State Lead, Andhra Pradesh

PRATHAM Education; NTR; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Pratham Education Foundation in Andhra Pradesh is seeking a State Lead to drive end-to-end state operations, government engagement, and program quality across FLN and vocational skilling initiatives. The role requires leadership across districts and regular travel with a view to scaling impact.

Initially titled State Lead with potential transition to State Head after 6-8 months, this full-time position anchors state implementation and cross-functional collaboration with national teams and

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of FLN, early childhood development, or community-based education models.
• Fluency in Telugu; working proficiency in English and Hindi.
• Willingness to travel extensively across districts in Andhra Pradesh.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, multi-district programs through government systems.
• Strong strategic planning, budgeting, and operational management skills.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with senior government officials and external partners; excellent communication.

Responsibilities

• Set state program strategy aligned with organisational priorities, government needs, and field learnings.
• Lead annual/quarterly planning, budgeting, and team deployment.
• Oversee program implementation and quality across districts; monitor progress and mentor teams.
• Manage state budgets and expenditure tracking; report achievements and lessons to stakeholders.
• Engage with government departments and partner organisations; represent Pratham at state forums.

Skills

FLN / early childhood education

Telugu fluency

Travel across districts

Program leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Job description

Pratham Education Foundation (Pratham) is one of the largest education NGOs in India with a record of innovative, rigorously evaluated programs that have inspired similar programs across three continents. With a history spanning 30 years, Pratham’s work today extends from programs for early and elementary years to girls and women, and youth skilling. Through programs covering 25 states and Union Territories, in an average year, Pratham usually reaches over 6 million children and youth. This is achieved through a combination of efforts: directly working with children and youth in communities, as well as through collaborations with state and district-level governments.

Pratham has received notable awards such as the Lui Che Woo Prize, WISE Prize for Innovation, Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Henry R Kravis Prize in Leadership and the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for Public Service. Pratham also received the 2021 Yidan Prize for Education Development and the Yashraj Bharati Samman in 2025.

In Andhra Pradesh, for over two decades, Pratham now works across all districts of the state through government partnerships and community-based programs spanning FLN, Second Chance (for girls and women who dropped out of formal schooling), and vocational skilling linked to employment.

The State Lead is Pratham’s program and operations lead for Andhra Pradesh, responsible for end-to-end state operations, team leadership, government and community engagement, and program quality across all state education programs. The role works closely with the State Head and National Program Core Groups to align state implementation with national program design while staying responsive to local context.

This is a field-anchored leadership role requiring frequent district travel and a strong grasp of foundational learning approaches. On successful completion of 6-8 months, the incumbent will transition to State Head, Andhra Pradesh.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy, Planning & Operations
• Set state program strategy aligned with organisational priorities, government needs, and field learnings; lead annual/quarterly planning, budgeting, and team deployment.
• Oversee program implementation and quality across districts; monitor progress through data and field visits to course-correct, build team capacity, and drive continuous improvement.
• Manage state budgets and expenditure tracking; ensure timely reporting of achievements, challenges, and lessons to internal and external stakeholders.
• Team Leadership & Capacity Building
• Lead and build a high-performing state team (program, content, measurement, and enabling functions); identify, mentor, and develop future leaders.
• Provide field-based mentoring and coordinate with the central team to ensure participation in national trainings and review processes.
• Government & Stakeholder Engagement
• Serve as Pratham’s primary state-level relationship holder with government departments (education, women and child development) and partner organisations.
• Represent Pratham at state forums and reviews; position Pratham’s work within the state’s FLN/NEP landscape and identify partnership opportunities.
• Strategic & Organisational Leadership
• Identify opportunities for program expansion and innovation; represent Andhra Pradesh in national planning and strategy discussions.
• Share field insights and implementation learnings to inform organisational learning across program streams.
• Donor & External Relations
• Support proposal development and donor reporting with central teams; host donor visits, external reviews, and field demonstrations.

Candidate Profile

• Strong understanding of FLN, early childhood development, or community-based education models.
• Fluency in Telugu; working proficiency in English and Hindi.
• Willingness to travel extensively across districts in Andhra Pradesh.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, multi-district programs through government systems, including managing and mentoring teams.
• Strong strategic planning, budgeting, and operational management skills; comfort using data to drive decisions.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with senior government officials and external partners; excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Position

State Lead (transitioning to State Head, Andhra Pradesh after 6-8 months, subject to performance review)

Location

Andhra Pradesh (with travel across program districts)

Reporting

State Head

Base City

State Capital, Vijayawada

Experience

10+ years in education, development, or program leadership

Engagement Type

Full-time

Note: For an initial 6-8 months, the incumbent holds the designation of State Lead while assuming full state-wide responsibility. On successful completion, the designation transitions to State Head, Andhra Pradesh.

Note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to provide individual responses to every applicant. We will reach out only to shortlisted candidates. We appreciate your understanding and patience