Program Associate

Position Summary

As a Program Associate (PA) at The Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS), you will play a vital role in various projects across their entire life cycle. This includes handling concept notes, department-level diagnostics, solution identification, pilot development, pilot implementation, and providing support for scale-up initiatives. Projects typically involve frontline service delivery. Reporting to the respective Project Lead(s), you will significantly contribute to the analytical aspects of the projects, ensuring effective governance and public expenditure reforms.

Role and Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Program Associate include

Data Collection, Review, and Analysis:

• Keep track of data from different sources for accuracy.
• Analyse complex datasets to extract important insights relevant to key stakeholders.

Data Management, Quality, and Security:

• Prioritise and address data issues promptly to support ongoing project progress.
• Ensure data management, quality, and security standards are maintained.

Research, Diagnosis, Solutioning, and Reporting:

• Independently conduct research and root cause analysis.
• Document and present insights for effective problem-solving.
• Collaborate with vertical teams to lead co-creation efforts for project-specific solutions.

Analysis and Insights:

• Produce comprehensive presentations and documentation for critical project insights.
• Assist in gathering information for stakeholder communication.
• Summarise and document project progress for internal and external audiences.

Project Coordination and Project Deliverables:

• Regularly updates internal and external stakeholders on project progress.
• Collaborates with project delivery teams and stakeholders to align data diagnostics and analysis plans with project objectives.
• Ensures that all project activities are strategically directed towards the achievement of overarching goals.
• Develops and delivers high-quality outputs, including reports, notes, and analyses.
• Conduct literature review, prepare project collaterals, and manage files for efficient retrieval.

Stakeholder Mapping, Engagement and communication:

• Map relevant external stakeholders and conduct regular stakeholder analysis.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to plan meetings for both communicating project progress and decisions, as well as ensuring effective communication.
• Synthesise project information into documents, presentations, and dashboards.
• Cultivate and strengthen stakeholder relationships, fostering deep connections.
• Suggest innovative ideas to nurture partnerships and drive project advancement.

Documentation and Knowledge Creation & Facilitation:

• Support knowledge management processes to achieve project and organisational objectives.
• Conduct literature review, prepare project collaterals, and manage files for efficient retrieval.
• Support the team in acquiring, preserving, and sharing domain-specific information.

Qualifications and Skills Needed:

• 1 to years of experience with a Bachelor's degree (Masters degree or equivalent preferred) in economics, public policy, social science or related fields from a reputed institution.
• Proven experience in project management and analytical contributions.
• Fluency in English and Tamil language skills Spoken, Written would be an added advantage
• Exposure to Education sector or HR processes would be useful (not mandatory)
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Experience in client servicing/government projects would be preferred.
• Commitment to CEGIS's mission and values.

Location and Compensation

Location: The role will be based out of Chennai. Travel to other states may be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads for the application process:

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

• Concept note on CEGIS

• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024

• CEGIS Snapshot

• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India.

• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here and through his book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development.