Officer, Quality Reading Materials

Position Overview: The Quality Reading Materials (QRM) Officer’s primary responsibilities include providing high-quality translation of relevant documents and materials, as well as technical and coordination support for all aspects of QRM publishing initiatives. The ideal candidate must possess a clear understanding of specialized terminology related to children’s publications, the local publishing industry, and educational materials. Additionally, he/she should understand the country context regarding the use of educational resources across pre-primary, primary, and university levels. The Officer will also coordinate, facilitate, and lead program workshops focused on co-creation and new materials development, while fostering strong partnerships with local publishers and relevant stakeholders. The position is based in Vientiane with some travel required and reports directly to the Quality Reading Materials Manager. Responsibilities Overall - Support data collection and translation for the development of materials design, professional learning resources and all related quality reading Materials program. - Support the quality implementation of Program activities in alignment with global guidelines, country priorities and MOUs. - Contribute to research and learning activities to strengthen program effectiveness. - Contribute the management and effective use of digital platforms (e.g., Literacy Cloud), coordinating with CO and GO teams as needed. - Collaborate with Program Operations and Administration teams to coordinate logistics for QRM activities. Management and Coordination - Collaborate with government counterparts and partners (e.g., RIES/MOES, NIFA/MOICT, publishers) to support effective program implementation. - Maintain regular communication with stakeholders, ensuring alignment with program objectives and guidance from the QRM Manager. Program Design, Implementation, Training, and Monitoring - Support the development of tools, guidelines, and curricula for book publishing partnerships (e.g., book review manuals). - Support all relevant book publishing activities engagement such as co-creation, publishers’ engagement and new title development. - Coordinate with Global Office teams to address technical issues and ensure alignment with global standards. Planning, Reporting and Documentation - Provide inputs to planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes in line with CO and GO guidance. - Prepare and manage book data for publication on Literacy Cloud and government platforms, ensuring accurate records in GSD. - Collect, consolidate, and analyze program data to support monitoring and reporting. - Document program outputs, best practices, and lessons learned, and maintain organized records on SharePoint. Networking and Thought Leadership - Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, publishers, and private sector partners. - Represent Room to Read in relevant forums, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and quality children’s reading materials.

Required: - Bachelor’s degree in education, Language, Communication, Fine Arts or related field (Master’s degree preferred) - Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with NGOs, INGOs, or publishing companies - Strong understanding of the local publishing industry and children’s literature - Familiarity with Educational material design, and skilled in developing/editing training manuals or guidelines - Skilled in manuscript editing, graphic design, and layout (experience with Adobe Photoshop and InDesign is a plus) - Strong report writing and documentation skills - Proven ability to deliver results and meet deadlines - Proficient in both Lao and English (spoken and written) - Proficient in Microsoft Office and able to apply AI tools to improve work efficiency. Preferred: - Facilitation and training skills - Previous experience in children’s book publishing - Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities - Experience working with writers, illustrators, and schools - Ability to translate between English and Lao - Proactive in learning and applying new skills