Literacy and Digital Skills Coordinator

Location: Elmina 

Reporting to: Education & Research Manager 

Hours: Full-time

Salary: Competitive, in line with experience 

About Us

EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-driven UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips voluntary community educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of our world where communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.

Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local volunteers, who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance. Read our model of change document here. 

Our Ghanaian-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead DigiLit, EcoSTEM, EduKidz and Ignite Equity clubs, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 15,000 students of all ages annually. Read our 2023 Annual Report here.

We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the two years. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. 

We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in UNESCO-backed The Varkey Foundation’s $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

We are excited by our future. Do visit www.eduspots.org for further information.

About this role

Following the internal promotion of the current post holder, we are looking for an organised, creative and passionate educationist, with the educational and creative skills to drive forward EduSpots’ work in literacy and digital skills development.  

This important full-time role, reporting to the Education and Research Manager, will involve leadership of our established Catalyst-led DigiLit Clubs programme for Primary level students, which engages learners from 33 communities in a range of practical literacy and digital activities that also aim to promote skills in creativity, critical thinking and digital competence, with a focus on connecting educational activities to the community context and play-based learning. The coordinator will manage the DigiLit Peer Mentor to support and develop our literacy WhatsApp community of over 100 community-based DigiLit Catalysts, ensuring that they feel motivated and gain continuous professional development support. 

They will also create, research and procure educational resources across a wide range of literacy-related and digital learning areas, as the needs of the organization and Catalysts determine. 

The candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, with our work centered on the quality and sustainability of the change created with our grassroots Catalysts. They will be able to take on board extensive feedback to further develop the quality of their work and the resulting impact. They will have a thirst for learning and be able to produce high quality outcomes independently within a mainly remote working environment, utilizing strong IT skills. 

EduSpots is highly committed to the professional development of all staff with an in-house training programme with external facilitators developed as a core part of our approach. Staff receive extensive (yet supportive) feedback and guidance on their work, with the opportunity to consult with highly experienced advisors. We have a particular focus on promoting staff well-being and building a supportive community, built around our collaboratively created values of community leadership, play, care, passion, teamwork and sustainable impact. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To lead on strategies for promoting literacy development across the network, with a specific focus on primary level literacy development. 
• Support the development and continuous review of a curriculum for our DigiLit clubs which combine digital and literacy skills for primary level learners. 
• Create content to support the clubs: monthly challenge packs, monthly mentoring sessions and wider supporting information.
• Lead monthly zoom session for DigiLit Catalysts with training tips and enabling Catalysts to share their ideas and collaborate. 
• Lead all communication with DigiLit Catalysts, via WhatsApp, phone call and email, as appropriate. 
• Create in-house context-specific resources to go into DigiLit kits to match the designed curriculum. 
• To lead on the Reading Buddies scheme, encouraging Spots to adopt this. 
• Track participation in our DigiLit Programme and oversee all monitoring and evaluation for the programme.
• Manage the DigiLit Peer Mentor, ensuring both strong performance and their professional development. 
• Lead on researching effective literacy development applications to be housed on the tablets, and train Catalysts in effective use of these. 
• Support with the long-term literacy-focused relationship with partners. 
• Supporting the acquisition and distribution of books by local authors and relevant text books, alongside development of our in-house story books.
• Work with the Head of Communications to ensure the activity and impact of our literacy and digital learning work is communicated to wider stakeholders. 
• Work with the Regional Coordinator to oversee the development of a number of Spots in the Central/Western region. 
• Support the development of Elmina Spot and Training Centre, advancing the quality of educational activities and supporting the growth of the local Catalyst basis, also assisting in Elmina-based training and wider logistics relating to the Spot and training centre. 
• Support the development of the EduSpots Experience in Elmina, a strategy designed to introduce and involve tourists in EduSpots’ work an interactive tour and educational experience.

Other

• Ensure all administrative tasks relating to the role are carried out accurately.
• To comply at all times with the organization’s policies, procedures and performance expectations of staff as set out in the Staff and Catalysts Handbook.
• Any other duties as may be reasonably required under the role, which may include some communications team support or supporting our online courses. 

Personal Specifications

Knowledge & Experience

• Classroom-based teaching experience, preferably at the primary level. 
• At least 3 years’ experience in the area of literacy development, preferably with experience of designing and leading a literacy programme at Primary Level. 
• Experience in programme development and management with an understanding of the need to meet deadlines. 
• Experience in education resource design (e.g. curricula, student activities, teacher/facilitator guides).
• A strong training facilitator, with the ability to model outstanding pedagogy and inspire Catalysts. 
• Strong IT knowledge and skills, with an interest in, and ability to, equip Catalysts and learners with the digital skills needed to thrive in today’s world. 
• Experience in online educational delivery of various forms (e.g. via zoom, WhatsApp, and phone call) 
• Experience of working with Catalysts to drive educational change. 
• Experience of online working environments. 

Personal Qualities & Skills

• A creative thinker, able to use innovative ideas to drive educational engagement and outcomes. 
• A strong educationalist, with a genuine passion for the power of education to transform lives
• Strong skills in design (e.g. on Canva), with an ability to use a range of resource and communication methods to convey information to a diverse mix of community-based Catalysts  (e.g. videos, posters, voice notes etc).  
• A team player with a belief in the value of collaborative approaches to learning. 
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work to maintain a high standard of performance with minimum supervision.
• Strong IT skills and understanding, with an interest in the use of educational technology to drive outcomes. 
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines.
•  Ability to respond to feedback effectively, always looking for improvements in their work, and that of the organisation. 
• Flexible with the ability to react to change and be adaptable.
• An ability to understand and meet agreed international standards of working and promote strong professional standards in their team. 
• A strong personal affinity with EduSpots’ mission, vision and values (community leadership, play, care, passion, teamwork and sustainable impact) with a genuine passion for educational equity and community-led development, with the ability to work collaboratively with grassroots volunteers who are the leaders of our network.   

Desirable 

•     Volunteer experience and commitment.

• Experience of working in a multicultural team
•     Masters qualification in a related field