Program Officer

Job Description About Quest Alliance: Quest Alliance is a not-for-profit organization working across India, dedicated to equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work. Since 2008, we've been reimagining how young learners, especially those from underserved communities experience education, career readiness, and lifelong learning. We have been enabling equitable school-to-work transitions by building future-ready learning ecosystems that prioritize access, inclusion, and innovation. Through strong collaboration with government systems, educators, communities, and civil society, we co-create tech-enabled learning experiences that empower young learnersespecially those from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to build dignified, thriving and future-ready careers. We envision a world where education goes beyond access, becoming a powerful tool for self-empowerment, social mobility, and lasting impact. About the role: We are hiring a Program Officer to support the implementation of our Schools Program in Karnataka, with a focus on the Master Trainer Cascade & Governance. This role will focus on effective program delivery by leading the implementation, monitoring, and governance alignment of the Master Trainer (MT) cascade across 11 districts in the current phase, with a long-term vision to expand to 31 districts. It will involve managing and mentoring Program Associates and Master Trainers, facilitating student-led innovation events like Ideathons and Hackathons, and engaging with state-, district-, and block-level education officials. The ideal candidate will bring experience in the education ecosystem, strong training and communication, collaboration skills, and a deep understanding of working with government systems and education programs. The Program Officer will also work closely work with the state team to strengthen capacity building for Master Trainers, facilitate state and district-level adoption of Computational Thinking (CT) and Collaborative Learning (CL), and embed program tools and frameworks into government systems for sustainability. Key Responsibilities: - Coordinate with Master Trainers, Program Associates, DIET, DCOs, and other stakeholders to ensure cascade training quality - Develop and adapt training, session plans, facilitation guides, and governance documents for MT delivery, collaborating with the state learning experiential (LE) team. - Lead pilots, classroom observations, and joint visits with program associates and MTs to ensure high-quality facilitation. - Monitor MT school allocations and ensure MTs engagement with assigned schools. - Plan and support in facilitating school and district-level innovation events and share-outs. - Support Program Associates with content queries and technical escalations via chatbot and WhatsApp. - Facilitate and document district-level innovation and reflection events for MTs and educators. - Organize state and block-level MT review calls and district-level department updates. - Coordinate and support cascade training delivery with MTs, Program Coordinators, and DIETs. - Attend and assist in in-person training across blocks/districts. - Maintain training data and documentation. - Conduct orientations and review meetings, and ensure buy-in for program delivery. - Track and report program progress in line with the M&E framework. - Support data quality checks, documentation of best practices, and field impact stories. - Coordinate assessments (baseline/endline) and maintain chatbot engagement records. - Build and sustain strong relationships with State, District Education Officers (DEOs), Block Education Officers (BEOs), BRPs, and CRPs and State KREIS officials - Facilitate government buy-in for program adoption, including integrating CL and MCT content into platforms like DIKSHA. - Organize and participate in state- and district-level review meetings with officials and partners. - Work with governance stakeholders to embed monitoring frameworks into the government system for sustainability. - Work closely with KREIS ecosystem to mainstream teacher led approach in 11 districts in the current year to 31 districts over 3 years period - Understand the processes of KREIS department for communication and implementation and ensure adherence to it - Represent the organization as and when required at external forums, conferences, and meetings. - Be informed of opportunities to collaborate with department officials for the programmatic vision. - Support the organization in fostering a culture of proactive advocacy. - Support and mentor assigned Program Associates, ensuring clarity in roles, timelines, and deliverables. - Conduct regular check-ins, provide guidance, and solve implementation challenges. - Align Program Associates work with program milestones and district-level priorities. - Support Program Associates in building strong relationships with MTs, teachers and school stakeholders. - Review project deliverables timely and escalate if there are issues in reaching targeted deliverables - Coordinate with the M&E team to implement tools for tracking MT progress and governance indicators. - Compile district-wise reports, analyze data, and identify trends in MT performance and governance adoption. - Document best practices, field stories, and case studies for internal learning and donor reporting. - Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program and governance milestones. - Build repository of case stories for impact narratives - Ensure quarterly funder reports are prepared in time - Maintaining of meetings, letters, and other relevant documentation in support of government work for the state - Support in monthly report preparation and dissemination - Contribute to the overall Master Trainer (MT) work and maintain an active presence in L4 reviews - Adhere to all finance and HR policies of the organization. - Foster respectful, open, honest, and professional working interactions. - Keep updated with developments in teacher professional development, governance models, and capacity-building practices. - Identify personal learning needs and complete self-development plans annually. - Participate in internal learning forums, cross-team reviews, and capacity-building workshops. - Take ownership of tracking progress and learning Good to have - Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. - Hands-on knowledge of Google slides - Analytical and thinker with a results-driven approach. - Familiarity with social media and digital advocacy tools. - Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. - At least 2 years of experience managing a team - Has experience in training and working with government educators Preferred - Previous experience working with district and state officials will support this position - Knowledge of regional/national policy frameworks and regulatory environments. Salary: The pay band for the position starts at Rs. 35,000/- per month (cost to company)(The salary offered will be commensurate with the experience and expertise of the candidate if applicable) At Quest Alliance, we pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities employer, embracing applications from all segments of the community. We are committed to ensuring that every applicant and employee is treated with fairness and respect, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, caste, religious belief, age, or any other factor that is irrelevant to performance. Your individuality is valued and respected within our organization. Know About Quest Website :http://www.questalliance.net/ Blog : https://thelearnerbyquest.wordpress.com About the Team and Culture Everyday is a Friday - How we make our workplace fun Quest Day - Our Bday celebrated with people we love, and there is food & music What our partners & collaborators say - see here Annual All Staff Meet - From Goa, Kumarakom, Coorg, Bodh Gaya & Puducherry this is where all employees meet to celebrate their learning & relationships. Watch our youtube playlists for more.