Program Coordinator – Structured Pedagogy Programs Full Time NEW

The Luminos Fund, an international nonprofit bringing education opportunities to the world’s most vulnerable children, is seeking a Program Coordinator to support the implementation and scale-up of two structured pedagogy initiatives in Oromia: the Structured Accelerated Learning Program (SALP) for out-of-school children and a Grade 1 structured pedagogy literacy program designed to strengthen foundational literacy instruction in government schools. The Program Coordinator will support the development, translation, and adaptation of structured pedagogy materials, while also contributing to the planning, coordination, and day-to-day implementation of both programs in collaboration with implementing partners, government stakeholders, and Luminos technical teams. The Luminos Fund seeks someone who is detail-oriented, self-motivated, collaborative, organized, and passionate about improving learning outcomes for children.

This full-time position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and requires regular travel to schools and woreda education offices. The Program Coordinator will report to the Program Manager (Oromia) and will work closely with Luminos colleagues across Programs, Teaching & Learning, Impact, and Finance teams.

About the Luminos Fund

The Luminos Fund (www.luminosfund.org) provides transformative education programs to thousands of vulnerable children each year, helping them to catch up to grade level and prepare for lifelong learning. Working in partnership with community-based organizations in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, Luminos is scaling up its accelerated learning program through the Luminos Method (www.luminosmethod.org) — an evidence-based approach that helps children catch up fast and discover the joy of learning. The Luminos Fund is working in Ethiopia with an ACSO license #5731.

Luminos is supported by a range of funding partners, including Cartier Philanthropy, the Gates Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, and UNICEF. Luminos has been recognized for its achievements globally, receiving the 2022 Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize, the Library of Congress International Literacy Award, the Lipman Family Prize, the WISE Award, and the HundrED Global Innovation Award.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Implementation and Coordination

• Provide coordination and logistical support for all aspects of program implementation.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing coordination of implementing partners.
• Support implementing partners and government stakeholders in planning and delivering program activities, including training, school visits, and supervision activities.
• Support the procurement and distribution of teaching and learning materials in coordination with Finance and Programs team members.
• Implement financial and operational guidelines as requested by the Finance team, including verifying expenditure documentation for staff and partner organizations.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee logistics for program events, including stakeholder trainings, workshops, program meetings, and site visits by donors, government officials, and staff.
• Track key implementation milestones and ensure program activities are completed on schedule.

Program Monitoring

• Monitor program delivery through regular field visits, classroom observations, and communication with partner organizations.
• Observe classroom instruction and provide feedback on the use of structured pedagogy approaches and learning materials.
• Collaborate with the Luminos Impact team and partner organizations to drive accurate and timely data collection and ensure data integrity.
• Identify implementation challenges from field observations and monitoring data, and share them with the Program Manager.
• Maintain clear documentation of program activities, monitoring visits, and implementation progress.
• Assist in preparing implementation reports and internal updates.

Government Engagement and Partner Coordination

• Support coordination with Regional, Zonal, and Woreda Education Offices to facilitate program activities.
• Maintain positive working relationships with education stakeholders at the regional and local levels.

Material Development and Adaptation

• Support the translation and adaptation of program materials (including lesson plan templates, classroom observation tools, and student assessment tools) from English into Afan Oromo.
• Assist in ensuring materials are linguistically accurate, culturally relevant, and aligned with the Oromia primary school curriculum.
• Support the review and quality assurance of translated materials in collaboration with the Program Manager (Oromia).
• Participate in piloting and testing new or adapted materials in classrooms, collecting feedback from teachers and supervisors.

Training and Technical Support

• Participate in classroom visits to observe implementation and support partners.
• Support the coordination of Trainings of Trainers (TOTs) and stakeholder trainings.
• Conduct visits to training venues to provide feedback, support implementation, and conduct observations.
• Provide practical support to ensure teachers and supervisors have the materials and information they need to implement program activities effectively.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in education, language studies (preferably Afan Oromo), social sciences, development studies, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of relevant work experience in education programs, NGO projects, or government education initiatives.
• Familiarity with the Ethiopian primary education curriculum and early grade literacy approaches.
• Experience coordinating activities with government offices, schools, or community partners.
• Experience translating or adapting educational materials (English–Afan Oromo) strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and follow up on implementation activities.
• Experience collecting or managing program data is an advantage.
• Strong written Afan Oromo language skills.
• Fluency in Afan Oromo, Amharic, and English is required.
• Willingness to travel regularly within the region.

Core Attributes

• Belief and demonstrated passion for the mission, vision, and values of Luminos Fund.
• Impeccable integrity, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented, can-do attitude.
• Ability to wear multiple hats.
• Team player, with a belief in the power of positivity and appreciative inquiry.
• Innate sense of responsibility for delivery of quality work, even in adverse circumstances.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently in challenging international contexts, as required.

Luminos Core Beliefs and Values

1. We believe that every child is capable of learning a remarkable amount in a short period of time, if given the chance.
2. We keep children’s joy and well-being at the heart of everything we do.
3. We embrace assessment as a key component of effective teaching and learning.
4. We celebrate and empower local leadership throughout our work with partner communities and governments.
5. We use research, program data, and skilled classroom observation in the tenacious pursuit of excellence.
6. We celebrate the unique contexts and cultures of the communities we serve in our curricula and pedagogy.
7. We act with the highest standards of integrity and care, ensuring mutual accountability among colleagues and partners.
8. We take the initiative to solve problems where we find them, managing details large and small, with urgency.
9. We act deliberately to ensure that our organization is inclusive for people of different genders, racial backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, abilities, and other sources of diversity.
10. We build deep, authentic relationships with our supporters in celebration of the mutually transformative power of giving.