Head (PMD) - NEG-FIRE (Apply by: 05 April 2014)

About Us

New Education Group - Foundation for Innovation and Research in Education,(NEG-FIRE) is a non-profit, non-sectarian, national level NGO, promoting quality education for marginalized communities through NGO’s across India. Though in existence as NEG for over a decade, NEG-FIRE today, is a new entity with legal status and with an expanded mandate of Partnership promotion, Research and Advocacy. It looks forward to a team to steer ahead with its revised goals and objectives.

Position: Head – Program Management and Development (PMD) (Re-advertisement- We discourage application from those who had responded to our earlier advertisement in January/February, 14 for the same position)

Location: New Delhi

Reporting To: Executive Director

Role summary:

The Head - Program Management and Development (PMD) will lead a team of professionals in promoting Early Childhood and primary education initiatives in partnership with grassroots NGOs. The role includes identification of partners, leading proposal development and approval process guided by the organization and donor policies, providing technical assistance to partners, strengthening partner capacities to achieve project goals and move towards sustainability. Promoting culture of continuous learning and knowledge management among partners and creating strong evidences based on gaps in contextualized education and related areas that facilitates advocacy efforts for education is essential. Ensuring NEG-FIRE strategy plan 2012-17 strategies, processes and targets are achieved while ensuring quality program development and resource utilization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the process of innovative program development, based on research and learning’s across the projects and programs and ensure that all resources of NEG-FIRE are ethically utilised and optimally managed to secure consistent flow of funding for NEG-FIRE.
• Lead the program management and development activities; provide direction, feedback and support to program team to ensure program success.
• Evolve and ensure quality standards in program management and development with the active collaboration of other departments through structured interventions and processes to ensure that all programs and projects of NEG-FIRE are consistent in quality and content to approved standards and guidelines, to enhance effectiveness and reputation of NEG-FIRE as a credible and reliable organization in the field of education and development.
• Design and strategize overall project / programme development plan, build capacity and guide team members to support partners as well as to respond to the emerging issues in line with NEG-FIRE strategy and approved plans.
• Design, Create and Maintain the NEG-FIRE monitoring information system through data analysis, field visits, and capacity building of staff for a national level organization wide monitoring and evaluation strategy and system.
• Ensure that experiences, best-practices and innovations in all programs are shared internally and externally and to make NEG-FIRE a learning organization.
• Lead the process for Situational Analysis, Baselines and mid / end term evaluations for NEG-FIRE’s new and ongoing programs to meet its objectives
• Undertake strategic level engagement and lobbying with decision makers and civil society on key policies/programs and schemes on education

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS:

Demonstrated commitment to social justice and to the mission of the organisation, high professional ethical standards is required.
• Ability to challenge and debate issues of importance to the organization.
• Ability to look at situations from several points of view

Program/Partner Facilitation:

• 10-12 years of experience of working in the socio-development sector with minimum 4 – 6 years in the senior management role.
• Proven ability / expertise and experience in implementing quality programs and demonstrated ability in other areas like Advocacy / Result Based Management / Monitoring & Evaluation / Education.
• Knowledge of the social reality (with special reference to education), its causes and implications in the area of operations
• Ability to put knowledge and principles into practice for effective programme management
• Ability to carry out regular assessments and studies on emerging issues in the area of operations
• Ability to analyse and design interventions that address specific aspects of change in the area of operations
• Knowledge and practice of HR management practices.
• Knowledge of other stakeholders and likeminded organisations and their focus areas for interventions
• Ability to find opportunities to leverage the strengths of other likeminded organisations and work constructively in addressing specific issues
• Knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Demonstrated leadership and vision in managing staff team and contributing to strategic thinking of the organization

• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a pressurised environment
• Management and leadership knowledge and experience
• Organisational and leadership skills
• Delegate responsibilities effectively
• Knowledge of business and management principles
• Coordinating activities and resources (including performance management)
• A ‘hands-on’ management style
• A penchant for being proactive
• Knowledge of organizational documents like Good Governance Policy, vision and mission, strategy document etc.

Interpersonal and Communication:

• Strong interpersonal skills for influencing partners and other stakeholders in adopting and adhering to NEG-FIRE program quality standards
• Ability to articulate communications clearly and present the same concisely in a polite and firm manner.
• Ability to articulate and compile reports clearly and present the same concisely.
• Ability to facilitate group processes to achieve desired results
• Ability to engage others constructively and leverage individual skills for achieving group objectives.

Travel Requirements: The job holder should be willing to travel extensively for program / project related activities.

How to Apply:

NEG-FIRE is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women candidates are encouraged to apply. The position carries an attractive salary package to commensurate with skills and experience plus provides social security benefits and opportunities for training and development.

Interested candidates may apply with a detailed CV, two references, Current Salary drawn and notice period to hradmin@negfire.org. The last date for sending applications is April 5, 2014. Please mention the post applied for in the subject of your email. Re-advertisement - We discourage application from those who had responded to our earlier advertisement in February, 12 for the same position. Only short listed candidates will be intimated. To know more about the organization, please visit our website: www.negfire.org