Deputy Director - FLN and Public Education System Transformation

In Delhi, you will lead rigorous programmes while operating at the intersection of state delivery and national ambition — close to the Government of India, close to the institutions that shape education policy, and positioned to strengthen how organizations work is codified, communicated and contributes to broader education thinking and practice. This role requires strong judgement on what to codify, what to scale, and how to translate programme learning into broader influence.

What You Will Own
1. Ownership of a Large, Complex Public Education System Transformation
Responsible for entire state portfolio. This means setting up the multi-year vision, making high-stakes strategic calls, and being accountable for outcomes at scale.

• Define and own the long-term strategy for the state, aligning ambitions to state priorities and ensuring every initiative is built to embed and endure.
  
• Hold accountability to achieve our audacious goal of system- level measurable improvements in teaching practice, student learning, and the effectiveness of system-level processes (such as training, coaching, and academic monitoring).
  
• Make consequential decisions across programme design, resource allocation, and strategic direction, with the autonomy to move fast and the discipline to build for permanence.
  
• Keep the theory of change live, stress-testing assumptions against impact data, course-correcting fast, and holding the team to the highest evidential standards.
  
• Identify and convert new opportunities to deepen organization's presence, designing programmes that open new chapters in the state's education reform story.
  
• Ensure programmes are embedded within government systems, building ownership, capability, and continuity beyond direct involvement.
  

2. Influencing and Shaping Government Priorities at the Highest Levels
Lead strategic voice in the state, operating with authority at the intersection of civil society and government to shape how the state thinks about, invests in, and delivers education reform.

• Lead high-stakes policy dialogues, inter-departmental forums, and strategic negotiations with the credibility to challenge, influence, and align senior government stakeholders.
  
• Shape the state's policy agenda in education through strategic negotiations and programme expansion frameworks that embed approach into the architecture of the state system.
  
• Build an influential external network across academia, civil society, funders, and peer organisations to amplify thought leadership and position the state as a national model.
  
• In Delhi, play a more active role in contributing to cross-state and national conversations, leveraging proximity to key institutions and networks.
  

3. Building and Leading a High-Calibre Leadership Team
You will build, shape, and inspire the leadership team that delivers this mission and grow the next generation of exceptional education leaders in India.

• Lead and develop a multi-layered programme team across verticals, ensuring clarity, accountability, and strong execution. Build a strong second line of leadership capable of independently owning large programme verticals.
  
• Coach direct reports through honest feedback, structured development, and career-shaping conversations that accelerate their trajectory.
  
• Build a culture where the bar is high and people are proud to clear it — where stretch and support coexist, and psychological safety enables bold thinking.
  
• Contributing to the senior leadership team with the same rigour, ambition, and strategic clarity expected of the role itself

What we are looking for

• A systems thinker - You see the connection between a single teacher's classroom behavior and a multi-million-dollar state policy. You can move between the detail and the big picture without losing rigor.
  
• Comfortable with complexity — You do not simplify what is hard or default to what is easy. You stay with the difficult, high-stakes problems, building alignment and momentum across diverse stakeholders.
  
• Operationally credible - You have a track record of making complex things work in difficult environments. You combine strategic thinking with strong execution, and people trust you to deliver.
  
• Data-literate and intellectually rigorous - You treat data as a tool for decision-making, not a reporting exercise. You are comfortable working with imperfect data and using it to make sound decisions.
  
• A connector - You can hold relationships with government secretaries, academic leaders, international donors, and field staff — and you know how to communicate differently in each room without losing consistency.
  
• Committed to the mission - You are drawn to the complexity of working inside government systems, not put off by it. You understand that change in public education is slow, contested, and worth it.
  

Qualifications and Role Requirements:
We seek talented professionals passionate about driving educational transformation and making a positive impact. We are looking for individuals who possess the following qualifications and meet the role requirements:

• Educational Background: Master's or PhD in Education Policy, Education Leadership, or Comparative Education with deep understanding of how systems are designed, reformed, and assessed.
  
• Work Experience: We value both professional and personal experience. The candidate should have 15-18 years of experience, with a proven track record of delivering robust strategic and operational leadership and the ability to manage large teams with excellence and high expectations.
  
• Other Skills: Outstanding interpersonal skills, leadership, communication and collaborating skills with internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to influence strategic decisions and adapt quickly to changing environments. Solid understanding of the education landscape, with a knack for bringing innovative ideas. Enthusiastic about the opportunity to expand their influence and take on more significant challenges nationally and internationally.
  
• Language Proficiency: English and Hindi