Language Proficiency: Fluency in Hindi and Punjabi, English – Desirable
Location: Head Office
About Smile Foundation:
Smile Foundation works for the welfare of underprivileged children and their families through
programmes focused on education, healthcare, skilling and women empowerment and Empowering Grassroots. Started in 2002 by a group of young corporate professionals, today Smile has evolved into a national level development organization impacting lives of over 2 million underprivileged children and their families with project presence in 27 states across India, 10 offices in strategic locations and over 650 employees, besides volunteers, well-wishers and supporters.
Currently SF is implementing projects across India directly or with the help of grassroot organizations. These are primarily CSR funded projects of varied scale in both urban and rural settings including aspirational districts in thematic areas. The wealth of knowledge emanating from our work is immense, which is curated systematically for purposes ranging from raising funds to driving programmatic change towards creating large scale impact.
The Project In-charge will be responsible for planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and reporting education projects under Mission Education. The incumbent will ensure effective project execution, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, budget management, documentation, and compliance across multiple project locations.
The role requires strong leadership, project management, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills to drive project outcomes, strengthen implementation systems, ensure donor and government compliance, and achieve project objectives within approved timelines and budgets. The Project In-charge will work closely with project teams, government departments, donors, corporate partners, consultants, and internal departments to ensure seamless project implementation and sustainable impact.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Management and Coordination
Lead the planning, implementation, monitoring, and review of education projects across multiple
locations.
Develop annual, quarterly, and monthly implementation plans and ensure timely achievement of project milestones and deliverables.
Ensure effective execution of project activities in accordance with approved objectives, timelines,
budgets, and quality standards.
Coordinate with project teams and stakeholders to address implementation challenges and ensure smooth project operations.
Drive project performance through regular reviews, monitoring mechanisms, and corrective actions.
Ensure quality implementation of projects related to school education, foundational learning, STEM education, digital learning, teacher capacity building, life skills education, vocational education, school improvement, and community engagement.
Promote adoption of evidence-based practices and innovative approaches across project locations.
Review programme progress and recommend strategies for improving efficiency, effectiveness, and impact.
Oversee development and dissemination of project guidelines, training materials, and implementation frameworks.
Ensure adherence to organizational standards and project-specific quality benchmarks.
3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Documentation, and Reporting
Establish and oversee systems for monitoring project progress, outputs, outcomes, and impact.
Conduct field visits, implementation reviews, stakeholder consultations, and performance assessments.
Ensure timely collection, validation, analysis, and utilization of project data.
Maintain project MIS and ensure accurate and timely reporting.
Prepare donor reports, project reports, presentations, dashboards, case studies, success stories, and other project documentation.
Ensure compliance with donor, organizational, and statutory reporting requirements.
4. Stakeholder and Partnership Management
Build and maintain effective relationships with government departments, education authorities, schools, corporate partners, donors, NGOs, consultants, and other stakeholders.
Lead stakeholder consultations, review meetings, project launches, workshops, and partnership
engagements.
Represent the organization in project-related meetings, forums, conferences, and events.
Facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen project implementation and sustainability.
Monitor project budgets and ensure effective utilization of resources.
Review expenditure, forecasts, procurement requirements, and financial reports.
Coordinate with Finance, Procurement, HR, Communications, and MEAL teams to ensure timely
execution of project requirements.
Ensure adherence to organizational policies, donor guidelines, statutory requirements, and compliance protocols.
Oversee project administration, logistics, event management, and operational processes.
6. Team Leadership and Capacity Building
Guide, mentor, and monitor project teams to achieve project objectives and performance targets.
Conduct regular review meetings and performance assessments.
Identify capacity-building needs and facilitate professional development initiatives.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and results-oriented performance.
Support recruitment, onboarding, and orientation of project personnel as required.
7. Knowledge Management and Innovation
Document best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches emerging from project
implementation.
Promote knowledge sharing across projects and locations.
Contribute to proposal development, concept notes, project designs, and strategic planning processes.
Identify opportunities for programme expansion, partnerships, and resource mobilization.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential Qualifications
Master’s degree in social work (MSW), Education, Development Studies, Management, Public Policy, or a related discipline.
Minimum 5–7 years of relevant experience in project management, programme implementation,
monitoring, and stakeholder engagement in the education or development sector.
Experience in managing multi-location projects and coordinating with diverse stakeholders.
Preferred Experience
Experience in CSR-funded education projects and partnerships.
Experience working with government education departments and school systems.
Understanding of NEP 2020, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), STEM education, digital
learning, teacher development, school improvement, and community engagement programmes.
Experience in donor management, reporting, and compliance.
Skills and Competencies
Strong project management and leadership skills.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management abilities.
Strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent report writing, documentation, and presentation skills.
Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), MIS systems, and digital collaboration tools.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
Willingness to travel extensively to project locations as required.
How to Apply-
Share your CV/Profile with a brief note (cover letter) telling you why you find yourself a right fit for the role Smile Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer If you would like to apply to this position, please find the link below -https://smilefoundation.keka.com/careers/jobdetails/81195
Please Note: Candidates will be reviewed on rolling basis Only shortlisted candidates would be contacted by the Human Resources Team
