Education Programme Manager

We are looking for an Education Programme Manager to join our team in North Sumatra! We are looking to develop our team out here in Bukit Lawang and want to find the right people to enhance and develop our growing programmes.

Please note, we are a small grassroots organisation and are much more interested in getting the right people to join our BLT family than people exactly fitting a job description. So, if you can see that you can offer something which is not listed then please tell us in your cover letter!

• Do you have teaching experience?
• Do you have experience in leadership and management?
• Do you have a passion for conservation and community work?
• Are you looking for a role which brings adventure and challenge in bucketloads?
• Can you start between September and November 2025?

About Us

We aim to deliver high quality, free education to rural communities here in North Sumatra in order to enable people to access more opportunities for their academic, financial, physical and holistic wellbeing as well as foster a respect and care for the environment. Our programmes help to build stronger, more resilient communities while supporting efforts to protect severely endangered ecosystems.

We run an established English as Foreign Language Programme for children and adults, a Youth Ranger programme teaching environmental awareness, a Kindergarten, a Sustainable Business Programme for adults, and an Ecological Farming Programme. We also run supporting projects including a playgroup for younger children, library slots, free fitness programmes and a weekly woman's group as well as providing action-packed 8 week volunteer placements for those looking for a unique experience.

Please do take the time to find out about our charity before applying for the role. We have a very active social media presence, so you can gain insights into what life is like here and whether you would be a good fit for the job. We also have information relating to all of our programmes on our website which can help you decide which role would be your dream job!

Education Programme Manager

Take the lead on our teaching and learning here in North Sumatra and give children and adults the opportunity to learn a variety of skills and topics to support their educational prospects, their careers, enhance their businesses and begin thinking in a more environmentally-sustainable manner. The Education Programme Manager is responsible for overseeing and leading the delivery of the English as Foreign Language (EFL) programme and our Youth Ranger Programme.

Our EFL programme is currently the Trust’s largest programme, with 11 lessons per week being taught at 8 different locations (NB this number does fluctuate). The age ranges from pre-school to adult. The aim of the EFL programme is to provide useful and relevant English language to students and so it incorporates a lot of learning about the rainforest and local environment.

Our Youth Ranger/Conservation programme is taught in the same locations as our EFL programme, but minus the adult classes. The aim is to teach children about their local environment (i.e. the Leuser ecosystem) and to empower them to look after it. As part of this programme, we have regular field trips into the jungle with kids, which the Education Programme manager will be responsible for organising.

We currently have 2 Programme Coordinators working on our EFL programme and 1 on our YR programme, which the Education Programme Manager will directly train and line manage, ensuring they can develop engaging lesson plans from the syllabus. Almost all our international volunteers are assigned to our EFL programme. They are looked after by our Head of Volunteering, but the Education Programme Manager should also be involved in their development, similar to the Youth Ranger and Kindergarten volunteers.

The EPM should be committed to developing the Bukit Lawang Trust and its education programmes alongside the Trust’s Operations Manager and our board of Trustees. This role requires applicants to have teaching experience, some experience of leadership and ideally teacher training.

What we are looking for

Passionate people who want to make a difference in a rural community in North Sumatra through education and community work. Getting involved in all aspects of life here is all part of the lifestyle; you will not only be teaching, managing and working with local partners; this post offers a cultural experience whereby you become part of the community here in Bukit Lawang. Being on the edge of the Gunung Leuser National Park, getting to know the guides, businesses, locals and families here is key to the success of the charity, and the reason it is so well-established and successful.

The Managers work together to lead and train our team of Programme Coordinators and International Volunteers to develop engaging lessons for children and adults in the rural communities we serve. Within our team here in Sumatra, we need people who can work across several roles and be flexible to getting involved with some recruitment, training, administration, media and fundraising too!

Contract

• 12 Months (Rolling)
• Competitive local salary
• All visa costs covered
• Travel costs reimbursed (subject to fulfilling the 12 month contract)

Location

• On site in Bukit Lawang, with some travel to nearby villages

Key responsibilities

• Line managing our Programme Coordinators, local teaching and support staff and International Volunteers.
• Oversee and be involved in the delivery of the Programmes we offer.
• Ensure that staff and volunteers receive high quality training which enables them to be able to plan and teach engaging lessons for children and adults.
• Take an active role in liaising with our Trustees, our volunteers, local partners and the community.
• Continue programme development to best support the current needs of each target community.
• Design curriculums for the EFL and Youth Ranger programmes
• Co-manage the Trust Hub including its: supporting programmes, finances, fundraising, events, upkeep and maintenance.
• Support the Head of Operations with general duties including staffing, reporting schedules, financial record keeping, phase review planning, reporting and communication between partners, our Trustees, our team and our community.
• Willing to learn at least basic Bahasa Indonesia

What we offer:

• The opportunity to work in an established and successful NGO with 20 years of experience
• Living allowance and expenses package including accommodation and transport
• All visa costs covered throughout employment
• Free, private room and access to a well-equipped, shared kitchen
• Cooked meals provided while working
• Regular staff training and a supportive board of Trustees
• The opportunity to work with a diverse team of change-makers in a stunning natural environment!
• Opportunities for jungle trekking both with Youth Ranger classes and as part of the volunteer cycle at least once per year.
• Joining our volunteer activities including workshops and Phase Review weekends as part of the Volunteer Journey.

If all of this makes you jump for joy then get in touch!