Program Manager, Foundational Learning for Ethnic Minority Children

• locations
• Vietnam - Main - Ho Chi Minh
• Vietnam - Ha Noi

• time type
• Full time

• posted on
• Posted Today

• job requisition id
• R-03216

World Change Starts with Educated Children® 

World Change Starts with Educated Children®

IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Position Overview:

The Program Manager - Foundational Learning for Ethnic Minority Children will lead the design, coordinate implementation, and provide technical oversight of education program/projects focusing on ethnic minority students, with an emphasis on strengthening language and literacy development. As a member of the technical team, the Program Manager will provide expertise in program design, research, and innovation, while also overseeing implementation, monitoring, and capacity building across project sites.

The role requires close collaboration with the Instructional Design and Teacher Support, Quality Reading Materials, Program Operations, Research - Monitoring and Evaluation teams, and government education partners to ensure that program activities are effective, scalable, and aligned with Room to Read’s Literacy Program strategy. The Program Manager will also coordinate with the Global Office Development Team on program/projects design inputs, fundraising proposals, and donor reporting, ensuring that program/projects contribute to Room to Read’s global learning agenda. This position reports directly to the Literacy Director and may supervise technical staff, consultants, or field-based facilitators.

Responsibilities:

Program Design and Technical Support (45%)

• Lead the design of education program/projects serving ethnic minority students, ensuring interventions are evidence-based, aligned with government curriculum, and responsive to the needs of diverse learners.

• Conduct and oversee pilot studies and assessments to inform program strategies, tools, and training materials.

• Continuously review and update knowledge of emerging research, global trends, and scientific developments in ethnic minority education and language acquisition, and apply these insights to strengthen program design and innovation.

• Provide technical advice, coaching, and mentoring to project staff, field facilitators, and partners to strengthen implementation quality.

• Proactively identify opportunities to integrate Room to Read’s approaches into government systems and curriculum, positioning program for scale and long-term sustainability.

• Proactively collaborate with the Global Office Development Team to contribute to fundraising proposals and global knowledge sharing.

• Contribute technical inputs to donor reports, publications, advocacy materials.

Program Management and Implementation (30%)

• Develop detailed annual program implementation plans and budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and donor requirements.

• Coordinate with provincial and national stakeholders to secure buy-in, align with government priorities, and support integration.

• Monitor financial utilization against approved budgets and prepare financial reports in collaboration with Operations and Finance.

• Lead and document regular review meetings with staff and partners to assess progress and resolve implementation challenges.

• Conduct regular field visits to verify activities, provide technical support, and follow up with action plans.

• Work with M&E staff to review program data, analyze trends, and prepare recommendations for program adjustments.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation (15%)

• Develop annual and quarterly work plans and budgets for the program.

• Prepare high-quality reports for internal use, donors, and government partners.

• Ensure timely forecasting, tracking, and utilization of program resources.

• Document lessons learned, case studies, success stories, best practices, and innovations for internal learning and external sharing.

External Networking and Advocacy (5%)

• Build and maintain partnerships with government education authorities, research institutions, and NGOs working in the field of education for ethnic minorities.

• Represent Room to Read in technical working groups, conferences, and donor visits.

• Promote Room to Read as a thought leader in literacy and language development for minority students.

• Share findings with national and international stakeholders to influence practice and policy.

Other Responsibilities (5%)

• Perform other tasks as assigned by Line Manager.

Qualifications:

Required

• Master’s degree in Education, Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Literacy Development, or related field.

• Minimum 7 years of experience in education program/project, with at least 3 years in technical or advisory roles.

• Demonstrated expertise in early grade literacy, oral language development, or bilingual/multilingual education.

• Proven experience in designing, piloting, and scaling education interventions, preferably in partnership with government systems.

• Experience in staff coaching, mentoring, and technical capacity building.

• Excellent program management skills, including planning, budgeting, and donor reporting.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Vietnamese and English.

• Ability to work effectively with government counterparts, donors, and NGOs at multiple levels.

• Commitment to Room to Read’s values of equity, child protection, and gender equality.

Preferred

• Experience working on education program/projects with ethnic minority or disadvantaged groups.

• Prior engagement with the Ministry of Education and Training or international development agencies in curriculum integration or policy influence.

• Strong skills in research design, monitoring and evaluation, and using evidence to inform practice.

Child Protection Principles

• Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation

• Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.

• All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.

• All children should be treated with respect and dignity.

• The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.

• Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles

• Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

• Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.

• Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.

• All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.

• Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.

• Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

About Room to Read:   

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.

We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.