Sr Program Lead - STEP Bihar (State)

Mantra Social Services; Patna; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Mantra Social Services is seeking a Senior Program Lead in Patna to drive end-to-end design, strategy and execution of education programs in collaboration with SCERT and SSA. The role requires strategic vision, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to deliver impactful workstreams across districts.

The candidate will manage design coordination, monitoring, and capacity-building activities, with travel across districts as required, to ensure high-quality program delivery and learning

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education or related field; 5–9 years of experience leading educational design projects preferred.
• Strong written and spoken English and Hindi; ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating with government bodies and field teams; willingness to travel district to district.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program design, coordination, and implementation across multiple workstreams with state and district partners.
• Establish monthly review structures and data dashboards for monitoring progress and guiding decisions.
• Develop materials with SCERT and DIETs; ensure quality and timely print-ready outputs.
• Build and maintain relationships with key officials (State Project Director, SCERT Director, DEOs, DIET Principals).
• Plan capacity-building sessions for teachers and district officials; translate feedback into program improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Travel flexibility

Education

Master's degree in education or related field

Tools

G-Suite

Canva

AI tools

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Program Lead will independently drive the end-to-end design, strategy, and execution of programs. This role demands strategic vision, strong leadership in stakeholder engagement, and a deep understanding of systemic education reform. The position offers an opportunity to shape and deliver impactful programs in collaboration with the state and districts. The SPL will ensure the impactful delivery of the workstream independently.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Program Design, Co-ordination and Implementation

• Lead the design and implementation of multiple workstreams such as Printed TLM, Training, Mentoring, Reviews, and Recognition Systems in partnership with SCERT and SSA.
• Work closely with SCERT to develop academic materials through module development workshops, ensure quality, finalise print-ready materials, and coordinate the printing and delivery process with the department.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for 3-5 districts, supporting District Leadership (DIETs, DEOs, DPOs, etc.) in planning, delivery, and reviews of the Project-Based Learning Program.
• Analyse education budgets, state schemes, and policy frameworks to identify opportunities that strengthen leadership and enhance workstream delivery.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation Learning

• Establish and enable monthly review structures at the state and district levels to track progress through data dashboards and facilitate data-driven decision-making.
• Conduct regular field visits with state and district officials to review the quality of implementation, gather evidence of impact, and identify improvement areas.
• Support SCERT and DIETs in conducting regular annual endline student assessment surveys to measure progress and inform continuous improvement.

3. Stakeholder Engagement Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key state and district officials, including the State Project Director, SCERT Director, Director of Primary Education, District Magistrates, DEOs, and DIET Principals.
• Represent the program in key state-level review meetings and consultations.

4. Capacity Building Knowledge Sharing

• Along with SCERT and DIETs, support the design and facilitation of training and capacity-building sessions for teachers, leaders, and district officials.
• Use feedback, monitoring data and assessment data to make recommendations for continuous improvement in training frameworks and content.

5. Documentation Communication

• Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and concept notes for internal and external stakeholders.
• Present workstream updates, insights, and learnings with clarity.

Experience Competencies Required

• A master s degree, along with 5-9 years of experience leading educational design projects, especially in school leadership development, is preferred.
• Prior exposure to the education or consulting sector is preferred.
• Must have functional knowledge of G-Suite tools, Canva, and basic AI-based tools.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Hindi and English.
• Must have the ability to negotiate and work effectively with government stakeholders.
• Must be willing to travel within and outside the assigned districts when required.

Location

Patna, Bihar

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be given a pre-work assignment. Candidates who clear the pre-work will be invited to an in-person Assessment Centre in Patna, which will include a quick assignment round, a technical interview round, and a culture interview round. Please note that candidates will be responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation expenses. The organisation will provide meals during the Assessment Centre.