Senior Project Lead in Guwahati | Central Square Foundation (CSF)

Central Square Foundation (CSF)

Central Square Foundation (CSF) is a non-profit started in 2012 that wants every child in India to get a good school education. Its main focus is making sure young children learn to read, write and do basic maths well. CSF works side by side with state governments to make their school systems stronger, using evidence to guide what changes. In Assam, it supports Mission NIPUN Axom, the state's drive for early learning, and helps make schools more accountable for quality and learning. This role sits within CSF's Assam State Team, which works with the Government of Assam on foundational learning and school governance.

Role

As Senior Project Lead, you will be CSF's main link with the Government of Assam and lead the state's work on foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), school governance and other education goals as they grow. You will build strong relationships with senior officials, agree on shared priorities and turn them into plans that work on the ground. You will also lead the state team and help CSF's different teams work as one, with the aim of improving learning for millions of children.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with senior government and department leaders, and represent CSF in high-level reviews and meetings.
• Work with government partners so they own and support the priorities you agree together.
• Stay in regular contact with government and partner organisations to clear roadblocks and keep work moving.
• Co-create state plans and workplans with the government and CSF leadership across FLN, school governance and other agreed areas.
• Spot system-wide problems, risks and opportunities, and turn priorities into clear plans, milestones and review steps.
• Bring lessons from other states and sectors to improve programme design and delivery.
• Oversee FLN work such as teacher training, mentoring, teaching materials, assessments and monitoring.
• Support school governance work, including policy changes, school quality standards and accountability systems.
• Partner with SCERT, Samagra Shiksha and other departments so reforms take root and last.
• Use programme data, field insights and feedback to track progress and guide changes in course.
• Strengthen dashboards and review systems, and report progress, risks and key decisions to government and CSF leaders.
• Lead and grow the cross-functional state team by setting clear priorities, sharing out work, supporting each person's growth and building a one-team culture across CSF.

Requirements

• Postgraduate degree in development studies, public policy, management, education, rural development or a related field
• 8 to 12 years of relevant experience in programme leadership, government engagement, public systems strengthening, policy, advocacy or social sector work
• Proven ability to work with government systems, ideally at the state level with senior officials, and to move from strategy to implementation
• Experience managing teams and multi stakeholder programmes, including cross functional coordination
• Experience in education, especially foundational learning, school improvement, school governance, assessment or system reform, is an advantage; candidates from other development sectors with strong transferable experience are also welcome
• Experience working in Assam or the Northeast is a plus, though not required
• Strong understanding of public systems, comfortable with ambiguity, and willing to travel within Assam as needed

Benefits

• Competitive pay in line with Indian philanthropy pay scales, based on your experience and qualifications.
• Work closely with the Government of Assam on systems that reach millions of children.
• Bring your cross-sector experience into one of India's most important public reform efforts.
• Lead a cross-functional team within a national education foundation.

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