Location: Bangalore
Reports to: Deputy Director – Program (ECCE)
About the Role
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced professional to lead our Early Childhood
Education (ECE) initiatives. The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for designing,
implementing, and monitoring programs that strengthen preschool education, build teacher
and system capacity, and ensure children are school-ready when they transition to primary
school.
This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on implementation and requires an individual
who can effectively engage with government departments, NGOs, and community
stakeholders while leading a team of facilitators and coordinators on the ground.
Key Responsibilities
Program Strategy & Leadership
- Design and lead large-scale ECE interventions aligned with national and state-level frameworks
- Develop program exit and sustainability strategies to ensure long-term impact.
- Drive innovation in curriculum, pedagogy, and delivery approaches to enhance child learning outcomes.
Capacity Building & Training
- Design and deliver training modules for Anganwadi teachers, government school teachers, and NGO field staff.
- Create resource materials, assessment frameworks, and activity-based toolkits to support quality preschool learning.
- Provide ongoing mentoring, coaching, and field support to strengthen teacher practices.
Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy
- Collaborate with the Department of Women & Child Development, and other stakeholders to influence policy and practice in early childhood education.
- Build strong partnerships with NGOs, donors, and community leaders to enhance program reach and sustainability.
- Represent the organization in government committees, forums, and networks as a thought leader in ECE.
Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
- Develop and implement assessment tools to measure teacher capacity, classroom quality, and child outcomes.
- Collect, analyze, and report data to track progress and inform program improvements.
- Document case studies, stories of change, and best practices for knowledge sharing and advocacy.
Team & Project Management
- Lead, mentor, and manage teams, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities.
- Oversee project budgets, timelines, and donor reporting requirements.
- Facilitate collaboration across teams to ensure effective program implementation.
- Hold and cultivate team culture aligned with organizational values and culture.
Qualifications & Experience
- Master’s/PhD in Early Childhood Education, Human Development, Education, or related field.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in early childhood education/education field, with at least 3 years in program leadership.
- Strong expertise in curriculum development, play-based pedagogy, and child development theories.
- Proven experience or know-how of working with government systems and influencing education policy/practice.
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong project management and team leadership experience.
Preferred Attributes
- Passionate about responsive caregiving, school readiness, and child-centered education.
- Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
- Strong documentation and storytelling skills.
Why Join Us?
- Opportunity to shape early learning outcomes at scale.
- Work at the intersection of research, policy, and practice.
- Be part of a committed team driving systemic change in education.