ABOUT US:                                                                                

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity through the power of play. We help millions of children each year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the leading global development organization that uses play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease and inequality. 

Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our headquarters in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and seven national offices across Europe and North America. 

 With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars: 

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

 Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

 

ROLE SUMMARY:

 

The Education Specialist reports directly to the Country Director. He/she is responsible for providing technical advice and guidance on the development and implementation of education programs in line with the Country Strategic Plan. A brief role summary of his/her tasks are below while detailed responsibilities as per approved JD will be shared with selected candidate:

• Design and contextualize teacher training resources
• Lead on policy level interventions of the organization
• Government stewardship
• Creation of Ed-tech and digital learning and training platforms
• Advocacy specifically targeting government education departments to mainstream play-based learning 
• Participation/representation in education, training and related working groups/workshops within and outside the organization (when needed) 
• Curriculum development and contextualisation 
• Provide oversight and technical support and guidance to training components across all projects  

Capacity Building Focal Point:

• Provide technical support and guidance to the training components across all projects. 
• Conduct Training of Trainers for staff, government officials, and other partner educators. 
• Monitor and evaluate training activities, ensuring program quality. 
• Identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations for enhancing capacity building goals. 
• Participate in education, training, and related working groups and workshops. 
• Share expertise and insights to influence discussions and decisions related to organizations practices and policies for improving programing. 

Design and Contextualize Training Resources/Materials: 

• Develop and adapt RTP training resources to meet the specific needs and context of the different programs. 
• Ensure that the training materials align with the organization's objectives and standards. 
• Incorporate innovative and effective training methodologies into the resources. 
• Take lead in development and contextualization of physical education curriculum materials. 

• Stay updated on education policies and trends, providing recommendations for improvement. 
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, especially national and provincial education departments, to advocate for policy changes. 
• Build and maintain relationships with government education departments, engaging officials to promote play-based learning. 
• Advocate for mainstreaming play-based learning approaches within the education system. 

• Identify and evaluate suitable ed-tech tools and platforms that support RTP methodologies. 
• Collaborate with relevant teams to integrate digital learning components into training programs. 

EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION

Minimum Master’s degree in Education or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE 

Minimum 5 years’ experience implementing and providing technical guidance on basic education programs and liaising with government officials. Proven experience in project planning, report writing, networking, partnership-building and working with I/NGOs. Significant experience in designing and delivering training and/or the development of education materials and resources.

COMPETENCIES / PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES 

• Superior organizational skills and ability to multi-task on a constant basis
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to build rapport with staff, partners, government officials, donors and community leaders
• Ability to adapt and work under pressure meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Creative and flexible with problem solving skills
• Demonstrated professionalism and diplomacy
• Ability to represent oneself as an effective Right To Play ambassador to high level officials
• Strategy planning skills for education initiatives
• People management particularly influence management

TECHNICAL SKILLS 

• Understanding of active learning approaches, particularly play-based learning
• Knowledge and understanding of best practices in basic education programs, including technical experience in teacher training and resource and curriculum development
• Understanding of community development processes
• Strong MS Office and program management tools and procedures
• Knowledge and experience with programmatic approaches related to life skills or social emotional learning
• Knowledge and experience in education research, quantitative and qualitative methods

 LANGUAGES 

Fluency in spoken and written English and local language(s). 

 DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (An Asset) 

• Experience in quality improvement
• Experience in strengthening civil society organisations  
• Experience in coaching
• Knowledge/experience in child protection, gender mainstreaming and/or governance
• Knowledge of adult learning  
• Knowledge of international donors

WHO YOU ARE:

You are highly driven, results-oriented, collaborative and well-rounded leader with a passion for working with

children and youth. You are an exceptional communicator with excellent networking skills.

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

The opportunity to collaborate with an innovative global team who are passionate about working with children and youth. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). You will be immersed in an environment where learning and development is encouraged and valued, and “play” is appreciated as a core avenue to building community.

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible work arrangements (e.g. work from home and flex hours if required)
• 20 days annual leave
• Up to 3 personal days per year
• Up to 5 personal learning and development (L&D) days per year
• Maternity/paternity/parental leave top up and support
• Annual learning week
• Annual staff recognition awards
• Opportunity to connect with employees across our offices (Global Buddy Chat, Facebook Workplace)
• Opportunity to engage in global projects and initiatives
• Wellness programs
• Playful activities and event