Senior Program Associate, Program Operations

Senior Program Associate, Program Operations

Room to Read

New Delhi, India

Position Overview:

The Senior Program Associate – Program Operations, based in Delhi, is a vital member of the Operations team, reporting directly to the Manager, Program Operations. This role supports the effective implementation of Room to Read’s programs across Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand by assisting in program planning, execution, reporting, and budget management to ensure alignment with organizational objectives. The position involves close coordination with state teams, as well as departments at the Country Office (CO) and Global Office (GO) levels. Additionally, it requires frequent field visits and active engagement with education officials, partners, school administrators, teachers, and students.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategic Coordination and State Support:

• Support procurement processes in Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand, ensuring compliance with quality standards and procurement guidelines.
• Assist in the timely preparation and submission of reports and Implementation Calendars for allocated states, proactively addressing budget-related concerns.
• Coordinate the submission and review of Country Office (CO) and Global Office (GO) level reports from assigned states, working closely with RM&E for final reporting.
• Support the Operations team in tracking Implementation Calendars (ICs) and monitoring expenses, working in collaboration with State Managers (Bihar and Jharkhand) and Delhi-based teams.
• Assist in analyzing budgets and forecasts for the GEP and Literacy Program, highlighting variances in spending and Implementation Calendars, and escalating issues as needed.
• Collaborate with other program teams to identify operational challenges and facilitate timely resolution.
• Work alongside RM&E to review Literacy and GEP data trends, helping to identify risks and inconsistencies in program implementation and recommending necessary improvements.
• Maintain records of PNGOs and state-level partnerships, ensuring timely renewal of agreements and MoUs.
• Support the Manager in designing and implementing adaptive systems to enhance field-level operational efficiency.
• Identify implementation challenges and propose actionable solutions, escalating unresolved issues to the Manager.
• Represent the Manager in meetings when required.
• Facilitate coordination across departments, including Finance, Admin, GEP, and Literacy Programs, to ensure smooth operations.
• Assist in monitoring the performance of State Managers (Bihar and Jharkhand) and Delhi-based teams, helping to coordinate monthly Operations calls.
• Participate in the Training of Trainers (ToT) for the Literacy and GEP Programs, as needed.

Operational Excellence Support:

• Assist in maintaining systems to monitor field operations in Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand, including updating ICs and managing trackers, toolkits, and frameworks.
• Provide operational support to State Managers (Bihar and Jharkhand) and Delhi-based teams to ensure efficient program delivery while maintaining quality standards.
• Support RM&E in monitoring program processes and outcomes.
• Assist in analyzing Literacy and GEP data trends, identifying risks, and ensuring adherence to program design.
• Contribute to generating timely reports on GSD to track program implementation and conduct basic data analysis.
• Support the review of monthly and quarterly program reports, dashboards, and performance metrics, providing initial feedback to state teams.
• Track progress toward agreed program outcomes and escalate concerns as needed.

People & Team Coordination:

• Assist in coordinating recruitment, onboarding, and capacity-building efforts for State Managers (Bihar and Jharkhand) and Delhi-based teams.
• Support performance management processes across assigned states, ensuring adherence to guidelines and timelines.
• Ensure compliance with HR policies, labour laws, and workplace regulations.

Financial & Compliance Support:

• Support budget planning, fund disbursement, and financial approvals for allocated states, ensuring compliance with financial guidelines.
• Assist in monitoring budget utilization and adherence to financial policies.
• Help coordinate the timely submission of donor reports and case studies.
• Ensure compliance with Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy and organizational standards.

Technical Assistance, Donor & Government Engagement Support:

• Assist in preparing technical assistance proposals for allocated states in collaboration with the Manager, Program Operations, and the Programs and RM&E teams.
• Provide logistical and operational support to State Managers (Bihar and Jharkhand) and Delhi-based teams in implementing technical assistance projects.
• Help coordinate donor visits in collaboration with Communications and Development teams.
• Support documentation of best practices and learning from state-level implementation.
• Assist in representing Room to Read in state-level discussions, donor meetings, and external engagements, as needed.
• Monitor education policies and trends in Delhi, Bihar, and Jharkhand to provide inputs on Room to Read’s positioning and strategic engagement.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s in education/social sciences/Social Work/management/consulting or equivalent.
• Minimum 7-9 years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge of various programs and organizations in the field of early grade reading/literacy in India and abroad.
• Excellent managerial and interpersonal skills, including skills of managing and mentoring people.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge/ training in linguistics will be an added advantage.
• Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic non-profit organization.
• Be an innovative and creative thinker that tries new things and inspires others to do so.
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness.
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction.
• Work well independently as well as part of a team.
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment.

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