The Luminos Fund, an international non-profit bringing education opportunities to marginalized children, is seeking an Associate Director of Programs to oversee a range of research and evaluation projects across our countries of operation. The Associate Director of Programs will be responsible for ensuring that these projects deliver outstanding results for our donors and that the lessons learned contribute to greater impact across our programming. The ideal candidate for this position will have project management experience, strong research skills, and exceptional writing abilities.
This is a full-time position that can be based in one of our offices (Addis Ababa, Accra, Boston, Banjul, London, Monrovia), or it can be carried out remotely within GMT +3 to GMT -5 time zones. International travel to low-resource settings will be required on a regular basis. The Associate Director of Programs will report to a Director of Programs.
ABOUT THE LUMINOS FUND
The Luminos Fund (www.luminosfund.org) provides transformative education programs to thousands of out-of-school children, helping them to catch up to grade level, reintegrate into government schools, and prepare for lifelong learning. Working in partnership with community-based organizations, Luminos is scaling up its accelerated learning program to ensure all children have equal access to joyful, foundational learning, especially those shut out of education by crisis, poverty, or discrimination. To date, Luminos has helped over 218,541 children secure a second chance to learn. A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, Luminos is working in Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, Liberia, and The Gambia.
Luminos is supported by a range of funding partners, including Cartier Philanthropy, Dubai Cares, Legatum, and UBS Optimus Foundation. 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 for the last six years.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Associate Director of Programs will hold responsibility for a portfolio of research projects. This will encompass existing quantitative and qualitative research programs as well as new programs which the role holder will plan and seek funding for. Key responsibilities for all projects include:
- Collaborating with Luminos country teams to plan and implement projects.
- Responding to emerging data and, where necessary, iterating project design to maximize impact.
- Collecting project data and synthesizing it into reports for donors, senior management, and the Board.
- Synthesizing key insights from emerging lessons and proposing innovations that can enhance the impact of programming across countries of operation.
In addition, the Associate Director of Programs will serve as a thought leader on research and evidence within Luminos. This will entail:
- Staying informed about emerging research in the global education sector.
- Participating in international conferences to present Luminos' latest findings.
- Developing and maintaining records of critical statistics and evidence (both internal and external), and drawing on this to advise Development colleagues preparing funding applications and grant reports.
- Capturing insights from our special projects in blogs and articles, in coordination with the Communications team.
- Analyzing and reporting on program performance for senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
Furthermore, the role holder will be responsible for designing and securing funding for new research projects contributing to Luminos' mission and vision. This will involve:
- Understanding the interventions being delivered in our program countries, and collaborating with implementation, impact, and teaching/learning teams to identify priority areas for further research.
- Monitoring potential funding opportunities and identifying those with high potential.
- Collaborating with the program and the development teams to create credible, high-impact funding proposals for conducting research projects or projects aimed at promoting the adoption and utilization of evidence.
- Developing project implementation plans and leading cross-organizational teams in initiating newly funded research projects.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Required
All applicants must have the following qualifications:
- A Master's degree in a relevant topic (e.g., Development Economics, Education, etc.).
- Strong quantitative research skills, including proficiency in data analysis.
- At least five years of relevant work experience with increasing levels of management responsibility in the academic or non-profit sectors, especially in the Global South.
- Outstanding writing skills and a compelling public speaking style.
- Familiarity with data and research concerning the nature and extent of the learning crisis, the political economy of low learning levels, and the approaches and factors necessary to address the learning crisis.
Preferred
In addition, the following qualifications would be highly desirable:
- A PhD in a relevant topic.
- Familiarity with qualitative research approaches.
- A track record of publishing primary and secondary research on foundational learning and the learning crisis.
Core Beliefs and Values
- We believe that every child is capable of learning a remarkable amount in a short period of time, if given the chance.
- We keep children's joy and well-being at the heart of everything we do.
- We embrace assessment as a key component of effective teaching and learning.
- We celebrate and empower local leadership throughout our work with partner communities and governments.
- We use research, program data, and skilled classroom observation in the tenacious pursuit of excellence.
- We celebrate the unique contexts and cultures of the communities we serve in our curricula and pedagogy.
- We act with the highest standards of integrity and care, ensuring mutual accountability among colleagues and partners.
- We take the initiative to solve problems where we find them, managing details large and small, with urgency.
- 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.
- We build deep, authentic relationships with our supporters in celebration of the mutually transformative power of giving.
To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter outlining how you meet the required and preferred qualifications and experience and commenting on your alignment with the Luminos Core Beliefs and Values.
The Luminos Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.