Govt Engagement Lead

Job Titles: Govt Engagement Lead

Organization: Vikramshila Education Resource Society

Locations: Lucknow, Bhubaneswar

Tenure: 17 months

About the Organization:

Vikramshila Education Resource Society, a non-profit organization established in 1989, is dedicated to enhancing school education, particularly early childhood education, literacy, numeracy, and primary and secondary learning. With a focus on curricular and co-curricular areas, Vikramshila with state systems to drive curricular reform, resource development, capacity building, and on-the-ground model creation for strategic, demonstration, and scaling initiatives. Headquartered in Kolkata, Vikramshila operates field offices in Lucknow, Guwahati, Pune, Ranchi, and Patna, impacting schools, Anganwadi centres, madrasas, and community learning centres across West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Position Overview:

Vikramshila, in partnership with the Van Leer Foundation (VLF), has been working on the First 1000 Days Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiative in two aspirational districts of Fatehpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Koraput (Odisha) since 2022. The initiative focuses on strengthening the ECD ecosystem during the critical window from conception to age three, with a strong emphasis on responsive parenting and early stimulation.

In the first phase, Vikramshila supported the development of intersectoral coordination mechanisms, capacity building of frontline workers, and resource materials, including storytelling cards, demonstration tools, and activity calendars for families.

Building on the learnings from Phase I, the project is now entering Phase II, with an expanded focus on institutionalization of ECD systems at both district and state levels, integration of Paalan 1000 into routine service delivery, and scaling of best practices. This initiative seeks to mainstream nurturing care practices into public systems through advocacy, convergence, and sustainable capacity building — ensuring that every child receives the care and support they need in the most critical period of their life.

As the Govt Engagement Lead, you will build and manage relationships with key government stakeholders, ensuring smooth coordination between the organization and government agencies. The role requires a deep understanding of governance structures, government systems, financial resource management at the government level, and experience with flagship programs. The candidate should have strong communication skills in both English and Hindi and be adept at government reporting and documentation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead responsibility in collaboration and execution of program activities with the State Departments
• Ensuring the setting up of Steering Committees at State and district level
• Establishing a clear working relationship with key stakeholders at State and District level to execute program activities
• Providing sufficient technical and managerial support to efficiently manage program implementation
• Periodic reporting of the overall performance of State level program to Program Manager, VERS HQ team, and VLF
• Ensuring that periodic meetings of the State Level Steering Committee are convened as per the program schedule
• Advocacy of district-level work and supporting the state administration in scaling up of program activities
• Assist the Program Manager in capacity transfer, handover planning, and strengthening M&E systems during transitioning out.
• Raising key issues for timely resolution during program implementation
• Undertake additional assignments, which may be assigned from time to time by the reporting authority or state administration.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, MBA, or a related field.
• 12-15+ years of experience in government liaison, stakeholder management, and governance-related roles.
• Strong command over English and Hindi/Odia (written and spoken).
• Proven track record of working with government stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Experience in managing financial resources within government frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of governance, public administration, and flagship programs.
• Ability to navigate government relationships, approvals, and compliance requirements.
• Experience in policy advocacy, public finance, and strategic communications.
• Familiarity with government budgeting processes and program financing.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills for engaging with high-level stakeholders.

Compensation and Tenure:

Remuneration for this role will be in the range of 8 to 9 LPA and will depend on the candidate's qualifications and experience levels.

Application Process:

To apply for the position of Govt Engagement Lead, please follow the application process outlined below:

• Prepare your application: Update your CV and write a Cover Letter highlighting your relevant experience, qualifications, and motivation for applying. Be sure to demonstrate your understanding of the role and how your skills align with the responsibilities.
• Email your application: Send an email to recruitment.vikramshila@gmail.com . In the subject line of your email, please write "Application for the Position of Govt Engagement Lead."
• Attach your CV and Cover Letter to the email as separate documents.
• Please provide the names and contact details of two professional references who can speak for their qualifications and work experience
• Application deadline: 11 June

Safeguarding and Code of Conduct:

Vikramshila is committed to a Safeguarding Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and Code of Conduct. As an applicant, you are expected to adhere to these principles, and the organization has a zero-tolerance policy in this regard.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Vikramshila is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. The organization is committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of individuals from diverse backgrounds. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further evaluation. If you do not receive a response within two weeks from the submission of the application, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion. Thank you for your understanding.

Note:

All personal data collected during the application process will be treated confidentially and used solely for recruitment purposes.

Job Email ID:

recruitment.vikramshila(at)gmail.com