Deadline for applications: Wednesday, December 19, 2012. Estimated start date: April 2013 This position is contingent upon funding.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
IRC has been active in Pakistan since 1980, mobilizing and empowering Afghan refugees and earthquake-affected Pakistani communities to take a proactive role in the provision and development of essential services. Today, IRC Pakistan works in partnership with local government and non-governmental organizations to manage and deliver large, complex programs to meet needs and support community building in a variety of sectors, including education, water and sanitation, reproductive health, women’s and children’s protection and empowerment, food security, and economic recovery and development.
IRC is seeking an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Specialist for a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project to support Pakistani-led efforts to introduce and institutionalize improvements in reading instruction and reading assessment in grades one through five in public and private schools throughout Pakistan. The ICT Specialist will be responsible for the overall ICT technical support of the proposed project. The ICT Specialist will provide leadership for identifying, refining, designing, overseeing the development, and monitoring the use of innovative ICT solutions across the eight project regions. Furthermore, s/he will provide technical guidance and support to Ministry of Education staff on the appropriate use of technology to advance the goals of the project, including increasing teacher learning, supporting provincial and district education systems, promoting a national culture of reading, and data collection. This position will report to the project’s Director of Communications and Outreach. This position is contingent on IRC being awarded funding and is anticipated to begin in April 2013.
Job Responsibilities: • Serve as the lead ICT solutions expert for the project by coordinating with the project staff to conduct assessments, analyze results and recommend educational technology interventions to advance project goals; • Review appropriate technologies that could include the use of audio, video, SMS, and Web-based applications, particularly in the context of distance learning; • Liaise with the private sector as appropriate to engage them in supporting project ICT initiatives; • Provide recommendations for the incorporation of various technological solutions in the project in corporation with technical partners; • Support regional offices and other stakeholders to carry out ICT initiatives; • Collaborate with the M&E team to develop strategies for assessing the effectiveness of ICT-based interventions; • Make recommendations to the project leadership and Pakistani counterparts regarding how to take ICT solutions to scale; • Keep abreast of advances in appropriate technology; collect and disseminate information on appropriate technology to relevant stakeholders.
Requirements: • At least six years relevant sector experience; • Demonstrated knowledge of the use of ICT solutions, preferably within education, in low bandwidth/income environments; • Bachelor's degree or equivalent in ICT, or a relevant technical field; • Demonstrated technical skills, particularly related to the design of software applications. Familiarity with cutting edge as well as legacy hardware, and especially that which is appropriate for low bandwidth/income environments; • Familiarity with the use of ICT in reaching marginalized populations; • Demonstrated communication skills, with excellent written communication skills; • Previous experience working in USAID-funded programs preferred; • Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders; • Demonstrated innovation and success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation;
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written; • Fluency in English and Urdu is required.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written; • Fluency in English and Urdu is required.
How to apply:
Please apply online: http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&r... .
