Senior Program Manager- Project Delivery

Position Summary

The Senior Program Manager (SPM) will manage CEGIS’ engagement with multiple government departments (e.g.,Education Finance, Health, etc) in a state (ideally manage two main projects at any given point of time). The SPM will lead teams embedded in the assigned departments to implement CEGIS’s theory of change. These teams will be responsible for designing solutions for improved governance using research, stakeholder consultations, and analytical techniques. The SPM will oversee the design and implementation of these solutions and must work closely with the respective government stakeholders during each phase of a project. S/he shall be primarily responsible for delivering high quality outputs within stipulated timelines.

Role and Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Senior Program Manager include

1. Project Delivery / Management:

• Identifying and structuring problems, synthesizing hypotheses and, developing and applying appropriate analytical frameworks and approaches
• Working closely with sector leads and CEGIS technical teams (outcome measurement, strategic public finance, personnel management and state & market(s), government stakeholders and senior academics (wherever required), to tailor data-driven solutions to local context, and translate technical rigour to on-ground implementation
• Guides the team on high-quality written documents and presentations
• Provides management oversight on day-to-day activities in each project to ensure timely delivery of high-quality outputs
• Overseeing field and desk research using qualitative and quantitative analysis, and relevant tools as necessary
• Ensuring application of organization-wide protocols designed for data protection, data management and project management on the assigned projects
• Proactively identifying risks and issues affecting tasks or workstream delivery, and promptly communicating upward with proposed solutions
• Ensure overall project documentation to aid tracking changes in project scope, delivery including key learning, best practices etc. and sharing with other teams

2. Client and Partner Management

• Develops a sound understanding of ecosystem organisations, research institutions, potential collaborators and professionals within the State.
• Creates systems for partnerships between government and other stakeholders and identifies an external advisory group of individuals and organizations
• Actively partners with Government (Department heads and second line), and other stakeholders, to define project workstreams

3. Stakeholder Management

• Oversees the interpreting and presenting of data effectively, helping to convey meaningful insights to internal and external stakeholders.
• Creates presentations, reports, and dashboards for diverse stakeholders. Leads the preparation and pitching of proposals and decks to donors and new states/departments.
• Synthesizes stakeholders feedback to develop strategic communication strategies.
• Engages with vertical teams and government stakeholders to pitch ideas, present concepts, and advocate for impactful initiatives.
• Develops and nurtures relationships with public officials, government departments, and other stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and support for projects.

4. Knowledge Management

• Identifies internal and external knowledge sources and shares best practices.
• Plans and executes initiatives related to knowledge sharing and partnerships.

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Master’s degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, mathematics, public policy, engineering, management, social science, or related fields from a reputed institution
• 8-12 years of relevant work experience in one or more of the following areas: Governance/Development or Management/Strategy Consulting
• Public service with a government (preferably state governments) or quasi-government body
• Familiarity with governance interventions in education/ public health/nutrition/ local governance/ law and order/ livelihoods/ agriculture sectors would be a plus
• Exposure to Education sector or HR processes would be useful (not mandatory)
• Project/ program management or implementation roles with governments, advisory entities, multilaterals, international development institutions or strategic philanthropy firms

Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities

• Fluency in English and Tamil language skills – Spoken, Written would be an added advantage
• Excellent problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, strong research aptitude ability to analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data and formulate solutions
• Excellent writing and communication skills (ability to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way and across different audiences) within and outside the organisation
• Passion for improving the effectiveness of Indian States, and alignment with CEGIS’s theory of change/ impact
• Be proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to independently manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively with an ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
• High ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understanding and valuing others’ views and work closely with multiple teams at horizontal and vertical levels in a result-oriented manner.
• Operating style suited to working independently and in a small organisation setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued
• Ability to work under pressure by handling competing priorities, strong planning and organizational skills, and an ability to be able to set priorities, plan timelines and meet deadlines, maintaining attention to detail and delivering high-quality outputs
• Ability to think creatively, willing to take risks to experiment with new ideas and the ability to turn ideas into action
• Versatility to be comfortable taking on different projects and quickly dive into new sectors

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 candidate’s experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application here.

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance to 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 of misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please Click the link for self declaration.

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 2023-24
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan – one each on education and healthcare in India.
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharan’s work here and through his book “Accelerating India’s Development: A State-Led Roadmap for India’s Development”.

About CEGIS

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS – pronounced See-Jis) aims to improve lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes.

The four key characteristics of any high-performing organisation are (a) measuring outcomes through reliable, high quality data that enables goal setting and monitoring progress towards these goals; (b) strategic use of personnel – competency based hiring and training, skilling, and performance appraisals to determine job assignments, pay, and promotions – to achieve the goals above; (c) strategic budgeting where resource allocation is based on evidence and cost-effectiveness; (d) and creating efficient systems to leverage external actors (including for-profit and nonprofit organisations). The Indian State needs to perform better on all four fronts above, by enhancing its capacity. CEGIS partners with states to improve this capacity by focusing on these four pillars of the State.