Arthan | Strategy Consultant

About the job Project Manager/Lead

A project manager works under a project lead and collaborates with other project managers to execute workstreams. These workstreams typically span multiple years and consist of sub-projects that require engagement with government stakeholders at the state, district, and block levels. In some cases, coordination with partner organizations in the coalition is also necessary. As a project manager, you may work on one of the following workstreams:

1. Academic Materials and School-based Assessments: This workstream involves close collaboration with academic partners and state-level academic bodies to design a comprehensive package of materials for different grades. These materials will be used in classrooms across the state. Responsibilities of the project manager include:

• Designing the materials through a process defined by the state mission director, involving state resource groups.
• Managing the procurement, printing, and delivery of materials to all schools.
• Continuously iterating the design based on feedback from the field.

2.Teacher Professional Development: This workstream focuses on rolling out training to all teachers in the state. Training is offered through face-to-face sessions and digital training. The project manager's responsibilities include:

• Designing all training materials and manuals in collaboration with state training groups and state resource groups.
• Ensuring monitoring of all training cascades and ensuring that all teachers undergo the training.
• Designing a digital training calendar and ensuring high completion rates for the courses.

3.Mentoring Programs for Teachers: This workstream involves identifying and training mentors who will provide regular support to teachers through monthly school visits. The project manager is responsible for:

• Identifying and providing regular training for mentors.
• Designing and implementing a school visit protocol, including an app-based observation tool for monitoring visit compliance and improving the quality of support provided to teachers through mentors.

4.System Assessment of Outcomes: This workstream involves conducting an annual district-level baseline assessment of student learning outcomes related to program goals. The project manager's responsibilities include:

• Developing the learning outcome framework for both spot assessment and baseline assessments.
• Designing all assessment items in collaboration with state resource groups.
• Developing an app for assessors to enable student assessment.
• Analyzing baseline assessments, generating district reports, and providing insights to the state mission director for district reviews.
• Setting district goals and communicating them through workshops to all stakeholders in each district.

5. Monitoring System: This workstream focuses on creating tech tools for collecting critical key performance indicators (KPIs) for the mission and developing a dashboard to visualize the data for decision-making. The project manager's responsibilities include:

• Developing a monitoring framework and creating a tender document to onboard a vendor for developing the tech tools.
• Managing the vendor and overseeing the development of all tech tools and dashboards.
• Field-testing the tech tools and preparing for their on-ground launch.
• Training all stakeholders in data collection using the tools.
• Generating monthly reports and making them available for district and block reviews.
• Running continuous data quality improvement projects at all levels in the state.

6.Managing Fellow's Projects: This workstream involves supporting 7-10 Fellows placed at the district level to execute project modules aimed at improving mission implementation. The project manager's responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Fellow's placement in districts through induction and introductory sessions with district officials.
• Managing the Fellow's progress on a daily/weekly basis with respect to the projects in each district.
• Troubleshooting any challenges faced by the program in the district and collaborating with the state mission director.
• Working closely with the project lead to iterate the design of the fellowship program.

7. Delivering District Accelerator Programs: In certain districts, the organisation has established a direct District Project Management Unit (DPMU) to accelerate implementation fidelity in the state. The project manager in this role will be responsible for:

• Collaborating closely with Chief Development Officer (CDO) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to devise plans for improving the adoption of mission activities.
• Executing playbook to enhance the governance structure, including District review meetings and ensuring data quality in the district.
• Working on capacity building of Block Education Officers (BEOs) and mentors to drive implementation of all workstreams at the district level.

8.Delivering Central Team Projects to Support State Teams: The program manager has a small central team to support the performance of all state teams. This includes executing central monitoring exercises, generating insights for advisory boards, donors, and state teams, and providing performance management support. The project manager's responsibilities include:

• Collaborating closely with the central team lead to manage monitoring data collection and analysis twice a year.
• Supporting talent acquisition and retention projects in coordination with the Project Director, State Leads, and Talent Management Team.
• Assisting the central team lead and state lead in executing a performance management program, including quarterly reviews, action planning, and engaging other expert teams.
• Supporting fundraising and donor management activities in collaboration with the Project Director.

Functional Details:

The Project Manager role offers a perfect opportunity to understand how large-scale educational reform takes shape and gain hands-on experience in taking a workstream from framework to large-scale implementation. This role is demanding and requires close collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including government officials, district/bloc officials, and teachers. The following skills are necessary for individuals to possess:

• A bachelor's degree from a reputed university is required; a master's degree is preferred.
• Prior experience working with government stakeholders is required.
• 2 to 4 years of post-qualification work experience, preferably with a government entity, demonstrating a superb project delivery and management track record.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, develop possible solutions, and make recommendations.
• Action-oriented mindset with strong planning skills, ability to set priorities, plan, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, in English and Hindi.
• Ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with government stakeholders.
• Ability to identify and address execution gaps in a timely manner, working closely with project leads to generate viable solutions.
• Prior exposure to the education sector, public/development sector, or consulting is preferred. However, individuals with corporate experience and a genuine interest in the education sector are also encouraged to apply.
• Mission-driven, optimistic, and enthusiastic, with a belief in achieving transformational change.
• Willingness to be based at the state site close to stakeholders and the team, with openness to regular travel to Delhi and different districts in Madhya Pradesh