Senior Lead, Implementation

World Change Starts with Educated Children®

IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Position Overview:

The Senior Lead, Implementation, is a member of the Operations team and reports directly to the Program Operations Director (POD). The position is responsible for overseeing and coordinating program implementation and operational activities across 2 - 3 states, to ensure timely delivery of approved program plans and operational priorities. The role will work closely with Country Office teams to address operational issues, facilitate cross-functional coordination, and support effective program implementation. The position requires regular travel to field locations and engagement with government officials, partners, school leaders, and teachers. The role will facilitate coordination between state teams, program functions, government stakeholders, donors, and implementation partners, ensuring that state operations remain aligned with approved program priorities, compliance requirements, and annual business plans.

Responsibilities:

Multi-State Strategic and Operational Leadership: Program Quality - Delivery - Reporting:

• Oversee the implementation of Literacy, Girls’ Education (GEP), Library, FLN and other relevant programs across assigned states, ensuring alignment with approved program designs, implementation calendars and quality standards.
• Monitor program implementation against approved plans, milestones and KPIs, identify deviations and coordinate timely corrective actions with State Heads and relevant teams.
• Work closely with technical/program teams (IDTS) to ensure program quality and fidelity to approved designs and organizational standards.
• Conduct monthly field visits across assigned states to review program implementation, identify operational challenges and follow up on agreed actions.
• Coordinate with RM&E teams to review program data, assess implementation progress, identify gaps and recommend improvements.
• Conduct monthly Operations calls and periodic performance reviews to monitor progress, address implementation challenges and ensure timely completion of agreed actions.
• Facilitate cross-state learning, sharing of effective practices and improvements in operational processes.
• Coordinate with HR and State Heads to identify staffing requirements, capacity gaps and operational support needs to ensure timely program delivery.
• Review state performance against annual plans, resource requirements and operational priorities, and highlight significant concerns to the Program Operations Director (POD).
• Coordinate with relevant Country Office departments to facilitate effective implementation and resolution of operational issues.
• Consolidate and review monthly and quarterly program reports from assigned states, coordinating with RM&E teams to ensure timely submission to the Country Office and Global Office.

Government & External Stakeholder Management:

• Maintain effective working relationships with State Governments, Education Departments, SCERTs, Samagra Shiksha, district administrations and other relevant government institutions.
• Support State Heads in government engagement, stakeholder coordination and resolution of operational issues affecting program implementation.
• Participate in government meetings, consultations, program reviews and relevant forums as required.
• Coordinate follow-up on MoUs, partnership agreements, government approvals and renewals, ensuring timely documentation and compliance with agreed requirements.
• Monitor developments in government priorities and policies affecting program implementation and highlight relevant risks and required actions to the POD.

Financial Management, Tracking Financial Utilization Across States:

• Monitor financial utilization across assigned states against approved budgets, implementation plans and expenditure projections.
• Review monthly financial trackers and cash forecasts from state teams, ensuring timely and accurate submission to the Finance team.
• Identify significant budget variances, expenditure trends and financial risks, and coordinate corrective actions in consultation with Finance and the POD.
• Support State Heads in reviewing budget requirements, resource utilization and financial planning for effective program implementation.
• Coordinate timely responses to financial queries from the Country Office and Global Office and ensure adherence to financial policies and reporting timelines.

Central Operations Role:

• Coordinate with Country Office and Global Office counterparts on operational matters, facilitate resolution of issues and ensure timely responses to program and budget-related queries.
• Coordinate the Annual Planning & Budgeting (AP&B) process across assigned states, including review, consolidation and timely submission of state plans, budgets and required documentation.
• Support the POD in monitoring operational priorities, coordinating cross-functional activities and following up on agreed actions across assigned states.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, effective communication and continuous improvement across assigned state operations.
• Monitor operational risks relating to government relationships, MoUs, staffing, finances, safeguarding, program continuity, compliance and external developments, ensuring timely escalation of significant concerns to the POD.
• Use program and operational data to monitor performance, identify implementation gaps and recommend process improvements.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s degree in Management, Education or a related field.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience in program or project management, preferably in the education or development sector, including experience overseeing implementation across multiple locations or states.
• Possess strong data analysis skills for both programs.
• Possess strong financial management expertise, including annual planning, budgeting, budget outlook, cash forecasting, and the ability to analyze and track budgets for various programs.
• Excellent managerial and interpersonal skills, including skills in managing and mentoring people.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Should be willing to travel to various states for a minimum of 8-10 days per month.

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include a thirteenth month bonus, health insurance and a retirement plan. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing and transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries through literacy and gender equality in education.

Room to Read is a child-safe organization.

Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Child Protection Principles

• Room to Read is committed to the education and welfare of children and protecting them from abuse and exploitation
• Room to Read has zero tolerance for child abuse and exploitation.
• All children have the right to be free from abuse and exploitation, including neglect, maltreatment, and physical, mental or sexual violence, injury or abuse.
• All children should be treated with respect and dignity.
• The well-being of the child is Room to Read’s first priority when dealing with all identified or suspected cases of child abuse.
• Room to Read shall integrate child protection into all its organizational strategies, structures and work practices.

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Principles

• Room to Read Representatives must create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
• Room to Read has zero tolerance for adult sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Sexual exploitation and abuse are serious violations of fundamental human rights and will not be accepted or tolerated.
• All adults should be treated with respect and dignity.
• Room to Read implements a survivor-centered approach, putting the survivor’s rights and dignity at the forefront.
• Survivors referred to available professional assistance (e.g. mental health counselling), upon consent.

About Room to Read:

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow - creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.

We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender-equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.