Project Associate/ Project Manager

Team: District Project Management Unit

Role: Project Associate/Project Manager

Required work experience: 0-4 years of experience

Location: a district in Uttar Pradesh

About Central Square Foundation (CSF)

Established in 2012, Central Square Foundation (CSF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the learning outcomes of all school going children across India through system-led reforms. Our initiatives span innovation and policy to practice and focus on learning impact at scale. At the heart of CSF's mission is our strategic focus on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), which drives our collaborative efforts with 11 state governments to design and execute statewide FLN Missions. Additionally, we prioritise EdTech integration, aiming to deploy digital solutions for in-class and at-home learning and establish evidence-based practices while harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to augment learning outcomes. CSF is deeply committed to Early Childhood Education (ECE) reforms, recognising the critical role it plays in laying a strong groundwork for children's learning journey, thereby augmenting FLN outcomes. CSF also works in the area of School Governance, extending its system-level approach to children in both private and government schools, to strengthen the country's education landscape.

About the FLN District Project Management Unit (DPMU) Team

The FLN District Project Management Unit (DPMU) Project aims to drive deeper implementation of the NIPUN Bharat Mission at the district-level. The project integrates key academic strategies within broader governance reforms to create a seamless, systemic chainfrom district planning to classroom executionensuring improved FLN delivery and enhanced student learning outcomes.

Position Summary

The Project Associate/Manager will lead the development and adoption of data systems to strengthen the district's monitoring practices and processes. The key responsibilities are as follows:

Key responsibilities:

Project Planning & Execution:

 - Develop and manage detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets to ensure timely and cost-effective execution of initiatives.

 - Coordinate activities across multiple work streams, ensuring alignment with district education priorities and CSF’s strategic objectives.

 - Identify, assess, and mitigate risks, ensuring proactive issue resolution.

Field Engagement & Capacity Building:

 - Conduct targeted field visits to gather operational and academic insights, understand the effects of training observations, and gauge the impact of Mission at a block, school and classroom level.

 - Lead joint visits with district cadres to build capacity and foster local ownership of project initiatives.

Stakeholder Management & Coordination:

 - Build and nurture relationships with key district and block-level officialsincluding Basic Shiksha Adhikari, DIET Principal, Block Education Officer (BEO), DC-Training, SRGs, and ARPsto facilitate smooth project operations and collaborative problem solving.

Process Improvement & Innovation:

- Continuously seek opportunities to optimise project processes, leveraging best practices in project management and technology.

- Contribute to strategic planning by sharing field insights and recommending scalable solutions for systemic reform.

Skills and Qualifications:

Strong project management skills, including planning, budgeting, risk management, and resource allocation.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and people management capabilities.

• Proven ability to drive execution across multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

• Proven technical skills in organising Microsoft Office and Google Suite information and data.

• Derive insights from large datasets for informing data-driven decision-making at the district level.

• Adaptability, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills to navigate dynamic district-level challenges.

Prior hands-on experience in the Indian education sector is preferred.

Compensation

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy pay scales and will depend upon the candidate’s experience levels.