ECE Education Officer

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ECE Education Officer

Based in Savannakhet (Thapangthong District)

This position is available to LAO nationals only

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, nutrition, health, agriculture, education, environment, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Project Overview

“ECE-PLAY – Play, Learn, Achieve Yearlong” is a collaborative initiative in partnership with MOES, led by CRS and NCA, with funding from the European Union (EU), to strengthen the technical capacity of Lao CSOs in delivering cost-effective, inclusive Early Childhood Education models focusing on rural areas and vulnerable groups. The initiative directly contributes to Laos’ Education Sector Development Plan (ESSDP) 2025–2030. ECE-PLAY enhances service delivery in vulnerable communities by elevating CSO leadership in ECE.

Job Summary

As a member of the “ECE-PLAY – Play, Learn, Achieve Yearlong” (ECE-PLAY) project team, you will support the coordination and follow-up of project activities in support of Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. ECE-PLAY works through a partnership model in which field-level delivery of Early Childhood Education (ECE) services in the 20 target villages of Thapangthong district, Savannakhet Province, is carried out directly by participating Civil Society Organization (CSO) partners. Your role as ECE Education Officer is to follow up with and support these CSO partners to ensure ECE activities are implemented on time and to a good standard of quality, and to serve as the main day-to-day communication and coordination channel between government partners and CSO partners at the provincial level. You will also take lead responsibility for following up on the quality delivery of the project’s nutrition and hygiene activities. You will report to the Project Manager, ECE-PLAY, on a regular basis.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Follow up regularly with participating CSO partners implementing ECE services in the 20 target villages of Thapangthong district, to ensure activities are delivered on time and with quality, in line with the Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) and MOES-endorsed ECE models.
• Serve as the main communication and coordination channel between government partners (PESS, DESB) and CSO partners at the provincial level, facilitating information-sharing, joint planning, and timely resolution of implementation issues.
• Take lead responsibility for following up on quality delivery of Activity 2.3 (Healthy and nutritious habits mainstreamed into ECE): support CSO partners to promote healthy snacks and foster nutrition behaviors among ECE learners (2.3.1), and to install handwashing stations and foster hygienic behaviors at ECE spaces (2.3.2).
• Monitor CSO partners’ progress against agreed work plans and provide constructive feedback, flagging gaps or delays to the Project Manager for timely follow-up.
• Support the coordination of joint field visits, review meetings, and Partner Quarterly Reflection Meetings (PQRM) with CSO partners and government stakeholders.
• Work closely with the MEAL Officer to support CSO partners in the timely and accurate collection of quality project data, helping to identify and follow up on data quality issues at the CSO/field level.
• Assist CSO partners in their efforts to reflect on project experience, and support the identification and documentation of implementation challenges, promising practices, and lessons learned.
• Support project administrative tasks related to Outcome 1 and Activity 2.3, such as preparing materials for field visits, trainings, and coordination meetings, and tracking of nutrition/hygiene-related supplies and installations.
• Report to the Project Manager, ECE-PLAY, on a regular basis on activity progress, CSO partner performance, and any challenges identified.
• Support the integration of Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) considerations into ECE nutrition and hygiene activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree relevant to the area (Education, Early Childhood Education, Development Studies, Public Health, or related field); additional relevant experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in project support or coordination.
• Experience in participatory action planning and community/partner engagement.
• Proficiency in MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience following up with or supporting the work of CSOs or local partners preferred.
• Experience in the field of education, nutrition/health, or WASH programming, or with an NGO, would be a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good coordination and relationship management skills, with the ability to work closely with government counterparts and CSO partners.
• Ability to follow up on and track partner activities and progress against work plans.
• Proficient in using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities.
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented.
• Good organizational skills and ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously.

Required Languages – Fluency in written and spoken Lao is required. A working-level ability to read and write English is preferred.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% within Thapangthong district and Savannakhet Province to follow up with CSO partners and government counterparts.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities

No supervisory responsibilities.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Project Manager (ECE-PLAY), MEAL Officer, CSO Capacity Strengthening Officer

External: Provincial Education and Sports Service (PESS), Thapangthong District Education and Sports Bureau (DESB), CSO partners (EQIPA, LDA, LDPA, DIDA, AFA, and LCCC)

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

APPLICATION INFORMATION: To apply for this position, please submit an application letter stating your expression of interest along with your most current CV by email to LA_HR@crs.org

Closing date for applications: 01 August 2026. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

CRS’s talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer