PPLI is happy to announce that applications are being accepted for the role of an Education Officer to support the implementation of Languages Connect – Ireland’s Foreign Languages in Education strategy.
The person appointed will be responsible for implementation of the new Mandarin Chinese curriculum in schools as well as working in other project areas.
The person appointed will be expected to be familiar with the key issues at all sectors of the education system relevant to the remit of PPLI.
The post is a full-time position contracted/ seconded for one year initially and is based in the PPLI Office in Blanchardstown.
The Education Officer will contribute to the general work of the team of Education Officers. This includes but is not limited to the following:
- support all strands of the work in PPLI by advising and inputting on the needs of students, teachers, school leaders, and schools
- assist in dissemination of information on the awareness raising campaign
- conduct relevant research and prepare documents and reports related to the work
- liaise and work with schools and relevant stakeholders in relation to a variety of projects
- develop appropriate CPD content for language teachers
- contribute to and facilitate the development of an online pedagogical manual and tutorials, with exemplars of good practice for the teaching of all languages. E.g. significant new materials have been developed to support MFL teachers, have been piloted in schools, and are showcased on website
- encourage and support the use of innovative teaching methods and ICT supports for learning languages. This involves substantial resources development and showcasing of same on website. It also involves redesign of the website to help teachers find new ideas to improve their practice
- contribute to and support the expansion of communities of practice among foreign languages teachers
- collaborate with relevant agencies and cultural institutes to promote excellence in language learning and teaching
- prepare language assistant training programme and implement training programmes for language assistants at a group and individual level
- Train and mentor associates in order to develop additional capacity in the regions which will ensure dissemination and multiplication of the work
- Attend and present at relevant conferences and seminars
- Design and deliver CPD to meet the specific needs of schools
- Assist with management of social media for PPLI
- Work effectively with others both as a team member and a team leader
- Carry out further related work at the request of the Director
In addition, the current role will include the following:
- Work with Chinese language teaching expert/s
- Design relevant CPD, deliver CPD for new Chinese teachers
- Mentor new teachers of Chinese
Applicants must have (on the latest date for receipt of completed applications):
- A degree in a foreign language/ post-graduate degree in applied linguistics;
- In-depth knowledge and experience of teaching at post-primary level in Ireland;
- Experience and expertise in the use of active learning methodologies which foster student engagement with the curriculum;
- Proven record of managing complex projects, meeting deadlines, and achieving results;
- Confident, personable and proactive personality with ability to motivate and inspire others;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Excellent planning and organisational skills;
- Competence to engage stakeholders and partners;
- In-depth understanding of the Irish education system;
- Advanced IT and digital literacy skills;
- Experience in training, facilitating workshops, and delivery of presentations
- Ability to multi-task and prioritise where necessary;
- Flexible approach, self-motivating with ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
- Significant experience of teaching Chinese and of designing CPD for Chinese teachers
The Education Officer will report to the Director of PPLI. In addition to working with other Education Officers on other projects, the person appointed will also work with researchers, consultants and experts as required.
The Education Officer will respond to queries and requests from across the education sector, and from the public and the media as they arise on social media and through more traditional channels. Most Education Officers also engage with national and international networks relevant to their area(s) of work.
The working week of an Education Officer can include meetings with various stakeholders, meetings with colleagues, researching and drafting papers, working on digital content for PPLI website, presenting at conferences, working with groups of teachers or schools – the work is highly varied and requires flexibility and initiative as well as creativity, resilience and imagination.
Please download the Information Booklet.
Application Form must be fully completed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EdOfficerChinese21
Application Deadline: 10th October 2021, noon.
