Program Associate

Job Titles: Program Associate

Organization: Vikramshila Education Resource Society

Locations: Lucknow, Bhubaneswar

Tenure: 18 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 Program Associate, you will be critical in implementing and evaluating on-ground activities. You will collaborate with multiple stakeholders, conduct research, and ensure effective documentation and reporting to the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Program team in coordinating with state and district government officials.
• Maintain regular documentation of meetings, follow-ups, and progress reports.
• Support the planning and execution of Steering Committee meetings.
• Help track action points and ensure compliance with program timelines.
• Take leadership in ensuring program activities are implemented in the field in a timely manner
• Responsible for data collection, impact assessment, and qualitative/quantitative research from the field
• Collecting & collating impact stories from the field and documenting them effectively.
• Facilitate communication between state teams, VERS HQ, and other partners.
• Handle administrative and logistical tasks related to program execution.
• Undertake any additional assignments as directed by the reporting authority.

Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities:

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), Development Studies, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in program implementation, research, or project management in the social development sector.
• Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and impact assessment.
• Prior experience in early childhood development, education, public health, or gender-related programs is preferred.
• Excellent research, analytical, and documentation skills.
• Strong project management and coordination abilities.
• Proficiency in data collection tools, impact assessment frameworks, and qualitative/quantitative research methodologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi/Odia
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and data analysis software (SPSS, NVivo, etc., if applicable).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Compensation and Tenure:

Remuneration for this role will be in the range of 4 to 5 LPA and will depend on the candidate's qualifications and experience levels.

Application Process:

To apply for the position of Program Associate, 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 Program Associate."
• 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