World Change Starts with Educated Children® 

IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Position Overview:

The Quality Reading Materials officer (QRM Officer)’s primary responsibilities include providing technical support in all aspects of QRM publishing initiatives. The person should have clear understanding of children’s publications, local publishing industry, educational materials, and country-context of the use of educational materials in pre-primary and primary grades. Coordinate and lead Book Development both standard book and custom project, Global Project, and Literacy Cloud work. Coordinate and cooperate with Local Publishers for Co-Book development and Co-publishing.

The position is based in Vientiane with some travel required and reports directly to the Quality Reading Materials Manager.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the design and development of materials, training plans, and professional learning resources to ensure high-quality QRM implementation.

• Ensure QRM activities are implemented in alignment with global guidelines and country priorities.

• Contribute to research and learning activities to strengthen program effectiveness.

• Support the management and effective use of digital platforms (e.g., Literacy Cloud), coordinating with CO and GO teams as needed.

• Collaborate with Program Operations and Administration teams to coordinate logistics for QRM activities.

Management and Coordination

• Collaborate with government counterparts and partners (e.g., MOES, MOICT, publishers) to support effective program implementation.

• Maintain regular communication with stakeholders, ensuring alignment with program objectives and guidance from the QRM Manager.

Program Design, Implementation, Training, and Monitoring

• Support the development of tools, guidelines, and curricula for book publishing partnerships (e.g., book review manuals).

• Contribute to end-to-end book development processes, including manuscript review, illustration, layout, and finalization of materials.

• Coordinate with Global Office teams to address technical issues and ensure alignment with global standards.

Planning, Reporting and Documentation

• Provide inputs to planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes in line with CO and GO guidance.

• Prepare and manage book data for publication on Literacy Cloud and government platforms, ensuring accurate records in GSD.

• Collect, consolidate, and analyze program data to support monitoring and reporting.

• Document program outputs, best practices, and lessons learned, and maintain organized records on SharePoint.

Networking and Thought Leadership

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, publishers, and private sector partners.

• Represent Room to Read in relevant forums, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and quality children’s reading materials

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, Language, Communication, or Fine Arts (Master’s degree preferred)

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with NGOs, INGOs, or publishing companies

• Strong understanding of the local publishing industry and children’s literature

• Proficient in both Lao and English (spoken and written)

• Experience managing the printing and publication process

• Familiarity with book leveling standards and educational material design

• Skilled in manuscript editing, graphic design, and layout (experience with Adobe Photoshop and InDesign is a plus)

• Strong report writing and documentation skills

• Proven ability to deliver results and meet deadlines

Preferred:

• Facilitation and training skills

• Previous experience in children’s book publishing

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities

• Experience working with writers, illustrators, and schools

• Ability to translate between English and Lao

Compensation

Room to Read Laos values the commitment of our staff, and offers a professional & respected working environment, competitive monthly salary and other benefits such as annual salary review, a Wellbeing allowance, 13th month salary bonus, gratuity bonus, performance bonus, Staff Medical Insurance, Social Security Organization (SSO), annual medical check-up, phone allowance and other leave benefits based on Lao Labour Law.   

Child Protection Principles

• Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation

• Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.

• All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.

• All children should be treated with respect and dignity.

• The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.

• Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles

• Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

• Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse. 

• Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.

• All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.

• Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.

• Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

About Room to Read:   

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.

We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.