Education & Youth technical support materials within the network and strategies and guidance for offices on promoting RAI Education & Youth work with relevant stakeholders in the U.S. and Europe.

The PO will draw their strong project management skills, deep subject matter expertise, and design and marketing skills to coordinate the project teams and liaise with stakeholders to achieve deliverables. The PO reports to the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Education & Youth.

MAJOR REPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Project Management

• Lead the development of promotion and impact strategies for RAI Education & Youth Signature Programs
• Develop and own workplans and coordinate team members to meet deliverables according to project timelines
• Track progress and results against workplans, flag challenges and engage with team members to problem-solve and course-correct
• Plan and coordinate team and working group meetings
• Write and disseminate project updates, announcements, and other communications; manage project Teams channels
• Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Communicate regularly with IRC offices and specific project stakeholders to sustain relationships and project management

Project Activities Coordination & Implementation

• Conduct research to inform projects, e.g. market research, needs assessments, desk reviews
• Coordinate and/or develop marketing and dissemination materials with support from Learning & Impact project team members
• Plan and coordinate internal and external dissemination events and learning opportunities, coordinating speakers/facilitators, logistics, procurement, and communications
• Write and disseminate strategic communications
• Support implementation of project Monitoring & Evaluation plans

Technical support

• Develop strategies and guidance materials to enhance promotion and impact of IRC’s common and Signature Programs, including Healing Classrooms, tutoring, Newcomer Youth Summer Academies, etc.
• Develop and update dissemination materials to support adaptation, replication, implementation, and promotion of RAI Education & Youth Signature Programs
• Research and share information related to business development for RAI Education & Youth programming
• Provide targeted training and technical assistance to IRC offices and project partners related to marketing, dissemination, and promotion of their/IRC’s Education & Youth work

Internal and External Relations

• Participate in regular organization, unit, and team meetings and trainings
• Maintain up to date records in team tracking logs
• Contribute to internal communication and coordination efforts around organizational priorities
• Represent the RAI Education & Youth technical unit in internal working groups and external forums

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Senior Technical Advisor, Education & Youth

Collaboration with: The PO maintains close working relationships with all the members of RAI’s Safety, Health, and Education unit. The PO liaises with members of the Learning & Impact department, and maintains strong relationships with program staff in the field. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• 6+ years of Education-related work experience, including with forcibly displaced populations and state and local education systems and out-of-school time programs 
• Minimum of three years’ experience managing complex projects with remote teams and multiple stakeholders
• Extensive experience in promotion/marketing/dissemination and strategic communications related to education-related products and programs, including market research
• Experience producing e-courses and other virtual and/or information services
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong copyediting skills and attention to detail
• Strong design skills and proficiency using graphic design applications (e.g. Canva, Adobe In-Design) 
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work remotely  
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite and command of databases and platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Education preferred.

• Fluent in written and spoken English

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• Standard office working environment.
• Occasional travel required.