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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include thir teenth 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 transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries on literacy and gender equality in education.
Room to Read is a child-safe organization.
Location(s)
India - Main - New DelhiTo be successful at Room to Read, you will also:
Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
Be a proactive and innovative thinker who achieves results and creates positive change
Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
Embrace diversity and a commitment to collaboration
Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
Room to Read is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled
About Room to Read:
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education.
We are achieving this goal by helping children in historically low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls as they build life skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions.
We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale.
Room to Read has benefited more than 45 million children and has worked in 24 countries and in more than 213,000 communities, providing additional support through remote solutions that facilitate learning beyond the classroom.
Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.