Position Description

Position Title / Primary Curriculum Support Officer
Project / Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR
Reports to / Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Resources Specialist
Duration of Assignment / 12 month contract with the potential for extension
Location / Vientiane, Lao PDR

Working relationships include:

The Translation and Management Administration Support Officer will:

  • work with and be responsible to the Curriculum and Teaching and Learning Resources Manager for all translation and interpreting work associated with this role.
  • be responsible to the Curriculum and Teaching and Learning Resources Specialist for all administrative tasks related to this role.

Program Overview
BEQUAL directly supports education priorities of the Laos Government described in the Education Sector Development Plan prepared by the Ministry of Education and Sports and is consistent with the strategic directions set out in Australia’s Education Delivery Strategy 2013-2018. BEQUAL is designed to be rolled out over 10 years, in three phases. The first phase, from 2014-2018 will work in up to 66 of the most educationally disadvantaged districts, to increase participation of disadvantaged children, improve learning environments and teacher quality. To achieve these outcomes, BEQUAL has been divided into five inter-related Key Results Areas: 1) Education Policy, Planning and Coordination; 2) Increased Participation; 3) Teacher Education and Support; 4) Teaching and Learning Resources; 5) School Infrastructure.
Position Summary
This position will provide interpreting and translating support for the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Manager’s work with RIES and MoES staff. The role will also include translation of documents from Lao to English, and vice versa, as well as carrying out a range of administrative and logistical tasks.
Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include
  • Acting as interpreter during meetings, workshops, field trips, consultations and discussions between the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Manager and MoES colleagues;
  • Assist with written translations of documents as required from Lao to English and English to Lao.
  • Provide logistics and general office administration support for programme activities managed by the BEQUAL RIES office.
  • Liaise with RIES administrative staff as required
  • Highlight and incorporate the impact of social inclusion, gender and equity-related issues in all the activities and report as appropriate.

Selection Criteria
Qualifications
  • A degree or equivalent in English Teaching and/or Education
Experience
  • Proven professional translation/interpreter experience from English to Lao and Lao to English
  • Demonstrated experience in consulting and negotiating with key clients and team members.
  • Experience in the Lao government system and/or NGO sector working in the education sector is highly desirable
  • Experience working with a range of stakeholders.
Knowledge
  • Excellent knowledge of Lao and English.
  • Knowledge of the primary education sector in Lao PDR
  • Demonstrated knowledge of office procedures
  • Intermediate level Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel skills
  • Understanding of Lao PDR government processes highly desirable
Personal Attributes
  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and Lao
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Cultural sensitivity and experience working within teams of persons from different cultures
  • Ability to maintain high standards and pay attention to detail
  • Ability to provide support to others
  • Good negotiation skills and ability to manage conflict
  • Proven skills in problem identification and resolution.

Child Protection
Coffey is committed to protecting the rights of children. We reserve the right to conduct police checks and other screening procedures to ensure a child-safe environment.
About Coffey
Coffey has a 40 year history in successfully delivering international development projects on behalf of donors right around the world, including Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, USAID and the UK’s Department for International Development. Our people work side by side with local partners to support stability, economic growth and good governance, positively changing people’s lives.

Position Description – Primary Curriculum Support Officer 2017