Program Officer – Education

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

R4D seeks a highly motivated and dynamic Program Officer to play a key role in the Global Education practice on our largest program, the EdTech Hub. EdTech Hub runs a demand-driven support services where government decision makers and their advisers can request real time support on how to make evidence-based decisions in the use of education technology. The Program Officer will be the owner of a portfolio of several engagements where we provide this support. This will includes both analytical work and project management to ensure we have strong relationships with those seeking our support, give them high quality advice, and juggle multiple requests simultaneously. The program officer will be pivotal to further our team’s work of helping decision makers in low and middle income countries translate evidence to practice, generate new learning, and facilitate the sharing of evidence, knowledge, and experience between experts, countries, and stakeholder groups.

If being part of a highly committed and supportive team, working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment to deliver high quality work, and engaging with global and country-level partners to improve education systems sounds like a job that was made for you — we’d love to read your application; please apply!

This position is based in Washington, DC and will report to the Associate Director in the Global Education practice.

Opportunity

As program officer, you will work as part of tight-knit team to provide technical assistance and build strong relationships with education decision makers in low and middle income countries. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate and hone your skills in applied research, facilitation, project management, and partner engagement.

You will be successful in this role if you are a highly-motivated self-starter; a creative problem solver, have strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills; and have a commitment to excellence and producing results. We are a team that is resourceful, responsible, tenacious, high-energy, and always has a positive attitude.

You will have the opportunity to have a significant impact by bringing your experience in education and/or EdTech to a team that has a well developed platform for supporting decision-makers. You will have the chance to work on a daily basis with colleagues around the world, particularly in Africa, South Asia, the US, and the UK.

Responsibilities

The program officer will be expected to provide a broad range of technical and project management functions that include, but are not limited to:

• Development of high-quality work products, including presentations, concept notes, thought pieces, briefing materials, blog posts, newsletters, meeting summaries, and e-communications to share with both internal and external audiences.
• Conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis on technical and policy issues related to the use of technology in international education
• Coordinating and developing project deliverables (reports, workplans, tracking progress against targets, etc.).
• Supporting the development and maintenance of positive relationships with multiple stakeholders, including within R4D and with partner and funding organizations.

Qualifications

• Successful candidates are likely to have the following qualifications:
• Colleagues would describe you as: thorough, responsive, a team player, analytical, and proactive.
• Undergraduate / graduate training in international development, education, economics, social sciences, or related field;
• Up to five (5) years of relevant work experience in a company, consulting firm, social-impact organization, or other relevant organization.
• Exceptional oral & written communications skills;
• Ability to deliver high-quality outputs and results within tight timeframes;
• Excellent project management and problem solving skills;
• Comfort working with a diverse team of colleagues from many different countries, cultures, and backgrounds
• Demonstrated experience in international education, preferably EdTech
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and Word; and
• Full professional fluency in written and spoken English.
• Preferred but not required: fluent in written and spoken French.
• Participates fully as a member of R4D by contributing, assisting and participating in projects, activities, and initiatives as requested by management

Additionally, R4D prizes people who are:

• Good and active listeners and facilitators;
• Productive, energetic, creative and task oriented;
• Adept at exchanging constructive feedback;
• Multilingual
• Equally comfortable and capable working independently and in teams;
• Highly collaborative and approachable; and
• Enthusiastic about joining a diverse and inclusive work environment.