Reports to

Deputy Director for Policy

Location

Hybrid (New Delhi & Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)

Experience (in years)

7+ years

Nature of work

Full-time

About the Centre for Social and Behaviour Change (CSBC)

The Centre for Social and Behaviour Change (CSBC), Ashoka University – India’s leading Liberal Arts University – is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The vision of CSBC is to establish an institution, based out of India that is globally reputed for thought leadership and excellence in impactful behaviour change interventions for low-income and marginalised populations. The Centre is focused on bringing new capabilities such as behavioural science, design thinking, advanced data analytics and responsive feedback to governments, practitioners and donors to help better design and optimise behaviour change interventions. We work closely with Central and State Governments as well as other stakeholders in the areas of nutrition, sanitation, financial inclusion, maternal & newborn care, data privacy and agriculture.

The UP-BIU project is an initiative by CSBC to strengthen policy outcomes in Uttar Pradesh, through the application of behavioural insights across key sectors such as health and nutrition, maternal and newborn care, water and sanitation, financial services, and education.

Overview

The Senior Programme Manager will play a pivotal role in the success of the Uttar Pradesh Behavioural Insights Unit (UP BIU), which applies behavioural science to enhance public policy and programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a skilled team within an ecosystem of government officials and policy partners, working toward institutionalising behavioural insights in policy design to drive long-term systemic and outcome-based changes.

The role involves engaging with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and its partners to develop evidence-informed behavioural solutions that strengthen policy outcomes. The Senior Programme Manager will lead a team of associates in Lucknow and report to the Deputy Director for Policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Partnership Development:
  • Support and manage relations with government officials, the UP Technical Support Unit (UP-TSU), and other partners.
  • Identify and align on policy challenges and design scalable projects in collaboration with government and policy partners.
• Relationship Building:
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential partners.
  • Explore new partnership opportunities aligned with organisational goals and maintain regular communication to ensure alignment with objectives.
• Project Management:
  • Create detailed project plans, including scope, timelines, and resource allocation.
  • Monitor project progress, making necessary adjustments to deliver outputs on time.
  • Maintain an activity dashboard for UP BIU and prepare progress reports for external stakeholders.
• Advocacy and Public Relations:
  • Represent the organisation at meetings, conferences, and events to promote partnerships.
  • Collaborate with the communications team to create marketing materials, press releases, and other collateral to highlight partnership successes.
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
  • Work with the Evaluation team to track and assess partnership effectiveness.
  • Prepare detailed reports and presentations on activities and outcomes for internal and external stakeholders.
• Travel:
  • Travel within districts in Uttar Pradesh to build relationships with district stakeholders and manage projects.
  • Share project learnings with local stakeholders during and post-implementation.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business Administration); Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience:
  • 8-10 years of programme management experience in the non-profit sector.
  • Proven ability to manage large, complex projects.
  • Experience in monitoring and evaluation, resource management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Skills and Competencies:
  • Strong leadership and team management skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
  • Strategic thinking with problem-solving expertise.
  • Proficiency in project management tools and software.
  • Analytical skills with a keen eye for detail.
  • Capacity to perform under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Application Submission Process

Prepare an Updated CV: Showcase your professional accomplishments, skills, and experiences in an updated curriculum vitae.

• Submit Your Application:
  Email your CV along with a cover letter to connect.hr@ashoka.edu.in, ensuring the subject line reads as follows: "SrProgrammeManager, UP-BIU– CSBC _Applicant Name". This will help us efficiently process your application.
• Include Essential Details: Along with your CV, kindly provide the following information:
• Last compensation received: We value your expertise and acknowledge the importance of fair compensation.
• Expected salary: Share your aspirations for growth and remuneration.
• Notice period: Inform us of the time required to transition from your current role, if applicable.
• Pursuit for Excellence: At Ashoka University, we strive for excellence in all operations. Therefore, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted as part of our rigorous selection process.
• Adherence to Deadlines: Please submit your application by 4th December 2024 to ensure fairness and efficiency. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

We look forward to receiving your application as we embark on a remarkable professional growth and development journey. Join our exceptional community at Ashoka University, where excellence is nurtured and aspirations are transformed into reality.