State Head – Program & Impact

Job Description: State Head – Program & Impact

Location: [State –UP/ MH / RJ/ KA]

Reporting to: Program Director

1. Role Purpose

The State Lead – Programs will be responsible for complete ownership of program execution, stakeholder management, and scale within the state , driving high-quality implementation across all initiatives.

This role is central to Muskaan Dreams’ vision of enabling large-scale adoption of STEM, AI, and 21st-century learning within government school systems. The State Lead will operate with a strong focus on speed, scale, and execution excellence , while managing senior government stakeholders, partners, and multi-layered teams.

Positions are based out of :

• •Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow
• •Maharashtra: Pune
• •Rajasthan: Jaipur/Jodhpur
• •South (KA, TN, TG): Bengaluru

2. Core Attributes Expected

• •Speed: Ability to move quickly from planning to execution, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure timely delivery
• •Scale Orientation: Experience in managing and expanding programs across large geographies and multiple districts
• •Ownership Mindset: Acts as the end-to-end owner of the state, with full accountability for outcomes
• •Execution Excellence: Strong ability to translate strategy into consistent on-ground implementation

3. Key Responsibilities

3.1 End-to-End State Ownership

• •Own and drive the complete program lifecycle within the state across all initiatives
• •Ensure seamless execution across:
• •Direct-to-school delivery models
• •System-level capacity building approaches

• •Manage multiple programs (STEM, AI, digital learning) simultaneously with high quality and consistency
• •Ensure alignment with organizational goals on scale, depth, and impact

3.2 Program Execution and Delivery

• •Ensure effective rollout of programs across all mapped schools and districts
• •Drive key metrics:
• •School coverage
• •Teacher adoption and usage
• •Program engagement and outcomes

• •Ensure adherence to:
• •Program design
• •SOPs
• •Timelines

Identify and resolve execution challenges in real-time to maintain delivery speed

3.3 Team Leadership and Performance Management

• •Lead and manage:
• •Project Managers
• •State PMU (Program Management Unit)
• •Indirectly oversee Associates and field teams

• •Build a high-performance, ownership-driven culture
• •Establish structured review mechanisms:
• •Weekly execution reviews
• •Monthly performance reviews

Support hiring, onboarding, and continuous capability building

3.4 Government Stakeholder Management (State-Level Leadership)

• •Build and manage relationships with senior government stakeholders , including:
• •State-level education officials
• •Key decision-makers within the education system

• •Act as the State Head for Muskaan Dreams’ programs
• •Enable:
• •Strategic alignment with government priorities
• •Program approvals and expansion
• •Institutionalization within state systems

3.5 Partner and Funder Management

• •Own relationships with CSR partners and funders within the state
• •Ensure high-quality delivery aligned to partner expectations
• •Drive:
• •Timely and accurate reporting
• •Partner reviews and field visits
• •Communication on program progress and impact

Ensure strong partner success and long-term engagement

3.6 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Execution

• •Ensure robust data collection, tracking, and reporting across programs
• •Work closely with the MEL team to:
• •Analyze performance
• •Identify gaps
• •Drive corrective actions

Ensure data accuracy and real-time visibility into program performance

3.7 Planning, Expansion, and Scale

• •Develop and execute state-level strategic and operational plans
• •Plan resource allocation across districts, programs, and partners
• •Identify opportunities for:
• •Expansion into new districts
• •Deepening program engagement

Support scale-up of successful program models

3.8 Problem Solving and Field Leadership

• •Identify and resolve on-ground challenges related to:
• •Adoption gaps
• •Team performance
• •Stakeholder resistance

• •Maintain strong field presence and connect with ground realities
• •Ensure agility in decision-making to sustain execution momentum

4. Key Deliverables / KRAs

• •Achievement of state-level scale targets (schools, districts, reach)
• •High teacher adoption and sustained program usage
• •Quality and consistency of program implementation
• •Strength of relationships with senior government stakeholders
• •Partner satisfaction and successful funder engagement
• •Performance and retention of state team
• •Accuracy and timeliness of reporting and data systems

5. Team Structure and Reporting

Direct Reports:

• •Project Managers (2–3)
• •State PMU (3–4 members)

Indirect Reports:

Associates (20–50+, depending on state scale)

6. Qualifications and Experience

• •Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience in program management, operations, or large-scale implementation roles (mandatory)
• •Prior experience in the nonprofit / development sector (mandatory)
• •Demonstrated experience of working closely with government stakeholders at the state level
• •Proven track record of managing large, multi-layered field teams and delivering programs at scale
• •Experience in managing multiple programs simultaneously , preferably in education, STEM, digital learning, or skilling

7. Skills and Competencies

• •Strong communication and influencing skills , with the ability to engage senior government officials and partners
• •Fluency in regional language(s) of the respective state (mandatory), along with working proficiency in Hindi and/or English
• •Strong stakeholder management across government, partners, and internal teams
• •High execution capability with ability to manage multiple priorities
• •Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• •Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced and ambiguous environments

8. Behavioral Competencies

• •High ownership and accountability
• •Strong bias for action and speed
• •Ability to manage scale without compromising quality
• •Solution-oriented mindset
• •Resilience and adaptability in dynamic environments

9. Other Requirements

• •Willingness to travel extensively within the state
• •Comfort working with government systems and school ecosystems
• •Ability to operate independently while aligning with central teams

10. Success Indicators (First 6–12 Months)

• •Strong and stable state execution structure established
• •High alignment between central program design and field execution
• •Improvement in teacher adoption and program usage metrics
• •Strong relationships with key government stakeholders
• •High partner satisfaction and smooth reporting processes
• •Scalable systems and processes established within the state

How to Apply Visit: Muskaan Dreams Careers

Link: muskaandreams.org/career

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