Senior Project Associate

About the Role: Description & Responsibilities

The Senior Project Associate for the Early Childhood Care and Development Program will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to enhance the holistic development of infants and toddlers during their early years which is the first 2000 days. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work closely with rural and urban communities, significantly impacting early childhood care practices within these communities. This role requires the :

1. Program Planning & Implementation (25%) :

• Implement and oversee the end-to-end delivery of holistic inputs to strengthen early childcare practices within disadvantaged rural and urban communities.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager and Head of Programs to develop a comprehensive project timeline, trackers, and operation plans.
• Lead the planning and design of project activities, ensuring alignment with the organization's vision.

       2. Content development and Training Support (15%):

• Develop and enhance supplementary training content and facilitation collaterals.
• Prepare handouts and develop comprehensive session plans.  
• Review and organize video scripts, voice-over notes, and session scripts.
• Oversee the production of training and learning materials, collaterals, and social media engagement in collaboration with the video production and communications team.
• Ensure proper documentation of the program content repository, including print, video, and audio materials.

       3. Training Delivery and Facilitation (20%):

• Build the internal team's capacity through leading workshops and demonstrating skills to implement and scale the program on the ground effectively.
• Train and support community communicators to effectively communicate and facilitate prenatal and early child health, nutrition, social/emotional well-being, and child protection sessions.
• Conduct regular field visits and observations to assist community workers and the team members towards effective implementation of the program goals. 

     4. Stakeholder Management, Documentation & Reporting (10%):

• Collaborate with community-based communicators, ICDS Anganwadi workers, and other relevant stakeholders to conduct sessions and workshops. 
• Foster effective communication and collaboration with the Women and Child Development (WCD) department, funding partners, and other CLR government partners.
• Represent the organisation in relevant forums, networking with stakeholders, and advocating for policies that support early childhood development initiatives.
• Coordinate and participate in meetings with stakeholders, including funders and partner organisations working in similar areas.
• Ensure compliance with funder requirements by managing all activities and reports to meet their guidelines.
• Prepare and submit weekly reports, as well as periodical program reports for funders as well as other relevant stakeholders

      5. Team Management (10%):

• Set clear team objectives and key responsibility areas (KRAs), and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Lead and manage a team of associates and coordinators, including, training, and performance management. 
• Coordinate team activities and resources effectively to meet project deadlines and deliverables.
• Conduct and prepare regular team reviews and presentations on team performance and program progress. 
• Collaborate with other departments or teams to ensure cross-functional alignment.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation (20%): 

• Monitor program effectiveness through data collection and analysis. 
• Evaluate impact metrics related to child development outcomes and family engagement.
• Assist in conducting baseline, end-line, and other relevant assessments to measure program impact
• Contribute to co-creating the monitoring and evaluation tools and rubrics of the program. 

As a Senior Associate, you will be expected to demonstrate leadership qualities, contribute to strategic decision-making, and provide mentorship and guidance to a team of associates and coordinators. Your expertise in ECD content development, training delivery, and stakeholder management will be crucial in achieving the objectives of the ECD programs.

Requirement: Education & Experience

Education: Postgraduate degree in Early Childhood Education, Public Health & Nutrition, Social Work, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum 5-6 years of professional experience in the development sector, with a focus on Early Childhood Care and Development or Early Childhood Education. Experience in community engagement and working with disadvantaged communities is highly desirable.

Travel: This role requires travelling across the state to various rural and urban communities.

Knowledge, Skills & Capabilities

Deep Understanding: Comprehensive knowledge of early childhood development principles, particularly within the context of the first 2000 days of life.

Community Engagement: Proven ability to engage effectively with diverse communities, including experience working with community-based organisations and local government structures.

Training and Facilitation: Strong skills in conducting training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building activities for diverse audiences, including caregivers and community workers.

Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze program data, evaluate outcomes, and use findings to inform programmatic improvements.

Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in local languages spoken in the target communities is advantageous.

Teamwork and Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment, as well as independently when required.

Passion and Commitment: Commitment to promoting child rights, improving early childhood care, and addressing social disparities through innovative community-based approaches.

Location and Compensation

Location: Pune

Compensation: Apart from being a part of a young and dynamic learning team, the individual will receive a healthy compensation at par with the non-profit sector benchmark for this position, commensurate with the individual’s prior experience and qualifications. The current compensation band offered, based on fit and experience is 5.5 to 6.5 LPA based on the previous experience.