Manager, Qrm

Position Overview:
The primary responsibilities of the Manager, Quality Reading Materials is to ensure our Literacy Program schools are supplied with engaging, relevant, and reading-level appropriate books and materials in print and digital formats that support the development of a habit of reading and competencies required for school libraries. This includes working with the Instructional Design and Teacher Support (IDTS) and RME units to identify the reading material needs of schools and surveying the books available in the market to fill those needs. Where gaps exist in available books for purchase, the Manager - Quality Reading Materials is responsible for coordinating all aspects of Room to Read’s publishing initiatives including sourcing original content, reviewing, editing, producing and negotiating agreements with publishing partners. S/he will also be required form networks within the publishing industry to gauge local market trends and promote Room to Read as a key player in children’s book publishing. The position will take primary responsibilities to coordinate activities with key partners in publishing industry, relevant government agencies and community organizations. The position will require some travel within Vietnam and involves frequent interaction with authors, illustrators, publishers, printers, and officials. The position will report directly to the Literacy Director.

Duties & Responsibilities:
Program Management, Contextualization, Training and Coordination (80%)- Responsible for the overall Quality Reading Materials tasks, especially in identifying the ideal book list, gap analysis process and coordination with other units to identify needs.- Responsible for identifying the criteria for engaging, relevant, and culturally appropriate supplementary reading materials for primary school grades, creating an ideal book list and materials list.- Responsible to coordinate the selection of books & materials for procurement from the marketplace that meet the criteria as per QRM operations guideline.- Where gaps are identified, work with local publishers, authors and illustrators to fill the gaps by commissioning and publishing reading materials, which involve sourcing local authors and illustrators, advising on story development, reviewing, editing.- Ensures ISBN Codes & Govt. approvals for books and materials are obtained and copy rights agreements with writers and illustrators are signed.- Ensures global guidelines are being adhered to and adapted as needed.- Review and develop guidelines for authors and illustrators to produce original, high quality content that is appropriate for target age groups, suitable for the local cultural context and functional as a tool for education.- Responsible to coordinate the planning and implementation of activities to promote engagement of users to Literacy Cloud. Collaborate with other internal functions and partners, key trainers to contextualize materials for Literacy Cloud and conduct trainings to staff and partners.- Coordinates for review of Room to Read books with authors and illustrators to steer efforts towards shared vision of a final product.- Collaborates with the Instructional Design & Teacher Support unit to develop engaging teaching resources and materials through reviewing, editing and pre-press support.- Coordinate with the Instructional Design & Teacher Support team for recommendations on improving book content and layouts before submitting final drafts to Literacy Director for approval.- Engage with different stakeholders in publishing industries to identify opportunities to Room to Read to support local publishing industry towards higher book quality and quantity.- Represent country team to plan, coordinate and monitor the engagement of country team to global workshops.- Liaise with publishing partners to organize training for Illustrators, Writers, Editors, Book Approvers on writing child friendly books and illustrations.- Confirm specifications and information as required by procurement committee.

Planning, Reporting, and Documentation (15%)- Complete detailed written reports in a timely basis to Global Office regarding the status and progress of printing books and materials.- Review best practices and lessons learned documented during field work and share with other project sites, relevant local staff, the Country Director and appropriate GO based Program Staff.- Monthly forecast and complete monthly expense reports.- Attend to donor affairs including donor site visits and documenting anecdotes that evolve through field work.- Supports the Literacy Director to encourage donors to ‘adopt’ books. Provide information about titles that are coming to print and send copies of books once they are printed.- Collaborate with the CO Program Operations team on oversight of the implementation calendar, budget, annual planning, quarterly reporting, and overall tracking of program implementation and spending.- In collaboration with the C