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Position Overview

The Program officer, GEP at the Country office will be responsible for supporting the India Country Office in achieving the Country goals set out for the Girls Education and Gender Equality Program (GEGEP) in direct implementation sites as well as scale-up sights. This is a key position housed in the national office, responsible to provide technical support to the direct implementation program as well as program being implemented in partnership with the government in (put together) 8 states of India. The role requires expertise in gender, life skills and a thorough understanding of girls’ education issues in India and an ability to enhance both kinds of programing at the same time. The position will require the incumbent to understand the varied state contexts with an expectation of devoting 40% time to field travel and working with the state program team as well as the state leadership team. The position is responsible for ensuring robust implementation and support in realizing state lead vision for the program. The position will also require regular interaction with key stakeholders like state teams, government, field staff and colleagues in different offices.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Program Implementation Support:

Leads in ensuring that the program(s) (depending upon the allocated state) are being implemented on agreed benchmarks and stays on top of implementation of the allocated states by working with relevant stakeholders.
Works closely with Program Operations team and the State Team in identifying bottlenecks of implementation and resolves it.
Takes initiative in identifying and resolving quality issues in the program while working together with the country office colleagues and other stakeholders as required.
Ensures that relevant data (reports/ dashboards) are analyzed timely and the feedback loop is closed by using it in the program.
Regularly undertakes and documents the monthly check in calls conducted with the relevant stakeholder(s).
Ensures that Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) are being followed, keep abreast of the ground zero challenges being faced by the state teams.
Takes corrective measures and proposes relevant changes/process improvement(s) (if any) that might be required to fine-tune the existing SOPs for better implementation of the tasks.

Leading quality discourse:

Supports the National Program Coordinator to develop standards and checklists for defining the quality parameters of the programs and shares and takes on board for further discussion and follow up with team at State level
Play a leading role in getting all the teammates (across the country) on a common page for delivering a quality program – whether in direct model or in partnership
Supports Research/Baseline studies as well as Action Researches as required and interfaces with external and internal stakeholders, as and when required
Participates in Special Task forces as and when required
Supports Capacity Building efforts of States on specific themes.

Liaison with other departments to strengthen the program (both models):

Liaison with other departments like administration for follow up on Requisitions for workshops,
Logistics, other services required like translations etc.
Liaise closely with Operations on tracking spending and initiating corrective measures for budget utilization, lead the budget exercise for GEGEP – contribute in making budgets, reviewing state budgets etc (depending on the role assigned by the National Program Coordinator and to track implementation.
Works closely with RM&E on using the existing monitoring mechanisms and data points for enhancing program quality and exactness of delivery, as well as designing new ones as need be.
Works closely with HR if any support is required being a part of the interview panel or revising role expectation etc.

Qualifications and Experience:

Required:

Master’s degree in education/Social work/development studies/Gender or social sciences.
Experience of working in the areas of secondary education, girls education, gender, school development.
Experience in developing training modules, conducting trainings and managing events.
Experience or working with the government, teacher training, reviewing government programs.
Ability to travel frequently and spend time in the field.
Good verbal and written communication skills in English and Hindi.
At least 6 years relevant experience in working with an NGO/INGO.

Preferred: