About CRS

CRS is an international NGO based in the United States that works in over 100 countries to promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. CRS was established in 1943 to help war-torn Europe and its refugees recover. Today, we continually seek to help those most in need, without regard to race, creed or nationality.

Job Summary:

CRS is seeking an Inclusive Education Material and Training Officer for an anticipated five-year USAID-funded Education Resilience Activity (ERA) project in Pakistan. This program will support the Ministries of Education to improve the education systems’ climate resilience and inclusiveness of marginalized populations, particularly girls and children with disabilities.

This position will lead in the development of supplementary materials and training packages. This includes developing the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) teacher training package for pilot schools, supporting training delivery, and monitoring of pilot project implementation (in consultation with other partners). The Officer will use the Equity & Inclusion Checklist to review materials produced across the project for accessibility and inclusivity, and advise on school and community engagement materials produced by other project staff. S/he will foster a positive environment of collaboration with project stakeholders including but not limited to other donors, Technical and Consortium members, and Partners with the public and private sector actors to achieve the project goal of resilience and inclusive education.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Under Sr. Technical Advisor Inclusive Education’s guidance, prepare and manage material and capacity building components for the ERA project during implementation and consolidation. Serve as a point of contact for the development of supplementary materials and training programs.
• Lead the development of supplementary educational materials and capacity development initiatives that are aligned with inclusive education principles. Ensure that the creation of materials fulfills diverse learning needs, including all gender and social groups and those of students with disabilities.
• Support partner organizations and education departments in Sindh and KP to design, schedule, conduct, and report on capacity-building activities for ERA project.
• Take the lead in developing a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) teacher training package initially to be used for pilot schools. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders and conduct any needs analysis, if required, to incorporate UDL principles into teacher training programs.
• Provide support in the delivery of training sessions for teachers, education department officials, SMCs/PTCs, ensuring effective understanding and implementation of inclusive education practices. Collaborate with other partners and stakeholders involved in the training process to enhance coordination and consistency.
• Oversee and monitor the implementation of the capacity-building components of ERA project, identifying challenges and proposing adjustments to improve effectiveness.
• Utilize an Equity and Inclusion Checklist to review all project materials produced across different target areas for accessibility and inclusivity. Provide recommendations and feedback during the utilization of supplementary material to ensure that materials meet the highest standards of gender equity and social inclusion.
• Support the development of school and community engagement materials ensuring alignment with inclusive education principles. Ensure that guidance on making materials is culturally sensitive and accessible to diverse audiences.
• Collaborate with teachers, education authorities, persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, and community members to gather insights and feedback on the usability and effectiveness of materials and training programs. Develop and foster a participatory approach to material development and training delivery.
• Stay informed about the latest developments in inclusive education, UDL, and related fields. Engage in continuous professional development to enhance skills and knowledge in designing inclusive educational materials and training programs.
• Implement quality assurance measures to ensure that all materials and training programs meet established standards of excellence. Conduct periodic reviews and updates to keep materials relevant and effective.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and recommend trainings and technical assistance.
• Understand and practice safeguarding policy, procedures, and code of conduct to mitigate, avoid and manage safeguarding risks for both staff and beneficiaries.

Basic Qualifications

• A master’s degree in education or any relevant discipline from an accredited, recognized university.
• At least five years of professional experience in materials and training design within the education sector.  Demonstrated ability to engage and mobilize diverse partners, develop stakeholder networks, and successfully communicate and coordinate among key stakeholders.
• Sound understanding of the education landscape of the region or in Pakistan.
• Technical understanding and experience in leading capacity development activities.

Required Languages – English, Urdu, and any local language is preferable.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Very good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized technical experience and qualifications in education, special and inclusive education, UDL, teacher training and materials development, or any other related discipline.

• Experience in engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Experience in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), and Web Conferencing Applications.
• Previous experience in the development of project supplementary material for education projects. 
• Understanding of education systems, policies, and practices, especially those related to inclusive education.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver capacity-building programs for diverse stakeholders, including local organizations, communities, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and government agencies.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills to effectively convey the importance of gender equality and social inclusion to various audiences, including policymakers and community members.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none)

• None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Senior Technical Advisor for Inclusive Education, DCOP, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Country Manager, Country Finance Manager, Director Finance and Operations, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Advisor, Field Managers, Communication Officer, Education Technical teams

External: USAID, Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Education, Consortium members leadership, other donors and communities.

We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.