leadership·5 days ago

Project Manager - Advocacy

Pune, IndiaFull-timeMid · 4-6 years

About this role

Background

Leadership For Skilled Education Foundation (branded as Leadership for Equity, LFE) is a non-profit organisation based in Pune, Maharashtra, working to strengthen India’s public education system so that every child learns and thrives. We envision public education systems that refuse to let children down.

LFE partners with state and district governments across multiple states—including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana—to improve teaching practices and build sustained academic support structures within the public system. Our work is anchored in the belief that public education systems are the gatekeepers of social equity, and strengthening them is essential to ensuring that every child has access to strong foundational and future-ready learning.

Approach

LFE’s systems-change approach focuses on improving classroom practice and enabling government ownership through three core levers:

Co-creating high-quality curricular resources and building teacher capacity
Developing academic leadership to coach and mentor teachers
Providing data-driven advisory support and policy implementation guidance

Our model empowers teachers as instructional leaders and embeds long-term support through government-run mentor cadres, continuous classroom observation cycles, and in-system academic structures. Technology plays a critical role, including an in-house Classroom Observation App for real-time monitoring and a WhatsApp-based teacher support chatbot for contextual resource delivery.

The approach is iterative and context-responsive, grounded in classroom realities and tailored to state and district needs. Implementation varies across geographies—whether working directly with teachers or through government-appointed mentors—ensuring relevance and feasibility within existing structures. A continuous feedback loop of training, observation, and coaching moves beyond one-time interventions toward sustained practice change. All programs are co-designed and co-implemented with government partners to ensure scale, sustainability, and systemic ownership, ultimately leading to improved student learning outcomes in foundational and future literacy.

About the role

The Project Manager – Advocacy will:

Lead advocacy and governance efforts in the Pune district.
Manage stakeholder relations with Zilla Parishad, Collector’s office, State Education Department, and SCERT.
Represent LFE in district and state forums, ensuring visibility and credibility.
Mentor associates and oversee project execution in alignment with organisational goals, project objectives, and district and state priorities.
Ensure achievement of project goals with a completion rate of 80% and above, while fostering team development and building a collaborative, high‑performance culture.
Provide evidence-based inputs to SCERT and state education missions (PGI, NIPUN Bharat, FLN, etc.).
Skilled in obtaining permissions, supporting program teams, resolving challenges through alternative solutions, driving outcomes, and making quick, effective decisions.

Job Description and Responsibilities

Stakeholder Management & Advocacy (25%)

Build and sustain relationships with district leadership (Collector, ZP Adhyaksha, Education Officer, DIET official).
Liaise with SCERT, Pune Zilla Parishad, Pune DIET, block‑level officials, and other district authorities to secure permissions and ensure program alignment.
Represent LFE in district/state forums and policy dialogues.

Policy Engagement & Program Support (20%)

Translate district best practices into state-level reforms.
Provide inputs to SCERT departments for program ideation, design, and implementation.
Support PGI, NIPUN Bharat, FLN, and other state missions.

Team Management & Capacity Building (20%)

Mentor Advocacy Associates and PMU.
Build team capacity in advocacy, governance processes, and relationship management.
Ensure coherence between Pune advocacy efforts and SCERT priorities.

Project Execution & Technical Support (25%)

Ensure all necessary permissions are obtained for project implementation; provide support to program teams as required; proactively address issues and challenges by identifying alternative solutions; drive resolution processes effectively; and demonstrate quick, sound decision‑making.
Oversee execution of SCERT-linked projects (Teach tool, NIPUN Bharat, Computational Thinking initiatives).
Support data collection, analysis, and reporting for district and SCERT projects.
Prepare briefs, dashboards, and donor reports showcasing systemic influence.

Visibility, Documentation & Knowledge Sharing (10%)

Document advocacy engagements, permissions, and governance improvements.
Contribute to donor reports and impact narratives.
Ensure consistent visibility of LFE’s systemic impact.

Requirements

Education & Experience

Master’s degree in Education, Public Policy, Governance, or related field (preferred).
4–6 years of experience in advocacy, governance, or strengthening the education system.
Proven track record of engaging with senior government stakeholders at the district/state level.
Prior experience with SCERT, DIETs, or district education departments will be preferred, and candidates with such experience will be given priority.
Experience in program execution, research, and policy implementation.

Important: Given the nature of this role, please apply only if you meet the requirements outlined above.

Knowledge, Skills & Capabilities

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; working knowledge of Marathi is preferred
Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect district learnings with state priorities.
Stakeholders Management: Skilled at building trust with senior officials.
Policy Acumen: Understanding of education governance and systemic reforms.
Leadership: Capacity to mentor associates and drive team performance.
Advocacy Communication: Ability to craft compelling narratives for systemic change.
Analytical Skills: Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities.
Patience, resilience, and the ability to sustain effort through ambiguity and setbacks

Location and Compensation

Location: Pune, Maharashtra. Frequent travel to rural areas across the state.

Compensation: In addition to being part of a young and dynamic learning team, the individual will receive a competitive compensation package at par with the non-profit sector benchmark for this position, commensurate with the individual’s prior experience and qualifications. The current compensation band, based on fit and experience, is 7-10 LPA (INR per annum).

Leadership For Equity is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind. We do not discriminate on the basis of caste, race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor.