Job Description:
Position: Program Manager, Performance Management System ( Human Resource Unit)
Reporting to: Senior Program Manager, HRU
Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Experience: 6-8
About CEGIS Foundation
Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) aims to improve lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes.
We work with the state governments of India to enable a transformative improvement in state functioning in the coming decade. Informed by cutting-edge research and evidence, as well as a practical orientation toward implementable ideas, CEGIS aims to provide Indian states with both an analytical roadmap for governance and expenditure reforms and strategic implementation support to deliver on this vision.
The organisation has a sharp focus on improving the quality of public expenditure, personnel, and data and, through it, develops templates for achieving a step-function improvement in development outcomes across India. We strive to produce high-quality economic analysis to inform state-level policy-making and work closely with top bureaucratic leadership in states. CEGIS possesses world-leading technical expertise across teams and a deep understanding of service delivery in India. Today, CEGIS works across 6+ Indian states and 15+ projects across sectors - Education, Health and Agriculture. Some central government agencies we work with are NITI Aayog, Capacity Building Commission, Karmayogi Bharat, and Intellectual Property Office.
About Human Resource Unit (HRU)
CEGIS intends to collaborate with the Government of Odisha in establishing a Human Resource Unit (HRU).
The Human Resource Unit (HRU) shall function as a dedicated think tank to enhance and strengthen HR practices across the state government. Its primary mandate shall be to drive comprehensive and integrated HR management within the state, focusing on recruitment, learning and development, and performance management systems. The HRU shall provide strategic direction and support to HR teams or Capacity Building Units (CBUs) across various line departments and ensure their alignment with state and national priorities, fostering a well-rounded HR ecosystem within the state government.
HRU will be responsible for institutionalising the strategic work done by CEGIS in pioneering a competency-driven approach to Capacity Building. By prioritising competencies, CEGIS aims to bring clarity to the work done by officials and empower them to achieve better results. This translates to a shift in accountability from simply following processes to delivering tangible outcomes.
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Program Manager Performance Management System (PMS) to design and drive strategic initiatives around performance management, specifically leveraging an Electronic Human Resource Management System (eHRMS) within a government framework. This role aims to ensure that the eHRMS streamlines HR processes and aligns with the government's objectives for efficiency, accountability, and transparency in public sector performance.
The ideal candidate will understand competency as a concept and its wide application in performance management. The candidate must also possess deep knowledge and understanding of how technology can be used in performance management in government systems. The candidate is expected to have a proven track record of using principles of systemic thinking and change management and has developed some compelling knowledge resources built to advocate novice frameworks and concepts.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Design and Implementation of Performance Management Frameworks
- Lead the development of department-specific performance management frameworks aligned with public service delivery outcomes and state priorities.
- Translate roles and responsibilities into measurable indicators and goal-setting mechanisms for government officials at all levels.
- Ensure seamless integration of PMS frameworks with platforms like eHRMS to enable real-time tracking of contributions and progress.
- Pilot and iterate PMS models in select departments to inform scalable solutions and refine system design.
- Develop tools such as goal-setting templates, self-assessment forms, manager evaluations, and data dashboards.
- Research and Data Analytics
- Develop performance dashboards and reporting tools within eHRMS to provide decision-makers with insights on workforce productivity, employee engagement, and resource allocation.
- Use eHRMS data analytics to highlight areas where government departments excel or underperform and propose strategic interventions.
- Conduct secondary research and comparative studies to benchmark and advance performance management practices in public administration.
- Conceptualise and perform research and analysis on data gathered during the program; present the program's outputs in the form of reports, whitepapers, and other collaterals.
- Project and Team Management
- Maintain project trackers, documentation systems, and communication plans to ensure clarity, alignment, and accountability across workstreams.
- Support the Senior Program Manager in tracking project milestones, identifying risks and dependencies, and reporting progress to CEGIS and state leadership.
- Lead and mentor a team of associates, providing work planning, quality control, and developmental support to ensure timely, high-quality delivery.
- Stay abreast of national guidelines (e.g., Mission Karmayogi), emerging HR tech trends, and data governance norms to enhance system design.
- Actively participate in internal capacity-building workshops to enhance your practice in L&D implementation aligned with organisational standards.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
- Act as a liaison between government HR, IT, and performance management units to ensure smooth implementation and use of the eHRMS platform.
- Engage with external vendors and technology providers to ensure the eHRMS system meets public sector needs.
- Collaborate with ministries, state departments, and public sector units to identify performance gaps and inform the creation of action plans for improvement.
- Facilitate regular workshops, review meetings, and system walkthroughs with CBUs and other key stakeholders
- Share insights with the broader HRU team to align PMS work with learning and development reforms, creating integrated solutions.
- Maintain relationships with all stakeholders by creating periodic updates through documents, presentations, etc
Education and Experience
- Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, Public Policy, Social Work or a related field.
- 6 to 8 years of experience in a high-performing environment, focusing on project management/ technology consulting, etc., preferably within the Indian government ecosystem
- Prior performance management and/ or HR strengthening experience in the development sector, preferably with governments.
Required Competencies
The competencies required to perform the above-mentioned roles and responsibilities are as follows:
Functional Competencies
- Performance Management Solution Design: Applies user-centric insights to design, test, and improve context-specific performance management solutions.
- Research and Analytical Acumen: Synthesises qualitative and quantitative insights to inform decisions
- Project Management: Skilled in planning, resource allocation, risk management, documentation and delivering results aligned with organisational objectives
- Writing and Documentation: Creates high-quality reports, frameworks, and learning materials with clarity and structure
Professional and Leadership Competencies
- Ownership: Exhibits self-motivation and proactivity in managing multiple tasks, timelines, and responsibilities, ensuring accountability for high-quality results.
- Learning Orientation: Seeks feedback, reflects on gaps, and continuously works to improve effectiveness.
- Relationship Building: Builds trust with stakeholders and fosters collaboration and alignment through clear, consistent engagement.
Note
- The role will be based out of Bhubaneswar
- Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales, depending on the candidates experience levels.
CEGIS is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.
Pre-reads for the application process
Please go through the following materials before sending in your application.
- CEGIS website
- CLOP Initiative website
- Karmayogi Bharat website
- Concept note on CEGIS
- Chapter 5 of Accelerating India's Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance by Prof. Karthik Muralidharan
- You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here.