Project Manager

Job Description Location: Dhar, Satna and Betul in Madhya Pradesh About Peepul Peepul is an education-focused non-profit organisation committed to transforming India's education system and enabling every child to reach their full potential. We work closely with national, state, and local governments to transform government schools and government systems. Currently, we work with governments in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh to meaningfully have an impact across 325,000 teachers and 9.75 million+ students across 100,000+ schools. At Peepul, we collaborate with school systems to build the capacity of leaders, teachers, and institutions. We advocate for policy improvements, support mentoring and monitoring, and enhance student-teacher engagement in classrooms. Our work has been recognised internationally, including receiving the Commonwealth Education Awards for Innovation and being featured in reports by respected organisations like the UN and the National Ministry of Education, India, and we are well-funded by both Indian CSR and prominent international Foundations working toward a common purpose of excellent education for the most disadvantaged sections of society. Driven by our core values of impact, excellence, and leadership, we are a restless, resilient, and reflective organisations. Our team of 200+ employees is passionate about creating lasting change and is rewarded competitively for their dedication. Join us in our mission to create a world where every child has equal access to high-quality education. Learn more about our transformative work at http://peepulindia.org. Programme Overview Peepul has been partnering with the School Education Department, Govt of Madhya Pradesh, for multiple years now. Working closely with the state bureaucratic leadership, Peepul has played a meaningful role in strengthening the education system of the state. The partnership has been a successful one with national and international recognition of the work. The PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India to create model government schools that embody the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020focusing on joyful learning, holistic development, and excellence in teaching and leadership. In Madhya Pradesh, Peepul partners with the Department of School Education (DPI) to strengthen the implementation of the PM SHRI programme across 799 schools, building capacities of school leaders and teachers, improving school processes, and enabling data-driven decision-making at every level. About the role The Project Manager Implementation will lead Peepul's field-based implementation efforts under the PM SHRI Programme across multiple districts in Madhya Pradesh. This is a critical leadership role that involves building strong relationships with district and block officials, guiding the implementation team (Senior Project Associates and Project Associates), and ensuring that high-quality academic and leadership interventions are effectively delivered in schools. The role combines academic vision, operational excellence, and people leadership. The Program Manager will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Peepul's interventions reach schools with quality and consistency, generating insights for scale-up across the state. Key Responsibilities (including but not limited to): To lead project design, piloting, and implementation of interventions: - Lead implementation across assigned divisions and districts, coordinating with government officials, Peepul teams, and school networks. - Support the design, piloting, and roll-out of academic and leadership interventions such as Professional Learning Communities, Academic Samwaad, capacity-building workshops, and mentoring mechanisms. - Ensure coherence between school-level processes and programme objectives related to teacher support, school culture, and student learning. - Translate state-level strategies into actionable district implementation plans with clear milestones. - Monitor progress, identify gaps, and provide timely course correction to ensure impact. To manage best-in-class project implementation and monitoring: - Lead and mentor a team of Senior Project Associates and Project Associates, ensuring high-quality field engagement and accountability. - Create effective work planning, progress tracking, and reporting systems for district teams. - Conduct school visits regularly to provide on-site mentoring, observe classroom practices, and facilitate reflection with teachers and leaders. - Review data from school visits, CRO journals, and dashboards to identify trends and inform planning. - Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to design and review tools and frameworks for field tracking and evidence generation. - Document case studies, best practices, and field learnings for dissemination and continuous improvement. To be a strong team collaborator and engage with key stakeholders: - Build and sustain strong operational relationships with District Education Officers (DEOs), DPCs, ADPCs, and BEOs to ensure alignment and ownership. - Collaborate with Content, PMU, and MEL workstreams to ensure coherence between design, delivery, and monitoring. - Represent Peepul and the PM SHRI Programme in government review meetings and external forums as required. - Foster a positive and collaborative culture of trust, learning, and accountability within the implementation team. - Build capacity within government and school leadership teams to institutionalise improvements beyond the project period. Qualifications and Role Requirements: At Peepul, we seek talented professionals passionate about driving educational transformation and making a positive impact. We are looking for individuals who possess the following qualifications and meet the role requirements: - Educational Background: A relevant educational background in Education, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field. - Work Experience: We value both professional and personal experience. Candidates with 4-6 years of experience in project management and implementation, preferably in education or development projects. Preference will be given to candidates who also have direct classroom teaching experience, ideally within the government school system for atleast 2-3 years. - Other Skills: Strong ability to collaborate and build partnerships with senior internal and external stakeholders, including senior political figures, with excellent communication skills for diverse audiences. - Language Proficiency: English and Hindi - Willingness to travel frequently for school visits and district engagements. How to apply To apply for a position, you will be required to upload: Your CV: Please ensure that your CV provides relevant information about your professional and personal experience and details of your academic qualifications. CVs can be one to two pages in length. A cover letter: We encourage you to use your cover letter to showcase your specific interest in working for Peepul and demonstrate how your qualifications align with the role you are applying for. A tailored cover letter holds significant importance in Peepul's recruitment process as it enables us to comprehend your motivations for the position, your relevant skills, and the clarity of your writing. For any further queries related to our hiring process and timelines, please contact us at [Confidential Information].