Senior Technical Specialist - Early Grade Education

About the role

IREX is seeking a Senior Technical Specialist to support its Early Grade Education Activity (ASAS) in Jordan. The specialist provides technical leadership for the ASAS In-Service component, which aims to improve foundational literacy and numeracy for learners in kindergarten through grade 3. Reporting to the In-Service Senior Manager, the role translates education evidence and Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MoEHRD) priorities into practical frameworks, classroom tools, implementation approaches and requirements for digital systems. It leads technical workstreams from design through field validation, quality review and institutional handover, with no formal staff-management or HR responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, adaptation and review of early-grade instructional frameworks, classroom tools, guidance and teacher capacity-building approaches, setting quality criteria and milestones aligned with the national curriculum.
• Advise on foundational literacy and numeracy diagnostics, formative assessment, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) and differentiated instruction, and work with MEL colleagues to turn data into improved teacher and supervisor support.
• Define and review requirements for teacher-support dashboards, digital supervision and AI-enabled learning initiatives, and contribute to prototype reviews, usability testing and quality assurance.
• Develop and review terms of reference, scopes of work, specifications and acceptance criteria, and assess partner and consultant products.
• Consult with MoEHRD departments, field directorates, schools, teachers and supervisors, and prepare knowledge-transfer materials and handover approaches.
• Provide technical coaching and peer review, and contribute to work plans, resource estimates, concept notes and sustainability planning.

Required profile

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in education program design, technical implementation, teacher professional development, assessment or systems strengthening; early-grade education experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Educational Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction, Education Technology, Social Sciences or a closely related field; a relevant master's degree is preferred.
• Experience with Jordan's MoEHRD or other government education institutions, and with multi-stakeholder or donor-funded programs, is strongly preferred.
• Unrestricted authorization to work in Jordan; the position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Required skills

• Knowledge of foundational literacy and numeracy, formative assessment, differentiated or remedial instruction, teacher development and educational supervision.
• Experience supporting education-data products or digital learning/supervision systems, including requirements definition, user testing, data quality and adoption.
• Professional fluency in Arabic and English.
• Familiarity with Excel, Power BI or comparable tools is an advantage.