District Program Manager

Position Title: District Program Manager (DPM) – Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Location: District of Uttar Pradesh Reporting to: Project Lead Travel: Frequent travel across blocks within the districtPosition Overview The District Program Manager (DPM) will play a pivotal role in driving the implementation of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) program across all blocks of the assigned district in Uttar Pradesh. The DPM will oversee both academic and operational aspects of the program, ensuring alignment with the State FLN Mission, NIPUN Bharat goals, and Samagra Shiksha priorities. The role requires strong coordination with the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), DIET, and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to ensure effective on-ground execution. The DPM will lead a team comprising District Academic Coordinators (DACs), District-level Specialists (DLS), Block Academic Coordinators (BACs) and Admin will be responsible for planning, implementation, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement at the district level.Key Roles and Responsibilities Program Management • Lead the implementation of district-level FLN program goals in alignment with annual work plans and timelines. • Develop detailed activity, training, and support plans for SRGs, Head Teachers, ARPs, and teachers. • Coordinate with DACs to plan and execute district- and block-level trainings, workshops, and review meetings. • Oversee logistics management, including vendor coordination and invoicing in collaboration with finance and admin teams. • Conduct monthly team reviews and submit comprehensive progress reports to the Project Lead. • Maintain updated documentation of implementation processes, achievements, challenges, and improvements.Monitoring & Evaluation • Oversee data collection and reporting from classroom observations, teacher assessments, and learning outcome reviews. • Strengthen monitoring and feedback systems through regular field reviews to ensure quality implementation. • Analyze data at school, block, and district levels to identify trends, challenges, and improvement opportunities, and share insights with district/state teams. • Ensure timely submission of monitoring data, monthly reports, and updated school/teacher records. • Facilitate data-driven review meetings and support state teams in addressing program gaps. • Document best practices and lessons learned to promote cross-team knowledge sharing. People Management • Provide leadership, mentoring, and on-ground support to District and Block Academic Coordinators and other team members. • Conduct weekly check-ins and monthly performance reviews to enhance accountability. • Plan and facilitate capacity-building sessions in collaboration with State Academic Coordinators. • Lead quarterly performance appraisals and manage team leave and approvals as per organizational policies. • Cultivate a collaborative, learning-oriented, and performance-driven team environment. Stakeholder Management • Build and sustain strong relationships with district and block education officials, including DM, CDO, BSA, DIET Principal, SRGs, BEOs, and ARPs. • Facilitate joint review meetings with government officials to track FLN program progress and action points. • Represent the organization in official district-level meetings and workshops. • Support officials and SRGs in strengthening understanding and implementation of FLN pedagogy. • Promote government ownership for long-term sustainability of the program. Financial Management & Reporting • Lead monthly and quarterly financial tracking at district and block levels, ensuring accuracy and compliance. • Coordinate with Finance and Admin teams for timely budget utilisation, re-appropriations, and vendor payments. • Prepare consolidated financial reports for internal and donor requirements. Project-Based Data Review & Management • Maintain robust data systems to track project progress, outputs, and outcomes across districts and blocks. • Conduct data quality checks and ensure timely updates from field teams. • Analyze project data to highlight trends, implementation gaps, and opportunities for course correction. Travel, Field Review & Cross-Team Coordination • Undertake frequent field visits across blocks and districts to monitor program implementation and document field insights. • Facilitate regular review meetings with officials to ensure alignment with program objectives. • Coordinate consistently with the central team for reporting, planning, and strategic decision-making. School Monitoring • Conduct a minimum of 10 school visits per month (mandatory). • Observe classroom practices, teacher facilitation, and student learning progress. • Fill structured monitoring tools and share findings with district and state teams. • Track and report monitoring visits conducted by officials, ARPs, and SRGs. Administrative and Logistical Management • Support identification and empanelment of local vendors for printing, logistics, and event support. • Use and maintain checklists to ensure smooth execution of training and review meetings. • Ensure completion of financial documentation, invoice approvals, and payment processes. • Manage and maintain stock of all program materials at the district level. Other Responsibilities • Undertake additional tasks assigned by the line manager based on program needs.Qualifications: • Postgraduate degree in Social Work, Education, Management , or related fields. Experience: • 6–8 years of experience in project management, preferably in education or government partnership programs. • Experience working with the district education administration (CDO, BSA, DIET, BEOs, etc.) is essential. • Prior experience managing teams and implementing capacity-building programs preferred.Skills and Competencies • Strong written and verbal communication in Hindi and English. • Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and data analysis tools. • Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills. • Excellent organizational and planning abilities. • Analytical and problem-solving skills with an eye for detail.Personal Attributes • Self-motivated and proactive with a sense of accountability. • Demonstrates emotional stability, empathy, and teamwork. • Flexible and adaptable to evolving program needs. • Committed to improving learning outcomes for children in government schools.