Accelerated Education and Training Specialist– Job Description

Job Title: Accelerated Education and Training Specialist

Project Name: Leaders in Teaching – Liberia

Position Location: Monrovia, Liberia

Education Development Center (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work. EDC is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Leaders In Teaching (LIT) Liberia Program

The Mastercard Foundation Leaders in Teaching (LIT) initiative aims to transform secondary education across Africa by strengthening secondary-level teaching and learning so that young people have the 21st-century skills and competencies needed for employment, lifelong learning, and adult life. The initiative works closely with local and national stakeholders in African countries and supports teachers and school leaders over the lifespan of their careers with a focus on recruitment, training, and motivation that prepares them to deliver quality and relevant learning.

Education Development Center (EDC) is coordinating and implementing the Leaders In Teaching (LIT) program in Liberia in collaboration with a consortium of over 10 local education partners and the Ministry of Education, focusing on all four LIT programmatic pillars:

1) Teacher Recruitment;

2) Teacher Training;

3) Education Leadership and Management; and

4) Teacher Motivation.

Each program component under the respective LIT pillars will be implemented with a strong focus on inclusion and gender equity, addressing the unique needs of marginalized young women, youth with disabilities, and refugee students in underserved communities.

LIT aims to strengthen the quality of teaching and learning by providing holistic support across the teacher lifecycle, improving pre- and in-service teacher training in secondary education across Liberia, increasing access and completion, raising learning outcomes with a focus on STEM, preparing future and work-ready youth, and strengthening the capacity of the education system to manage and supervise teacher professional development.

EDC will oversee program management and provide technical quality assurance, including the assessment and modification of curricula, as needed. Additionally, EDC will conduct targeted capacity-strengthening activities for local partners, empowering them to take the lead in implementing sustainable, locally led education solutions that will strengthen Liberia’s education system beyond the life of the program. As the primary point of contact with the Ministry of Education at the central level, EDC will ensure a coordinated approach among all partners, leveraging lessons learned and tools from Mastercard Foundation’s regional African partners operating in the country.

Position Description:

The Accelerated Education and Training Specialist will provide technical leadership in designing and implementing accelerated education (AE) and alternative learning pathways under the Leaders in Teaching Liberia program. The Specialist will focus on supporting out-of-school and overaged youth to re-enter junior and senior secondary schools, while also strengthening schools and institutions that provide alternative learning opportunities. This includes aligning AE programming with Liberia’s Accelerated Basic Education Policy and ensuring it is responsive, inclusive, and sustainable.

The Specialist will also coordinate training and capacity development for teachers, Rural Teacher Training Institute (RTTTI) faculty, District Education Officers (DEOs), school leaders, and local NGOs to improve instructional quality and learner support. This role requires a well-rounded education professional with experience in both formal and nonformal education systems, strong training and facilitation skills, and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders in advancing equitable access to quality secondary education in Liberia.

Key Responsibilities:

Program & Technical Leadership

· Lead the design and implementation of accelerated education (AE) services for out-of-school and overaged youth, ensuring pathways for re-entry into junior and senior secondary schools as well as vocational skills training in collaboration with existing VETs and private sector.

· Support the development and piloting of sustainable AE models in partnership with local NGOs and schools, aligning with Liberia’s Accelerated Basic Education (ABE) Policy and quality standards.

· Strengthen alternative and nonformal education initiatives that provide learning and work-readiness skills through after-school, vocational skills building and club-based programming.

· Provide technical leadership to ensure AE and alternative learning opportunities are inclusive, gender-responsive, and aligned with Liberia’s education priorities.

Capacity Strengthening & Training

· Coordinate and manage training programs for teachers, trainers, and master trainers engaged in AE and alternative education delivery.

· Deliver Training of Trainers (TOT) workshops and refresher trainings for local partners and educators to improve instructional quality and learner support.

· Provide technical assistance and mentoring to LIT partners implementing AE services.

Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement

· Collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Rural Teacher Training Institutes, private teacher training organizations, and higher education institutions to strengthen institutional capacity and create seamless pathways from AE into formal schooling.

· Work with District Education Officers (DEOs) and school leaders to integrate accelerated learning models into existing school systems

· Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government, civil society, TVETs and private sector actors, to expand sustainable AE opportunities.

Quality Assurance, Monitoring, & Learning

· Ensure AE curricula, instructional materials, and training approaches reflect international best practices and respond to learner needs.

· Collect, analyze, and use feedback from trainers, partners, and learners to continuously improve AE design, delivery, and sustainability.

· Contribute to the program’s learning agenda by documenting lessons learned from AE pilots, including strategies for scaling effective models.

· Support monitoring and evaluation to track AE outcomes and ensure alignment with national education standards.

Other Responsibilities

· Contribute to reporting and documentation of AE activities, including quarterly and annual reports.

· Support organization of workshops, learning exchanges, and stakeholder convenings to share lessons and strengthen collective approaches.

· Perform other duties as assigned by the Deputy Country Director or Country Director.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in education, international development, social sciences, or a related field required.

Skills and Experience:

Experience:

· Minimum of 5–6 years of progressively responsible experience in education programming, with demonstrated experience in the formal education system and exposure to alternative or accelerated learning programs as well as school to work transition.

· Demonstrated success in designing and delivering training and capacity-building initiatives for local organizations and government stakeholders.

· Experience working with government ministries, teacher training institutions, and local NGOs to implement education initiatives.

· Familiarity with curriculum adaptation, instructional material development, and learner-centered approaches.

· Strong knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methods for program monitoring and evaluation.

Skills & Competencies:

· Strong facilitation, training, and coaching skills

· Excellent coordination and organizational skills

· Ability to analyze feedback and data to inform continuous improvement of training programs and learning models.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across government, NGOs, and schools.

· Solid technical writing and reporting skills.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

· Ability to travel frequently to project implementation counties within Liberia.

Language:

· Fluency in English required.