State Head (Education), Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow

Role: State Head (Education), Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow
Experience: 15-20 years
Salary: Up to 22-25 LPA

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About the job:

The State Head will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) program in Uttar Pradesh, with limited engagement in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) initiatives. As the program expands from five to ten districts, the State Head will manage one of the organization’s largest portfolios, leading a multidisciplinary team of approximately 160 members.

This role serves as the primary interface with senior state government stakeholders and ensures that field implementation aligns with organizational priorities and high-quality academic frameworks.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership & State Program Management

• Provide overall leadership for FLN program implementation in Uttar Pradesh, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and state education priorities.

• Guide program expansion from five districts (Fatehpur, Shravasti, Bhadohi, Chandauli, and Varanasi) to ten districts (adding Bareilly, Hamirpur, Kaushambi, Rampur, and Bahraich), ensuring operational stability.

• Develop and oversee state-level implementation strategies and operational plans.

2. Oversight of Program Implementation

• Provide direct oversight to State Project Managers (SPMs) responsible for district-level implementation.

• Ensure strong coordination between program units, including literacy, numeracy, ECCE, M&E, and administrative functions.

• Monitor progress and address operational challenges to ensure the timely delivery of milestones and high program quality.

3. Government Engagement & Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary relationship lead with key stakeholders, including the Department of Education, Samagra Shiksha, and SCERT.

• Represent the organization in high-level government meetings, review forums, and policy discussions.

• Strengthen institutional partnerships to support long-term systemic improvements in foundational learning.

4. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture.

• Support the professional development of team members and strengthen leadership capacity within state teams.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Ensure robust M&E mechanisms are implemented to track program progress.

• Review program data and field insights to guide strategic decision-making and program improvements.

• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to internal leadership, government partners, and donors.

6. Coordination and Donor Engagement

• Work closely with central teams (Academic, CPD, and State Programs) to maintain program fidelity and consistency.

• Contribute to donor engagement by sharing program updates, preparing reports, and participating in periodic reviews.

Experience, Qualifications & Skills:

• Education: Master’s degree in Education, Public Policy, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field.

• Experience: 15–20 years of professional experience in the education or development sector.

• Sector Expertise: Extensive experience in large-scale education program implementation, preferably in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).

• Government Relations: Strong experience working with state government education systems and senior government officials.

• Leadership: Proven track record of leading large teams (approx. 160 members) and managing complex multi-district programs.

• Core Skills: Strong strategic thinking, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

Hiring Note: Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis. This job is first posted on April 17, 2026 on Ground Zero

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