Location: Arba Minch, Ethiopia
Organization: Imagine1day
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Job Description
About Imagine1day International Organization
Imagine1day International Organization was founded in 2007 by Canadian philanthropists Summer Wilson and Chip Wilson with the vision that all Ethiopian children will have access to quality education that is locally sustained and free from foreign aid by 2045.
Working within Ethiopia’s public education system and in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, regional and district education offices, Women, Children, and Youth Affairs offices, and other relevant government structures, Imagine1day implements programs focused on improving access to quality and inclusive education. Our key pillars of intervention include education, child protection, leadership development, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), community development, and emergency response programs across several regions of Ethiopia.
- Vacancy: Internal/External
- Job title: South Ethiopia Region & Southwest Ethiopia Region – Education Program Coordinator
- Reports to: Regional Program Manager
- Functional Relationship: With the Country Office Education Program Manager
- Duty station: South Ethiopia Region, Arba Minch City
- Employment condition: Contract for 1 year with possibility of extensions
- Number of positions: one (1)
- Salary: As per the organization’s salary scale
Position Summary
Imagine1day is currently seeking to recruit qualified candidates for the position of Education Program Coordinator to support the implementation of integrated education and child protection programs in the South Ethiopia Region (SER) and the Southwest Ethiopia Region (SWER). These programs are implemented in partnership with UNICEF and other development partners.
The Education Program Coordinator will provide strategic and technical leadership in the implementation of education programs aimed at improving foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes for primary school children through the Teaching at the Right Level approach. The position plays a central role in coordinating project implementation across targeted schools and communities while ensuring integration with child protection, inclusive education, and community engagement interventions.
The coordinator will ensure the effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance of TaRL-based learning interventions and related education activities implemented in partnership with UNICEF and relevant government education structures, including the Ministry of Education. The role requires close collaboration with regional and local education authorities, school leadership, teachers, and community structures to ensure sustainable improvements in children’s learning outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Program Design, Planning, and Learning Improvement Strategy
- Lead and support the contextual adaptation and planning of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) interventions to improve foundational literacy and numeracy among primary school learners in target schools.
- Contribute to the design of education programs that address learning poverty, low foundational skills, and learning gaps through evidence-based instructional approaches.
- Support education needs assessments, learning assessments, and situational analyses to inform effective program design and targeting.
- Provide technical inputs to the development of project proposals, implementation plans, logical frameworks, and work plans related to foundational learning improvement.
- Ensure program design aligns with national education priorities and strategies of the Ministry of Education, Ethiopia, and relevant regional education bureaus.
- Implementation of Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Interventions
- Lead and coordinate the effective implementation of the TaRL methodology, including student learning assessments, grouping by learning level, targeted instruction, and regular progress monitoring.
- Support the rollout of structured TaRL learning cycles in targeted schools to accelerate improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy.
- Facilitate teacher training, coaching, and mentoring to ensure effective classroom application of TaRL pedagogy.
- Ensure quality delivery of TaRL classroom activities, including remedial learning sessions, activity-based instruction, and continuous assessment of student learning progress.
- Coordinate closely with school leaders, teachers, and local education authorities to institutionalize TaRL practices within the school system.
- Integration of Protection, Inclusion, and Safe Learning Environments
- Ensure education interventions integrate child protection principles, safeguarding, and psychosocial support to create safe and supportive learning environments.
- Promote inclusive education practices that support equitable participation of girls, children with disabilities, displaced learners, and other marginalized groups.
- Collaborate with protection teams to strengthen school-based child protection mechanisms and referral pathways.
- Ensure gender-responsive and inclusive education programming that addresses barriers to learning and participation.
- Community Engagement and Local Ownership
- Strengthen collaboration with school management committees, parent-teacher associations, and community structures to promote children’s learning and school participation.
- Support community mobilization initiatives to encourage parental engagement in children’s foundational learning.
- Facilitate community awareness and dialogue sessions focused on improving learning outcomes, inclusive education, and child protection.
- Promote local ownership and sustainability of foundational learning improvement initiatives.
- Program Monitoring, Quality Assurance, and Adaptive Management
- Monitor the implementation of TaRL and other education interventions through regular field visits, classroom observations, and performance tracking.
- Work closely with the MEAL team to ensure effective monitoring of learning outcomes, program indicators, and implementation fidelity.
- Analyze student assessment data and program performance data to inform adaptive program management and learning improvement strategies.
- Identify implementation gaps, risks, and operational challenges and implement timely corrective actions.
- Program Supply and Learning Materials Management
- Plan and oversee the procurement and distribution of teaching and learning materials required for TaRL implementation, including student assessment tools, teaching aids, and activity materials.
- Ensure education supplies are delivered to schools on time and utilized effectively to support learning improvement.
- Maintain proper documentation and accountability systems for education materials distribution.
- Financial and Compliance Management
- Support education program budgeting, financial planning, and cost tracking to ensure efficient use of project resources.
- Monitor expenditures against approved budgets and work plans and ensure compliance with donor and organizational financial policies.
- Work closely with finance teams to ensure timely financial reporting and documentation.
- Partnership, Coordination, and Representation
- Maintain strong working relationships with regional and local government education offices.
- Represent Imagine1day International Organization in regional education coordination forums and technical working groups.
- Strengthen collaboration with partners, including UNICEF and other education stakeholders.
- Ensure program implementation aligns with national education sector policies and coordination mechanisms.
- Team Leadership and Capacity Building
- Provide leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to education officers, facilitators, and field teams implementing TaRL activities.
- Support the professional development of teachers and education staff through training, mentoring, and on-the-job learning.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented team culture within the regional program team.
- Reporting, Documentation, and Knowledge Management
- Prepare and submit high-quality project reports including weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reports.
- Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories related to TaRL implementation and learning improvement.
- Ensure proper documentation and knowledge management of education program activities and results.
- Provide regular updates to the Regional Program Manager and the Education Program leadership team.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree (preferred) or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Educational Planning and Management, Curriculum and Instruction, Development Studies, or related fields.
- Minimum 7–10 years of relevant professional experience in education program implementation and management.
- Demonstrated experience in foundational learning programs, remedial education, or structured pedagogy interventions such as Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL).
- Experience implementing donor-funded education projects (e.g., UNICEF, Education Cannot Wait, or similar donors).
- Strong understanding of education systems in Ethiopia, particularly primary education and foundational learning.
Core Competencies
- Foundational Learning and Instructional Leadership
- Program Quality and Results-Based Management
- Partnership and Stakeholder Coordination
- Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
- Coaching, Mentoring, and Capacity Development
- Strong Communication and Reporting Skills
- Problem Solving and Adaptive Program Management
- Commitment to Child Safeguarding and Protection
Gender Equality Commitments
- Promote gender equality and equal access to opportunities, information, and resources.
- Ensure fair evaluation, development, and promotion based on merit and performance.
- Respect all individuals regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
- Value and respect cultural diversity.
Safeguarding Commitment
Imagine1day has zero tolerance for violations of Child and Adult Safeguarding, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and the Code of Conduct. All recruitment processes include robust safeguarding checks to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults.