State Lead, Andhra Pradesh

Ground Zero; NTR; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Ground Zero seeks a State Lead (Education) for Andhra Pradesh to drive end-to-end state operations, team leadership, government engagement, and program quality across all state education programs.

This field-anchored leadership role requires frequent district travel. After 6–8 months, the incumbent will transition to State Head, Andhra Pradesh, guiding strategic planning and regional execution in alignment with national program design.

Qualifications

• Experience with foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) or community-based education models.
• Fluency in Telugu; working proficiency in English and Hindi.
• Willingness to travel extensively across districts in Andhra Pradesh.
• Proven ability to manage large multi-district programs through government systems.
• Strong strategic planning, budgeting and operations management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management with government officials and partners.

Responsibilities

• Set state program strategy aligned with organizational priorities and government needs; lead planning, budgeting and team deployment.
• Oversee program implementation and quality across districts; monitor progress with data and field visits; drive course-corrections and capacity building.
• Manage state budgets and expenditure tracking; report achievements and challenges to stakeholders.
• Lead and develop a high-performing state team across program, content, measurement and enabling functions.
• Engage with government departments and partner organizations; represent the organization in state forums and reviews.

Job description

Role -State Lead (Education), Andhra Pradesh

Experience: 7+ Years

Salary - 12-18 LPA

Note:Telugu, English, and Hindi proficiency

Role Overview

The State Lead is the 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 remaining responsive to the 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

1. Strategy, Planning & Operations

• Set state program strategy aligned with organizational 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.

2. 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.

3. Government & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary state-level relationship holder with government departments (education, women & child development) and partner organizations.
• Represent the organization at state forums and reviews; position work within the state’s FLN/NEP landscape and identify partnership opportunities.

4. Strategic & Organizational 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 organizational learning across program streams.

5. 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 Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (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.