State Lead (Education), Andhra Pradesh

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

Job summary

Ground Zero in India is seeking a State Lead (Education) for Andhra Pradesh to drive end-to-end state operations, lead teams, engage government and communities, and ensure program quality across education initiatives.

This field-anchored leadership role requires frequent district travel; after 6-8 months, the incumbent will transition to State Head, Andhra Pradesh. Fluency in Telugu with English and Hindi working proficiency is expected; salary ranges 12–18 LPA with growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of FLN/Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) and foundational 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 mentoring teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Set state program strategy aligned with priorities, government needs, and field learnings; lead planning, budgeting, and deployment.
• Oversee program implementation and quality across districts; monitor progress via data and field visits; drive course-corrections.
• Manage state budgets and expenditure tracking; report achievements and lessons to stakeholders.
• Lead and build a high-performing state team; mentor future leaders and coordinate with central teams.
• Engage government departments and partners; represent the organization at state forums and reviews.

Skills

FLN understanding

Early childhood education

Telugu fluency

English proficiency

Hindi proficiency

Travel readiness

People leadership

Budgeting

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder management

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.