Program Manager SEP (Secondary Education Project)

Theconvergencefoundation

Delhi

On-site

INR 60,000 - 80,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A leading philanthropic organization in India seeks a Program Manager to enhance the secondary education system. This role involves engaging with government and ecosystem partners to implement strategic initiatives and develop innovative solutions aligned with national education policies. The ideal candidate will have a strong analytical background and significant experience in education reform, with excellent communication skills and a passion for impactful change.

Qualifications

3-5 years experience in consulting or strategy roles.
Exposure to school education and public policy preferred.
Experience with state departments or education boards is a plus.

Responsibilities

Conduct research on secondary education and assessment reform.
Engage with government and ecosystem partners for reforms.
Develop communication tools to influence policymakers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication

Research capabilities

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree from a top-tier institution

Job description

About The Convergence Foundation and TCF Network:

The Convergence Foundation (TCF) is an Indian philanthropic foundation dedicated to catalysing rapid and sustained economic growth to enhance the lives of all Indians. Established by Ashish and Manisha Dhawan in April 2021, TCF builds on their legacy of impactful philanthropy, including the founding of transformative institutions like Ashoka University and the Central Square Foundation.

Our mission is clear: to transform the lives of all Indians through rapid, sustained, and inclusive economic growth. To achieve this, we focus on seven key program areas that influence job creation, human capital development through education and skilling, and strengthening state capacity to deliver outcomes.

In each area, TCF works on:

Building pioneering institutions to address India's most complex socio‑economic challenges.

Shaping the larger ecosystem and sharing knowledge, insights and learning with other philanthropists, governments and key stakeholders

We believe that the government is the key actor for system change, and the role of philanthropy is to strategically support the government.

The TCF Network includes 21+ organisations, each committed to addressing specific areas of India's socio‑economic development, from school education and governance to women's economic empowerment and export competitiveness.

About the Secondary Education Project:

While India has expanded access and improved early‑grade learning, secondary education remains a critical weak link with many young people leaving school without the skills, exposure, or confidence needed to navigate diverse life and career pathways.

This is a pivotal moment to act. The NEP provides strong momentum for school complexes, competency‑based and modular assessments, vocational pathways, and holistic progress cards. At the same time, India is in a narrow demographic dividend window. Over the next decade, tens of millions of young people will pass through secondary school and what they learn, how they learn, and how their readiness is signalled will shape India’s workforce, productivity, and social mobility for a generation.

Our North Star is to make secondary education relevant, effective, and a credible signal of readiness ensuring every young person in India is prepared for life, work, and further learning. Our early focus is on two system‑level levers with outsized potential for impact: enabling integrated school complexes that provide access to large school complexes, specialist teachers, diverse subjects, and better infrastructure; and advancing NEP‑aligned board and assessment reforms that incentivise practical learning and credible skill signalling. We will work with states to build proof points, influence national and state policy pathways, convene key partners, and build momentum for scalable, durable reform across the secondary education ecosystem.

About the Role

TCF is launching a strategic initiative to strengthen India’s secondary education system by enabling integrated school models and driving assessment reforms aligned with NEP’s vision of competency‑based, future‑ready learning.

The Program Manager (PM) will play a central role in shaping and implementing this effort working with government stakeholders, ecosystem organisations, research partners, and TCF leadership. This is a high‑ownership, entrepreneurial role ideal for someone passionate about transforming education systems at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Hypothesis Building

Conduct research and analysis on secondary education, integrated school models, and assessment reform

Develop clear hypotheses and strategic pathways for scaling integrated school complexes and NEP‑aligned board reforms

Track global and Indian innovations in competency‑based assessment and school consolidation

Support the design of pilots with states for integrated school complexes (staffing models, transport, subject offerings, infra planning)

Co‑design assessment reform pilots with PARAKH/state boards (modular exams, project‑based evaluation, multi‑attempt pathways, portfolios)

Build implementation plans, budgets, and M&E frameworks for pilots

Government & Ecosystem Engagement

Work closely with state governments, SCERTs, boards, and PARAKH to advance reform pathways
Engage with ecosystem partners (e.g., CSF, EI, CEGIS, Peepul) to align reform efforts and build shared momentum

Convene state and national working groups, advisory councils, and learning forums

Evidence, Research & Knowledge Products

Codify learnings from exemplar states (e.g., TN, MP, Telangana) on integrated school complexes

Develop briefs, playbooks, and communication toolkits on board reform models and alternative assessment approaches

Support convenings, roundtables, and policy dialogues to build momentum for integrated schools and exam reform

Create compelling communication artefacts (videos, decks, briefs) to influence policymakers and funders

Work with media and sector partners to shape narrative on secondary education reform

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master’s degree from a top‑tier institution

3-5 years experience with prior stints in top‑tier consulting firms, strategy roles in fast‑paced environments (start‑ups, VCs, etc), large non‑profits / foundation

Strong analytical, structuring, and problem‑solving skills

Excellent communication, research, and writing capability

Exposure to school education, government systems, assessments, or public policy is preferred

Experience working with state departments, SCERTs, or education boards is a plus

Desired Qualities

Bias to action; highly resourceful and solution‑oriented

Comfort with ambiguity and iterative problem‑solving

Deep curiosity about education systems and state capacity

Organised, detail‑oriented, and strong on execution

Ability to build trust and collaborate with senior stakeholders and government

High ownership mindset; thrives in entrepreneurial environments

Compensation