Director of Operations

Role Overview:

The organisation is seeking an experienced and results-driven Director of Operations to lead and manage state-level operations to amplify growth, build strategic government relationships, oversee teams, and contribute to the organizations ambitious parent engagement goals across different geographies. The ideal candidate should have a robust background in program management, social behaviour change communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement and provide strategic direction for implementing parent engagement strategies across its target geographies. This role will be demanding and fast-paced, with opportunities for collaboration across the programme teams. The person must be committed to improving lives among India's most marginalized communities and share a sense of urgency about development.

Key Responsibilities:

1. State Operations Management (30%):

• Oversee and guide the implementation of programs across multiple states, ensuring alignment with the organisation framework and organizational objectives.
• Design implementation strategies and incorporating Theory of Change (ToC) principles and results-based management practices.
• Design strategies for new initiatives aligned with stakeholder needs, state-specific context and priorities of the state and that of the country.
• Monitor state-level performance metrics, adapt strategies based on results, and optimize processes to achieve operational excellence.
• Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team to establish key performance indicators and assess program impact.
• Integrate behaviour change communication strategies into program planning to maximize caregiver community engagement and program adoption.
• Provide insights and guidance on effective communication methods tailored to diverse communities.

2. Government Relationship Building (20%):

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key government officials and stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and align with state and national early childhood education goals.
• Negotiate and manage Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with government bodies to expand the reach of the organisation's programs.
• Liaise with Ministries of Education, Women & Child Development, and School Education, Health & Family Welfare, and others relevant to the programme at the state and national level.
• Share periodic reports and technical notes on best practices and learnings with the government to enable the adoption and scale-up of the programme.
• Support the state teams in their dialogue with government departments at the state level (especially ICDS, Education, Health) and identify opportunities for convergence.

3. Team Management and Assessment (20%):

• Lead, mentor, and assess the performance of state and operational teams to foster a high-performing work culture. Plan out projects with timelines, KPIs, and key milestones for other team members
• Implement team development strategies, ensuring professional growth and capacity building for team members.
• Mentor state teams, enabling them to support government stakeholders and communities appropriately.
• Design and facilitate workshops for state teams and government officials to build their capacities in areas related to ECD and education.
• Be a Culture builder - helping other team members contribute their best. Thinking and taking on initiatives for the productivity and well-being of the organisation on overall - beyond your function (e.g. brainstorming, workshops, policy concerns)

4. Partnership and Stakeholder Management (10 %):

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, NGOs, and other stakeholders to facilitate program collaboration and resource sharing.
• Identify, assess, partner and manage CBOs for amplifying the reach and impact of the organisation's initiatives.
• Represent the organisation at high-level meetings and conferences to promote the organization's mission and foster new partnerships.
• Work with the Communications team to develop materials for internal and external stakeholders.

5. Fundraising and Resource Mobilization (10%):

• Lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and secure funding from diverse sources (grants, foundations,
• corporate partners, government funding) to support the scaling and sustainability of the organisation's programs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key donors, partners, and funding agencies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
• Work closely with senior leadership to craft compelling proposals, reports, and presentations that clearly communicate the impact and value of the organisation's work in early childhood education, particularly in marginalized communities.
• Monitor and report on fundraising progress, ensuring that financial targets and donor commitments are met.

5. Senior Leadership Responsibilities (10%):

• Participate in strategic planning and contribute to the organisational decision-making at the senior leadership level.
• Collaborate with other department heads to ensure coherence in implementing the overall organizational strategy.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in operations management, program leadership, or related fields.
• Passionate for early childhood education and see yourself dedicated to expanding the education ecosystem where caregivers are key stakeholders in a child's early years of development
• Deep understanding of ECCE policies and working with Govt systems and processes and hierarchy.
• Data-driven and believes only in evidence-based decisions and approaches. Strong in developing qualitative & quantitative arguments to prioritize the problems to address
• Able to thrive on a high level of autonomy and responsibility. The ability to self-organize and effectively manage your work is important in a remote setup.
• Comfortable and effective at juggling multiple projects across teams simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment. This role entails 50% travelling to meet stakeholders and field teams.
• Obsessed with the problem of how to improve early learning experiences for children 0-6 by working with the government system. We seek someone entrepreneurial to co-create offerings that are aligned with and designed with the system.
• Demonstrated expertise in social behaviour change communication and program management frameworks.
• Detail-oriented and diligent with an ability to prioritize and execute multiple processes and tasks, figuring out the most efficient ways to do them
• Strong insights into Theory of Change (ToC), impact assessment, and results-based frameworks.
• Enjoy developing, mentoring, and growing a field team in each region organisation is operating in. (Managing the regional teams and motivating field staff)
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership-building skills.