1. POSITION VACANT: Director Programmes, Transform Schools, People For Action, New Delhi

2. ORGANISATION BACKGROUND:

Transform Schools is an Indian NGO and started in 2019 to provide evidence-driven and impactful educational solutions to bridge the learning gap in India’s secondary schools. It works to ensure that every child realises their full potential in school and beyond. Anchored in India’s national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 5, and 10), its mission is to improve learning outcomes, promote gender equity, and expand life opportunities for secondary-grade students aged 13–18.

The organisation co-designs and implements evidence-based education programmes with State governments, with a focus on strengthening foundational learning, building equitable learning environments, and preparing students for transitions beyond school. Its work combines pedagogical innovation, teacher development, data-driven instruction, and systemic reform to ensure every adolescent—especially those from underserved communities—can thrive. As co-convenors of the State of Secondary Education (SOSE) global collaborative, the organisation is also shaping a global agenda to position secondary education as a societal minimum standard—mobilising research, investment, and practice across the Global South.

The organisation’s work spans two institutional vehicles: People For Action, a charitable society that delivers CSR and grant-funded programmes, and The Transform Trust, which leads outcomes-linked engagements.

With a strong footprint across multiple States (definite plans for expansion and deepening of its work) and a commitment to scale, the organisation aims to reach 30 million children by 2030, building a future where quality secondary education is a reality for all.

For more information about Transform Schools, please visit: https://www.transformschools.in/

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the, Chief Executive Officer, the Director – Programmes (DP) will provide strategic and operational leadership to Transform Schools’ efforts to redefine secondary education across India, advancing the organisation’s mission to unlock the potential of millions of young people. Positioned at the forefront of programme innovation and systemic reform, s/he will shape and execute bold strategies that strengthen public education systems and drive equitable learning outcomes at scale.

The role combines visionary leadership with hands-on execution, enabling the design, scaling, and continuous improvement of high-impact programmes across multiple geographies. The incumbent will leverage research, data, and field insights to inform programme design, ensure excellence in implementation, and deliver measurable improvements in both learning and life outcomes for students.

The DP will work closely with state governments, donors, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and international partners, and build strategic partnerships that amplify impact, strengthen system capacity, and ensure long-term sustainability. S/he will also play a critical role in embedding innovation within large-scale systems while maintaining alignment with Transform Schools’ mission, values, and governance frameworks.

The overarching mandate of the role is to champion scalable innovations, deepen the impact of Transform Schools’ at-scale programmes, and build systemic capabilities that enable lasting transformation across India’s secondary education landscape. The role requires a leader who can navigate complexity, mobilise diverse stakeholders, and drive results in dynamic environments.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record of leading large-scale impact initiatives, managing diverse funding portfolios, and delivering outcomes in complex, multi-stakeholder contexts. The candidate will foster a culture of accountability, learning, and innovation, demonstrate exceptional leadership and communication skills, and provide steady, values-driven leadership to safeguard the organisation’s vision while supporting its growth and evolution.

Key Job Responsibilities:

A. Strategic Leadership:

(1) Lead the design and evolution of programme strategy in alignment with the organisation’s mission, vision, and long-term goals;
(2) Develop and execute Transform Schools’ strategy to impact 30 million students by 2030 in collaboration with the leadership team, board members and Advisers;

(3) Responsible for providing strategic guidance and frameworks for replication of at-scale programmes in new Districts and States;

(4) Translate organisational priorities into clear programme objectives, roadmaps, and success metrics;

(5) Identify opportunities for scaling, innovation, and continuous improvement across programmes;

(6) Align programmes with National and State level education policies to strengthen partnerships with state governments, influence policy and advocate for systemic and structural changes;

(7) Provide leadership oversight to affiliates of Transform Schools to promote their operational and strategic capabilities.

B. Programme Implementation & Advisory Work:

(1) Lead the design and continuous strengthening of programmes addressing critical education challenges such as cumulative learning losses, low transition rates from primary to secondary school, teacher capacity gaps, intersectionality, and inequity;

(2) Provide strategic leadership and oversight for end-to-end programme planning and execution, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities, quality benchmarks, timelines, and intended impact outcomes;

(3) Ensure programmes are implemented in alignment with approved designs, budgets, and impact frameworks, while maintaining strong governance and accountability mechanisms;

(4) Establish robust systems for monitoring programme progress, capturing learning, and enabling timely course correction. Leverage data, research insights, and stakeholder feedback to strengthen programme delivery and effectiveness at scale;

(5) Serve as a strategic Adviser to government stakeholders by providing technical guidance, evidence-based recommendations, and implementation insights to inform policy design, programme strengthening, and scale-up strategies in school and adolescent education;

(6) Build and nurture strong partnerships with government departments, supporting co-creation, adaptation, and institutionalisation of programme models within public education systems;
(7) Work closely with the Deputy Director – Programme Design & Quality to develop innovative, scalable teaching-learning models, high-quality teacher and student learning resources, and impactful professional development programmes for teachers and school leaders;

(8) Collaborate with the Deputy Director – Programme Management to design modular, replicable programme models that enable seamless adoption by State governments and replication partners across geographies;

(9) Stay abreast of national and global trends, policy shifts, and innovations in school education, secondary education, adolescent development, and skilling, and integrate relevant insights into programme strategy and advisory support. 

C. Programme Delivery:

(1) Work closely with the Deputy Director - Programme Operations to develop detailed implementation plans for smooth programme delivery across states;

(2) Guide alignment of state level programmes with government education policies, priorities, and initiatives to ensure effective execution;

(3) Establish monitoring systems to track programme success and ensure scalability without compromising quality;

(4) Institutionalise practices within government systems for sustainability.

D. Programme Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning:

(1) Work closely with the Associate Director - Research, Impact and Learning to design and implement comprehensive MERL frameworks to evaluate the impact, efficiency, and scalability of Transform Schools’ programmes;

(2) Use evaluation insights to refine program design and advocate for systemic changes;

(3) Drive evidence based advocacy to promote systemic changes in education policy and practice, influence funding decisions, policy priorities, and the adoption of innovative solutions at scale.

E. Team Management:

(1) Build, mentor, and lead high-performing programme teams with a strong culture of ownership, learning, and collaboration;

(2) Set clear roles, expectations, and performance goals for team members;

(3) Support capacity building and professional development of programme staff;

(4) Foster cross-functional collaboration with internal teams such as Research, Partnerships, Finance, HR and Operations.

F. Financial Management:

(1) Oversee programme budgets and ensure efficient, transparent, and responsible use of funds;

(2) Work closely with the finance team to manage planning, forecasting, and reporting for programmes;
(3) Ensure programmes deliver maximum impact within allocated resources;

(4) Support resource planning and contribute inputs for fundraising proposals and donor budgets related to programmes.

G. Programme and Business Development
(1) Collaborate with the CEO and COO to develop programme strategies aligned with the Transform Schools’ Theory of Change and long-term 2030 goals;

(2) Work closely with the Associate Director – Development to strengthen donor engagement and build strategic partnerships with existing and prospective funders, ensuring alignment between programme priorities and fundraising strategies;

(3) Support resource mobilisation by providing strategic direction in the development of high-quality proposals, concept notes, and impact reports that demonstrate programme effectiveness, scalability, cost-efficiency, and long-term systemic impact;

(4) Identify and pursue opportunities for programme expansion, scale, and innovation, contributing strategic inputs to organisational growth, fundraising, and partnership-building efforts.

H. Thought Leadership and External Relationships
(1) Strengthen Transform Schools’ positioning as a thought leader in school transformation, education systems reform, and large-scale programme implementation by generating, documenting, and sharing evidence, insights, and learnings from programmes;
(2) Represent the organisation in national and international forums, conferences, policy platforms, and sector engagements, showcasing scalable and sustainable programme models;

(3) Build and maintain strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, funders, academic institutions, civil society, and international organisations;

(4) Lead the development of high-quality proposals, funding applications, and knowledge products that support programme expansion, replication, and sustainability;

(5) Foster a culture of reflection, cross-learning, and documentation across programme teams to strengthen quality, innovation, and sector influence.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualifications:
(1) A Master’s degree in Education, Management, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field;
(2) A deep and demonstrated belief in the power of education to drive positive social and economic outcomes for children and young people.

Experience:
(1) 10–15 years of progressive experience in programme leadership roles, preferably within the education sector, with a strong track record of managing complex, large-scale initiatives;

(2) At least 5 years of experience in senior management positions, leading programmes and multi-year grants across primary, secondary, or higher education contexts;

(3) Strong experience of working with State and National governments, with exposure to large-scale, government-led education reforms considered highly desirable;
(4) Demonstrated ability to translate organisational vision and strategy into actionable programme plans with clearly defined, measurable outcomes;
(5) Proven experience in stakeholder engagement, including government departments, funding agencies, regulators, donors, and strategic partners.

Technical & Sector Expertise:
(1) Demonstrated technical knowledge across key education domains, including;
(a) Education and programme management;
(b) In-service and pre-service teacher training;

(c) Pedagogy and accelerated learning models;
(d) Learning assessments and quality of teaching and learning.
(2) Strong understanding of the education ecosystem, including national and State-level schemes, policies, and innovations, with the ability to leverage this knowledge to shape programme focus areas and long-term impact frameworks.
Leadership & Strategic Capability
(1) A visionary, systems-oriented leader with the ability to navigate complexity and drive systemic change across organizations and geographies;
(2) Strong strategic planning and governance skills, ensuring programmes meet statutory, regulatory, and audit requirements;
(3) Demonstrated experience in financial, resource, and risk management to ensure efficient, accountable, and sustainable programme delivery;
(4) Ability to lead, inspire, and mentor multi-disciplinary teams, fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and high performance.

Skills & Competencies
(1) Exceptional project management, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills; (2) Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience in writing and publishing thought pieces, position papers, or knowledge products;
(3) Proven public speaking and facilitation skills, with the ability to represent the organisation at senior national and international forums;
(4) Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage diverse stakeholders and competing priorities;
(5) Proficiency in Microsoft Office and presentation/ rendering tools, with comfort in using data to inform decisions and strategy;
(6) A strong commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and public value, ensuring programmes deliver meaningful and lasting societal impact.

Desirable Requirements
(1) Technical expertise in STEM or Languages;
(2) Teaching and teacher training experience;
(3) Experience in managing government partnerships;
(4) International experience in education programmes;
(5) Experience in writing education resources including implementation, training, teaching and learning resources;
(6) Abreast of cutting-edge education research and evaluations;
(7) A sense of humour and patience.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The gross compensation budgeted for the position ranges from Rs. 25 to 35 lacs per annum. The offer made to the selected candidate shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

7. DURATION: Two-year fixed term contract (Renewable)

8. REFERENCE- DP-TS

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar 
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4081 9926

 10. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply online at <<>> by or before April 30, 2026.

Transform Schools, People For Action is an equal opportunity organisation. The organisation welcomes and encourages applications from all communities, including underrepresented groups, marginalised communities, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of race, caste, religion, gender, disability, or social status.