Project Director – PEN LiT Liberia

The Project Director will provide strategic leadership, overall management, and coordination for the Leaders in Teaching (LiT) Liberia Programme implemented by PEN. The Director will ensure effective delivery of the programme’s objectives — strengthening STEM teacher training through master trainers, developing resource manuals, and embedding hands-on pedagogies within Liberia’s education system.

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-enhancing 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. 

Practical Education Network (PEN) works with education stakeholders to improve students' learning outcomes in STEM subjects. PEN’s teacher-training program - infused with MIT-style learning-by-doing, will empower Liberian secondary school teachers to implement hands-on teaching techniques using low-cost, locally available materials and apply inquiry-based teaching pedagogies.

PEN under the LIT programme in Liberia will provide STEM teachers with subject-specific training, building on PEN’s successful work in Montserrado to support 10-15 "learning lab" schools. These schools will implement hands-on, low-cost methodologies promoting experiential learning. The training will combine short, in-person sessions with virtual support, enabling teachers to practice new and effective methods throughout the school year. Insights from these schools will inform MoE, RTTIs, and HEIs on incorporating these strategies into pre-service training. Additionally, LIT Liberia will directly train 2,000 STEM teachers (40% female)  in using hands-on teaching methods, supported by coaching via WhatsApp. Topics for these science and math teachers will include creating hands-on science and math lessons with resources found in communities and leaner-centered techniques for teaching science and math at the secondary level.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic planning, coordination, and execution of all project activities.


• Supervise and mentor all project staff and consultants to ensure quality delivery.


• Serve as PEN’s principal liaison with EDC, Mastercard Foundation, the Ministry of Education, Rural Teacher Training Institutes, and the University of Liberia.


• Oversee the recruitment, training, and support of 41 master trainers and their subsequent cascade to 2,000 teachers nationwide.


• Ensure quality development and validation of hands-on STEM resource manuals for teachers.


• Manage project budget, financial compliance, and timely donor reporting.


• Represent PEN in national-level education and policy coordination meetings.


• Oversee data-driven learning and continuous improvement of the programme.


• Ensure sustainability strategies are embedded in teacher training institutions. 

Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree or higher in Education, Project Management, or related field.


• At least 10 years’ progressive experience managing large-scale education or donor-funded projects.


• Proven leadership in teacher professional development or STEM education programming.


• Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and communication skills.


• Familiarity with the Liberian education landscape highly desirable.

Reports to: Country Director, Practical Education Network (Ghana)

Contract Type: Full-time, Fixed Term (November 2025 – June 2029)

How to apply

send resume to jkotee@gurushrconsultancy.com

Subject line: Application – [Position Title] – LiT Liberia

Required documents:

1. Cover letter (max. 1 page)


2. Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 pages)


3. Contact information for two professional referees

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.