Senior Manager - Programme Development, Mumbai

Role: Senior Manager - Programme Developments, Mumbai Experience: 10-14 years Salary: 10- 18 LPA ____________________________________________________ About the Role : The role is to design and scale a play-based learning programme for children in Maharashtra, starting from pilots and building it into a large, integrated system across schools and anganwadis. It involves leading programme design, running field pilots, working closely with partners and M&E teams, and building a team over time. The key expectation is someone who can turn ideas into real, working programmes on the ground and scale them into a system-level model that improves children’s learning experiences. Key Responsibilities: Design Ownership Lead the design of the Foundational Play Programme across multiple contexts (AWW urban/rural, primary urban/rural, partner/non-partner settings) Develop an integrated programme model from pilot learnings into a scalable, documented design Ensure design is grounded in child development and learning research, and translates effectively into classroom practice Pilot Design & Management Design and manage pilots across contexts, including learning questions, design cycles, and synthesis Collaborate closely with the M&E team to embed evaluation into design from the outset Engage regularly in field visits to ensure real-world insights shape design decisions Team Building Build and lead a programme design team as the work scales Develop Managers and Consultants aligned with programme needs Foster a culture of rigorous, child-centred, and creative design thinking External Partnerships Identify, onboard, and manage external technical agencies for programme design and implementation Ensure alignment of partners with design intent and quality standards Build relationships with external experts and content specialists Learning & Evidence Synthesize pilot learnings and translate them into iterative programme improvements Document and structure programme knowledge for internal and external use Contribute to organisational learning and external communication of the evolving model Who We Are Looking For: Programme architect: Has designed and scaled complex programmes from concept to implementation Child-centred thinker: Anchors all design decisions in child development and learning science Field-driven: Actively engages with on-ground realities and lets them shape design thinking Strong team builder: Builds and leads high-performing design teams with clarity and trust Strategic + hands-on: Comfortable in both field settings and high-level design discussions Evidence-minded: Uses data and M&E as core inputs into programme design, not afterthoughts Must-Haves: 10–14 years of experience in programme design, curriculum development, or related fields in education/child development/development sector Proven experience leading programme design from concept to pilot to scale Experience building and managing teams Strong grounding in child development and learning research with applied programme experience Familiarity with M&E frameworks and evidence-based programme design Strong English communication and facilitation skills Ability to work closely with M&E teams and integrate evidence into design Nice-to-Have: Experience in play-based learning or life skills programmes in India Experience working with government education systems in Maharashtra Fluency in Hindi or Marathi Hiring Process: Step 1: HR Screening Call (30 minutes) Step 2: Technical Interview (programme design, research, and experience; In-person) Step 3: Leadership Interview (In-person) Step 4: Culture Fit / Team Interaction - Hiring Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This job is first posted on June 2, 2026 on Ground Zero For any questions, ping us on WhatsApp chat: +91-8058331557