Specialist (School Planning, Management & Governance) - Kusuma Foundation (Apply by: 3rd Nov'14)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Specialist – School Planning, Management and Governance,

Kusuma Foundation, New Delhi

1. POSITION VACANT: Specialist- School Planning, Management and Governance (SSPMG), Kusuma Foundation, New Delhi 

2. BACKGROUND:

The Kusuma Foundation (KF) is a Section 25 Company registered at New Delhi, India that supports theKusuma Trust UK’s (KTUK) work in India. KTUK’s strategy focuses on increasing access to and improving the quality of education for young people from the most economically disadvantaged backgrounds in India.

For details about the organisation, please visit www.kusumafoundation.co.in

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager, the Specialist – School Planning, Management and Governance (SSPMG), shall be responsible for leading the development of programme interventions, defining quality standards and ensuring high quality implementation of all programmes supported by KF. The role also involves collection and analysis of data and experiences, to ensure that lessons learned are utilized for improving school planning, management and governance of the programmes KF supports.

Key Job Responsibilities:

A) School Plans and Budgets:
(1) Leading the annual planning and implementation of school improvement planning and budgeting process, in KF supported schools, in alignment with the KF programme and the state Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan’s planning cycle and focus areas;
(2) Designing capacity building plans for improving school planning budgeting for KF partner schools, to ensure successful implementation of these plans through state teams;
(3) Supporting state teams for leveraging of district and statewide resources for KF partner schools such as volunteers, funds from Government, PTAs and other sources;
(4) Supporting the Senior Programme Manager and collaborating with state teams for advocating the use of KF Schools Improvement Planning (SIP) Process, at the district and state levels.

B) School Management and Governance:
(1) Developing and planning interventions for improving the capacities of Head Teachers, School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) members and the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), through training and developing simple work tools to discharge their responsibilities;
(2) Supporting state teams for planning and executing activities with Head Teachers, SMDC, PTAs and Student Cabinets, to impact important outcomes on enrollment, attendance, absenteeism, discipline, budget allocation and utilisation etc.;
(3) Supporting the Senior Programme Manager in the development and management of advocacy initiatives with Government for KSPI schools, specifically on capacity building of SMDCs, use of KFapproach and tools for strengthening SMDC and its sub-committees.

C) Quality Assurance of Interventions:
(1) Ensuring programme progress is verified through proper documentation and data collection;
(2) Undertaking quarterly field visits to both states, for providing technical guidance and support to teams and grantees. Updating the Senior Programme Manager on progress, analysis, concerns and challenges regularly, to plan action and advocacy;
(3) Supporting the Senior Programme Manager in conducting monthly and quarterly programme and financial reviews of KF and partner implemented grants. Formally communicating with grantees along with the Finance Manager/State Programme Manager, for expected improvements and problem resolution;
(4) Monitoring the budget for interventions relating to school planning management and governance in allKF projects, along with the Senior Programme Manager, Finance Manager and State Programme Manager, with a clear focus on cost per beneficiary and value for money.

D) Key Relationships:
(1) Developing collaborative relationships with representatives from the Government and Civil Society Organisations;
(2) Maintaining regular liaison with donors;
(3) Maintaining regular contact and dialogue with technical agencies and partners to strengthen programme implementation;
(4) Working closely with the Country Leader, Senior Programme Manager, Specialist – Teaching and Learning, State Programme Manager, Programme Officer, Programme Support Manager andFinance Manager, as part of a mutually supportive team.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES: 

Qualification:
Applicants must have a Masters in Education, International Development or Social Sciences, from a reputed institute.

Experience:
A minimum of four years experience in providing technical support to large programmes and grants in secondary and/or higher education in the area of schools planning, management and governance, is essential.

Essential Skills and Competencies:
Demonstrated technical knowledge in at least two of the following areas in the context of education: education management, planning and budgeting, improvements in schools management and governance of education.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross remuneration budgeted for the position is attractive. Offers shall be commensurate with the qualifications, experience and salary history, of the selected candidate.

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

7. REFERENCE: SSPMG-KF

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senior Consultant
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phones: 011-2684-2162; 011-4165-3612; 011-4101-1564 and 011-4101-1565
Email: sspmg-kf@sams.co.in

9. LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested apply to sspmg-kf@sams.co.in with a cover letter, discussing their interest in and suitability for the position, along with an updated resume, giving details of three references, current cost to organisation and expected compensation, by or before November 3, 2014. For further details please visit www.sams.co.in.