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Call for Applications: Education Methodology & Program Manager – Digital, Inclusive, and Civic Learning

The Roma Education Fund (REF) Slovakia invites applications from experienced education professionals for a full-time position of the Education Methodology & Program Manager. This role combines two core responsibilities:

• 50% international methodology development – leading the design, authorship, and continuous refinement of the REF Methodological Framework  across countries where REF works (currently North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, with future expansion).
• 50% programmatic management in Slovakia – coordinating and developing Complementary Education Centers (CECs), REF’s community-rooted approach to building resilience among children, youth, and adults.

Key Responsibilities

1. Methodology Development (International – ~50%)

• Lead the design and ongoing refinement of the REF Methodological Framework, a practice-oriented educational framework integrating Digital Education, Inclusion and Intercultural Competence, and Civic Engagement.
• Align REF Methodological Framework with international education frameworks (EU DigComp, OECD Learning Compass 2030, UNESCO, Council of Europe RFCDC).
• Produce methodological resources: strategic guides, facilitator toolkits, activity models, and assessment tools.
• Work closely with REF teams across multiple countries to ensure contextual relevance and application.
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing and capacity-building within the REF network.

2. Program Management (Slovakia – ~50%)

• Lead the programmatic implementation of REF’s Complementary Education Centers in Slovakia.
• Manage partnerships with schools, municipalities, and community actors.
• Support design and delivery of nonformal and informal education programs rooted in Roma communities.
• Supervise monitoring and evaluation, ensuring quality and impact of local activities.
• Represent REF in national education and inclusion platforms.

Candidate Profile

• At least 8 years’ professional experience in education, with proven expertise in curriculum/methodology development and program management.
• Strong background in one or more of: digital education, intercultural pedagogy, civic education.
• Familiarity with Roma contexts or other marginalized communities.
• Strong understanding of international and EU education frameworks.
• Professional fluency in English and Slovak (written and spoken) with proven ability to write clear, structured, and high-quality documents for both expert and practitioner audiences (e.g., curricula, training manuals, policy briefs, or academic publications)
• Proven ability to manage projects, coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and produce high-quality written outputs.

What We Offer

• A full-time contract based in Bratislava, Slovakia, with opportunities for regional travel.
• Engagement in an ambitious, multi-country initiative shaping the future of inclusive and community-driven education.
• A supportive, mission-driven team committed to long-term impact.
• The minimum base salary for this position is €2000 gross per month (full time). The final offer will reflect the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and skills, and may be higher. 
• Additional benefits include flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and travel opportunities within the network

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit:

1. CV
2. A concept note outlining your approach and vision (max. 2 pages)
3. Examples of relevant prior work or publications

Please send your application to: sdaniel@roma.education

Deadline to apply: October 17, 2025

We look forward to collaborating with a colleague who shares our vision for inclusive, community-driven education. Roma candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT THE METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

The methodological framework will shape the pedagogical vision and learning approach of REF’s Complementary Education Centers (CECs)—community-based, intergenerational learning hubs central to REF’s 2025–2033 strategic plan. This initiative reflects REF’s mission of Building Resilient Roma Communities through Education and is grounded in a bold Theory of Change:

REF envisions a future where educational innovation, inspired by the resilience and creativity of Roma communities, transforms learning for all. We challenge the premise of education systems that systematically fail marginalized learners, advocating instead for a reimagining of education as a transformative force for individual and collective flourishing. By 2033, we aim to be recognized as a pioneering voice in inclusive, community-led education—demonstrating that solutions co-created with historically excluded groups can revolutionize learning for both Roma and non-Roma learners alike. We believe that the most powerful innovations emerge from the margins, where necessity drives invention and courage fuels change.

The REF Methodological Framework will serve as the operational backbone for this vision—translating it into actionable pedagogical models that empower learners, challenge systemic inequalities, and enable communities to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

KEY PILLARS OF THE REF METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK

The REF Methodological Framework is grounded in the understanding that education must be inclusive, future-oriented, and culturally responsive to effectively serve vulnerable learners, particularly Roma communities. Informed by both global standards and community realities, the methodology is structured around three interdependent pillars: Digital Education, Inclusion and Intercultural Competence, and Civic Education and Democratic Participation.

Together, these pillars reflect a holistic vision of education—one that addresses the structural barriers Roma learners face, while equipping them with the skills, identity, and agency needed to thrive in 21st-century society.

1. Digital Education

Digital literacy is essential for learning, employment, and civic engagement in today’s interconnected world. For Roma learners, digital access and competencies serve not only as technical skills but as gateways to equity and participation.

This pillar draws from the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp) developed by the European Commission, which outlines five key areas: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem-solving. REF’s approach to digital education emphasizes:

1. Functional digital literacy, including navigation, communication, and critical evaluation of online content
2. Safe and ethical technology use, addressing online harms, data protection, and digital well-being
3. Digital creativity and storytelling, allowing learners to produce content that reflects Roma identity, culture, and lived experience

Within the REF Methodological Framework, digital education is not an isolated skillset—it is a platform for empowerment, civic voice, and future employment. It enables learners to participate in a digital society on their own terms, overcoming structural gaps in access, confidence, and representation.

2. Inclusion and Intercultural Competence

Inclusion is not only a value, it is a pedagogical imperative. The second pillar of the REF Methodological Framework recognizes that learning is deeply shaped by identity, language, and cultural relevance—and that formal education often fails to reflect the lived realities of Roma learners.

This pillar is guided by UNESCO’s intercultural digital skilling approach and the Ubuntu philosophy, which emphasize shared humanity, dignity, and interconnectedness. REF operationalizes this through:

1. Cultural affirmation, integrating Roma history, language, and identity into learning content
2. Development of intercultural competences, such as empathy, emotional intelligence, multilingualism, and respect for diversity
3. Co-creation with Roma communities, ensuring that learning materials, tools, and facilitation methods are locally grounded and inclusive

By embedding intercultural education into all learning processes, the methodology promotes belonging and pride, counters bias and stereotypes, and ensures that Roma learners are not just included but respected, seen, and celebrated.

3. Civic Education and Democratic Participation

The third pillar of the REF Methodological Framework places civic education at the heart of inclusive learning, acknowledging that meaningful education must also develop the capacities for active citizenship, critical engagement, and social justice.

For Roma learners, who often experience exclusion from civic and political spaces, this pillar is crucial for building voice, agency, and leadership. It includes:

1. Civic literacy, covering democratic values, institutions, and rights
2. Participatory learning, encouraging debate, youth-led initiatives, and community problem-solving
3. Anti-discrimination education, which empowers learners to understand and challenge injustice, while honoring their community’s resilience

Civic education within REF’s CECs connects the personal with the political. It not only fosters individual growth but prepares learners to become changemakers in their communities and contributors to democratic life, both online and offline.

Together, these three pillars form a transformative educational model—one that challenges the status quo and builds the foundation for resilient, Roma-led educational ecosystems that reflect dignity, inclusion, and opportunity.

SCOPE OF WORK AND ALIGNMENT WITH INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORKS

The selected colleague will lead the design and authorship of the REF Methodological Framework, a 20–25-page strategic guide that articulates REF’s educational philosophy and operational approach across three thematic pillars: Digital Education, Inclusion, and Civic Engagement.

This assignment is designed as a hybrid collaboration, involving close consultation with REF teams across multiple countries and programs. While the call is open to international applicants, we strongly encourage candidates based in or with significant experience in one of the countries where REF operates—Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, or North Macedonia—to ensure contextual relevance and deeper alignment with community realities.

The colleague will be expected to:

1. Design and Structure the REF Methodological Framework

• Develop a clear, coherent, and context-sensitive educational methodology applicable across diverse Roma communities and learning environments
• Structure the document to support both field implementation and institutional adaptation by REF and its partners

2. Align with Strategic and International Frameworks

The methodology should be aligned with:

• REF’s existing programs, including REF’s Roma Leadership Program
• REF’s Theory of Change and the 2025–2033 Action Plan for Complementary Education Centers
• The DigComp Framework (European Commission) – for digital competence and lifelong learning
• UNESCO’s intercultural digital education values and the Ubuntu philosophy, which emphasize shared humanity, mutual dignity, and interconnectedness.
• The OECD Learning Compass 2030 – particularly for fostering agency, adaptability, and well-being
• The Council of Europe’s Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (RFCDC) – for civic engagement, human rights education, and inclusion
• UNESCO’s Futures of Education report – emphasizing collaborative, human-centered, and ethical approaches to 21st-century learning

3. Develop Core Educational Components

1. Learning objectives, structured across age groups and thematic focus areas
2. A diverse set of pedagogical strategies, including activity models, participatory learning methods, and culturally grounded approaches
3. Assessment tools to measure progress in digital literacy, intercultural competence, and civic agency
4. Recommendations for facilitator training, including capacity-building plans and inclusive teaching methodologies
5. Practical implementation guidelines tailored to marginalized and under-resourced communities