State Lead - Uttar Pradesh SEP (Secondary Education Project)

Theconvergencefoundation; Lucknow; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

The Convergence Foundation invites a dynamic UP State Lead to anchor our secondary education reform efforts in Lucknow. You will coordinate with government departments, senior officials, and central teams to translate policy into on-the-ground programs, partnerships, and impact.

Ideal candidates bring multi-year state-level experience, relationship-building acumen, and a track record of delivering complex education initiatives within a government or consulting setting.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of experience in state-level implementation or public sector engagement.
• Experience with government programs and stakeholder management.
• Excellent written and verbal policy communication.
• Familiar with Indian education policy landscape.

Responsibilities

• Lead SEP's secondary education work in UP with full ownership of program implementation.
• Serve as primary contact for the Dept of Education.
• Represent SEP in state-level meetings and policy discussions.
• Collaborate with central team and partners to tailor approaches for UP.
• Ensure timely execution, reporting, and risk management on the ground.
• Mentor SEP leadership and contribute to knowledge sharing.

Skills

State-level implementation

Government relations

Policy analysis

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Travel willingness

Job description

About the Secondary Education Project (SEP):

The Secondary Education Project is supported by The Convergence Foundation and is a non-profit organization focused on middle & secondary education systemic reforms in India.

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 system-level levers with outsized potential for impact: enabling integrated schools / complexes that provide a min. viable school access to all students with specialist teachers, diverse subject choices, and better infrastructure; advancing NEP-aligned board and assessment reforms that incentivise practical learning and credible skill signalling and driving evidence backed advocacy of programs building life and work readiness in grades 6-12. 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.

Role Overview

The Secondary Education Project (SEP) at the Convergence Foundation is hiring a UP State Lead, based in Lucknow (UP), to anchor our work with the Dept of Education and the Board of Secondary education of the state. This role involves working closely with senior government officials, including the ACS / PS, Head of the Secondary Education Department among others.

• The State Lead will represent TCF's Secondary Ed in UP, manage partnerships, and drive on-ground implementation of education reform initiatives.
• We are looking for someone with experience in consulting or government program delivery, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to navigate government systems effectively.
• This is a hands‑on leadership role suited for someone who is outcome-focused, comfortable with ambiguity, and keen to work at the intersection of policy and execution.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead our secondary education work in UP, with full ownership of program implementation and stakeholder engagement in the state.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Dept of education, maintaining strong, trust-based relationships.
• Represent our Secondary Education work in all state-level meetings, policy discussions, and decision-making forums, while channeling insights back to the central team.
• Collaborate with the central team and technical partners to propose, design, localize, and implement innovative education approaches tailored to the UP context.
• Ensure timely execution, reporting, and resolution of challenges on the ground – balancing strategy with operational follow-through.
• Act as the liaison in the state, aligning UP's priorities with the broader mission and objectives of our Secondary Education effort.
• Contribute to research and knowledge reports to strengthen our thought leadership on this topic.
• A front‑row seat to building something new: Join at the ground floor as this initiative takes shape from idea to institution, with the chance to shape its systems, culture, and strategy from day one.
• Real entrepreneurial latitude: This isn't a role where you execute an established playbook; you'll have the room and the mandate to meaningfully influence how secondary education reform unfolds across Uttar Pradesh.
• Hands‑on mentorship: Work closely with SEP's leadership team, whose backgrounds span BCG, The Convergence Foundation, Udhyam Learning and Central Square Foundation.
• Join a team that's equal parts rigorous and fun: As committed to high‑stakes work as they are to enjoying the process together.

Skills Required

• 6-8 years of experience in state-level implementation, consulting, or public sector engagement, ideally in an education context for at least 2-3 years.
• Proven ability to build and manage senior government relationships, with a high degree of professionalism and influence.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including comfort with presentations, briefing notes, data analysis and written policy recommendations for external stakeholders.
• Ability to drive execution in complex, multi-stakeholder environments combining structure, persistence, and adaptability.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to go deep into policy and programmatic issues, and translate insights into implementable solutions.
• Comfortable working closely with government offices, with openness to travel largely within the state and select team travel to Delhi.

Reporting

The UP State Lead will report to the leadership / central team at SEP.

Compensation

SEP recognizes that the right candidate will have a significant impact on the success of the organization and is prepared to offer an attractive compensation package for the non-profit sector, commensurate with experience.

Location

The position will be based in Lucknow, UP with travel to Delhi / other locations as needed.

Apply

If this aligns with your expertise or you know someone who would be a great fit, apply now!