Local Language Publishing Program Officer

Qualifications/Education/Skills/competency: 

Job Requirements
• A minimum of three years of professional experience (preferred in children literature development)
• Prior experience working with writers, authors and illustrators
• Knowledge and understanding of publishing process
• Knowledge and understanding of Tanzania school curriculums for different grades in Primary schools
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and a low overhead
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education and experience related to the tasks mentioned above.
• At least 2-4 years experience in community development, particularly in the Education sector
• Ability to travel regularly in Morogoro/Mvomero
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili
• Experience developing and/or implementing large-scale literacy initiatives
Preferred:
Prior experience working with INGOs, schools, teachers, administrators and government officials

Duties and Responsibilities: 

* Organize and oversee the complete process of publishing Room to Read Tanzania’s books. This involves sourcing local authors and illustrators, advising on story development, reviewing, editing, proofreading, securing copyrights and ISBN codes, sending to print, obtaining Ministry of Education’s approval.
* Provide information about titles that are coming to print and send copies of LLP books once they are printed to Regional and Global Office
* Establish and manage relationships with other NGOs, government officials and local educational authorities.
* Build partnerships with organisations and associations involved with children’s books (writer’s groups, creative writing departments of universities and NGOs involved with content development.
* Collect quotations from credible printing companies and prepare detailed cost estimations of each book title.
* Facilitate the formation of Books’ Selection Committee and dialogues between writers, authors, translators and illustrators.
* Work with authors and illustrators to produce original, high quality content that is appropriate for target age groups and suitable for the local cultural context.
* Initiate and manage a writer’s competition in which manuscripts are submitted and the best (as decided by a panel of expert judges) are published by Room to Read Tanzania.
* Represent Room to Read in different forums and advocate the importance of reading and the need for children’s books in Kiswahili language as well as bi-lingual children’s books.

More Details: 

Compensation:
The salary range for these positions will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. Health benefits are also provided. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through literacy and gender equality in education.

Employer

Website: 

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Background: 

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.
We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 5 million children by constructing more than 1,400 schools, establishing over 11,000 libraries, publishing 550 new children’s book titles in 22 local languages, and putting over 10,000 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships.
Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$38 million and our global staff numbers over 420. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, and we are setting up operations and hiring staff for a new office in Tanzania.

Vacancy Details: 

The Local Language Publishing Program Officer’s primary responsibilities will include managing and coordinating all aspects of Room to Read’s publishing initiatives including sourcing content, reviewing, editing, and negotiating agreements. S/he will also be required to research and form networks within the publishing industry to gauge local market trends and promote Room to Read as a key player in children’s book. The position will require some travel in rural part of the country and involves frequent interaction with writers, authors, illustrators, publishers, printers and government officials. The position will report directly to the Country Director/ Program Director. The successful candidate will begin his/her work in February 2012.

Mode of Applications: 

Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with “LLP Program Officer, Tanzania” in the subject line, (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to africa.hiring@roomtoread.org. Due to high applicant volume you may not receive a response from Room to Read. Applications are accepted until the position is filled

Application Deadline: 

01/20/2012

Contact Info

Country: 

Tanzania, United Republic of

Contact Email: 

africa.hiring@roomtoread.org.