Position Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Background: Creative Associates International is a fast-growing, social impact company specializing in education, economic growth, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this global development organization has a field presence is more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Position Summary: Creative Associates seeks a Technical Director/Foundational Learning Specialist to provide technical leadership and oversight to the anticipated USAID-funded Zambia Foundational Learning Activity. This project will support the Ministry of Education (MOE) in implementing foundational literacy and numeracy nationally through ongoing implementation in five current USAID target provinces (Eastern, Muchinga, North Western, Southern, and Western), scaling interventions to Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces, and responding to emerging needs in the education sector during disasters and emergencies

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support development and implementation of the program’s framework in coordination with partners and advisors to drive towards the program’s objectives.
• Design and oversee the implementation of foundational learning interventions, including oversight of technical specialists.
• Lead the alignment of curricula, content, and intended program outcomes to support iterative programmatic improvements.
• Manage a team to produce and lead content, program design, programmatic direction, and new development responsibilities.
• Monitor, in collaboration with partners, that interventions are implemented per design.
• Lead response and course-correction for programmatic challenges, applying collaborative, flexible, and practical thinking.
• Support the development of the monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan and ensure linkages between evidence generation, global dialogue, and country actions.
• Oversee and review technical writing products and deliverables.
• Oversee ongoing quality assurance and quality improvement for technical activities.
• Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and ensure appropriate program adjustments.
• Provide technical training and guidance to project staff, grantees, local partners, and beneficiaries, as needed.
• Respond to requests from USAID and supervisors as needed.
• Travel as needed to ensure smooth and harmonized technical interventions, providing support as necessary.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in Education, Gender, Disability and Inclusion, or a related field with at least 10 years of experience working in international development focused on primary education.
• At least 8 years of experience in leading the management of complex donor-funded (USAID, etc.) programs, and managing a diverse team of professionals and consortium partners.
• Extensive experience working with provincial governments in Zambia, or the East Africa region is highly preferred.
• Experience and ability to provide leadership and direction in harnessing the multi-disciplinary skills of the technical personnel and consortium partners within complex and high-risk environments.
• Familiarity with current landscape of primary education and foundational learning in Zambia.
• Ability to perform at a senior management level including managing staff in a matrixed system with a focus on adaptive management.
• Experience in programming for primary education, and ideally foundational literacy and numeracy.
• Experience working with children and an ability to apply safeguarding, ethics, and ‘do no harm’ principles.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills and ability to articulate arguments and positions backed with evidence to promote causes and ideas.
• Fluency in English required.
• We encourage Zambian nationals to apply for this role.

Position contingent upon donor funding.   

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.   

Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran.