Sr Manager – Advocacy

The Advocacy & Policy lead will anchor advocacy efforts through a dedicated one-person unit, with scope for expansion as needed. While housed within, the role will receive support and guidance from Tata Trust, the ELNI Steering Committee, and senior management. The role will drive both short-term advocacy campaigns and long-term initiatives to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) in India. Key Responsibilities ● Policy Analysis & Strategy: Develop concept notes and policy briefs outlining key issues, interventions, and desired policy changes; work with ELNI partnersto identify advocacy priorities. ● Media & Public Engagement: Publish articles in traditional and digital media, and use social media platforms to raise awareness and mobilize public support for FLN. ● Government Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with senior officials in the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and state education departments to influence policy and programme guidelines. ● Evidence-Based Advocacy: Gather, analyse, and synthesise policy and programme information to inform evidence-based advocacy strategies and outputs. ● Network Building: Strengthen partnerships with ELNI members, government bodies, and other stakeholders; facilitate alignment and joint action for maximum impact. ● Communications & Mobilisation: Create and disseminate communications to update, alert, and activate the ELNI network, ensuring continuous dialogue and mobilisation around advocacy priorities. Qualifications & Experience ● Postgraduate degree in public policy, education, international development, or related field. ● 8–12 years of relevant experience in policy, advocacy, or strategic communications, ideally in the education or development sector. ● Strong networks and proven ability to engage with senior government stakeholders. ● Demonstrated experience producing policy briefs, media articles, and advocacy outputs. ● Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills in English (additional Indian languages an advantage). ● Ability to work independently while engaging multiple stakeholders and guiding collective action.