Private Sector Engagement Officer – Kenya Primary Literacy Programme

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The Kenya Primary Literacy Programme (KPLP) is a five-year initiative that supports the Kenyan Ministry of Education to deliver interventions at scale as well as pilot and expand innovations that address the language and literacy needs of primary grade learners while building more inclusive, accountable, and resilient education institutions and systems.

KPLP has three broad objectives:

1. Improving education services and student learning outcomes, including for vulnerable populations;

2. Strengthening education institutions and systems to become more accountable, self-sustaining, and resilient; and

3. Empowering local youth organizations to strengthen and sustain community and family support for student learning and wellbeing.

Position Description

The Private Sector Engagement Officer (PSE Officer) will play a critical role in advancing the project’s objectives of strengthening education systems to be more accountable, self-sustaining, and resilient through strategic engagement with the private sector. This role involves designing and executing the private sector engagement strategy, focusing particularly on strengthening partnerships with private entities to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom and online. In collaboration with these partners, the PSE Officer will be instrumental in orienting and training of private sector partners including publishers, printers and writers on emerging student learning outcomes and related issues and opportunities, mobilizing support for early grade reading initiatives, and ensuring the provision of high-quality teaching and learning materials (TLMs), with special attention to marginalized groups. The PSE Officer will report to the Grants and Partnerships Manager. This is a full-time position based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Private Sector Engagement Officer’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Design and oversee the implementation of KPLP’s private sector engagement strategy.
• Forge and strengthen partnerships with private entities to expand high quality online teaching and learning opportunities for children and teachers.
• Enhance student learning experiences by collaborating with private sector partners to integrate advanced technologies and methodologies.
• Initiate and manage partnerships that provide support for educational dashboards and resources to optimize data management and analysis for improved educational outcomes.
• Work with the KPLP administration and finance team and counterparts to establish and manage the Partnership Fund and parameters of the use of that funding.
• Produce annual planning and reporting on the use of the partnership funds.
• In collaboration with technical counterparts, design and carry out training for publishers, printers, and writers to competitively produce and print high quality teaching and learning materials (TLMs) for use in school and community settings.
• In collaboration with technical counterparts training publishers, printers, and writers on the needs of struggling readers, as well as learners with hearing and visual impairments.
• Prepare data and information for project quarterly and annual reports, and other data as required.

The candidate for the position of Private Sector Engagement Officer shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in education, international development, business administration/management, or related field required.

Skills and Experience:

• 5 to 6 years of directly relevant experience.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing engagement strategies with private sector entities, particularly in education or development sectors.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to forge and maintain effective partnerships and relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, including planning, execution, and evaluation of projects.
• Proficient in data analysis and the use of technology to enhance educational outcomes; experience with educational dashboards and learning management systems is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to advocate and mobilize support for educational initiatives.
• Familiarity with the Kenyan educational context, particularly challenges and opportunities in early grade learning and digital education platforms.

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English and Kiswahili is required.

Other:

Applicants must be Kenyan nationals or hold current work authorization.