Education Officer

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

EDUCATION OFFICER: 3 Positions

Work Location (Please mention your prefered work location in the subject of your email)

·         Meung District, Bokeo: 1 Position

·         La Mam District, Sekong: 2 Positions

(This position is available to LAO nationals only)

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services 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, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Project Summary:

The School Lunch and Literacy Program (SLLP) is a five-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. The project will be executed by CRS as a sub-recipient of the World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). It will be rolled out across more than 300 primary schools in 7 districts in Khammouane, Savannakhet, Bokeo, and Sekong, benefiting over 21,500 students. Key project activities include providing school meals, promoting education for all, conducting teacher training, enhancing school readiness, implementing WASH in schools, and improving school governance.

Job Summary:

The Education Officer implements SLLP education activities at the district level, working directly with local partners and community members to coordinate education interventions. This role conducts Training of Trainers (ToT) with school administrators and teachers, organizes field visits with district Pedagogical Advisors, and implements school/community-based literacy programming. The position requires documenting lessons learned and ensuring effective implementation of literacy activities while maintaining strong relationships with district-level education authorities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Effectively collaborate with school administrators, teachers, pedagogical advisors, and local government staff. Provide coaching and accompaniment to strengthen the capacity of local partners, including reading supplementary and school library management.
• Support the coordination and monitoring of project activities at the field level, ensuring implementation schedules are met as per the detailed activity plan, and that adherence to systems for quality project implementation are strengthened and facilitate information sharing among the project team, implementing partners, and project beneficiaries at the community level to assist local partners in strengthening the community interest, involvement and support networks.
• To support capacity building events for community representatives and Community Mobilizers; to monitor, and report on volunteer activities, school readiness camps, and school/community-based literacy activities. Provide feedback to Senior Education officer and advisor and roll out recommendations to further improve literacy programming.
• Liaise with various community stakeholders and mobilize them to ensure full involvement of community leaders, community representatives, and local government representatives in the overall implementation and improvement of project activities.
• To support MEAL with data rectification in accordance with project requirements and to assist with report preparation by providing monthly or quarterly reports.

Basic Qualifications

• High School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in education a plus.
• 2 years of work experience or volunteer experience in primary education, or literacy community development and mobilization.
• Experience working with school staff to improve child literacy highly desirable and computer skills required.

Required Languages – Fluency in oral and written Lao required. Proficiency of English for conversational and bullet-point reporting purposes is a plus. Proficiency of other languages spoken in Bokeo and Xekong is a plus.

Travel – This position is based in Bokeo Meung district or Xekong La mam district. 70% frequent travel is required to target schools and occasional travel to Vientiane; Khammuouane or Savannakhet may be required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Observation, active listening and analysis skills with ability to make sound judgment
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups
• Proactive, results-oriented and service-oriented

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities (none)

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Program Manager SLLP, Education Technical Advisor; MEAL, Senior Education Officer, Field Officers, Community Mobilizers

External: local authorities, particularly DESB, teachers, school principals, and VEDC.

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

Closing date for applications: September 16, 2025, Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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

CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.