State Project Manager - Education, Lucknow
Ground Zero is hiring a State Project Manager to be the core operational lead for its government-partnered education program across four districts in Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Fatehpur). Day to day, they oversee field implementation, supervise district teams and M&E staff, track data, and handle ops/finance coordination — onsite from Lucknow, requiring 10–15 years of education/d
- Compensation
- ₹1.6M–₹2M / yr
- Location
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Work setup
- Onsite
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Category
- Project management
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Master's degree in Education, Social Sciences, Management, Public Administration, or a related field
- Minimum 10–15 years of relevant experience managing large-scale education or development programs
- Strong experience in field-based program implementation, preferably within government school systems
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-location teams and district-level operations
- Strong operational and execution-focused mindset with high attention to detail, execution discipline, and reporting practices
- Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and translate insights into operational actions
- Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel, for tracking, reviews, and reporting
- Strong communication skills in English and Hindi
- High level of comfort with extensive travel and on-ground engagement across assigned districts
Nice to have
- Additional training or certification in Project Management, Operations, or Monitoring & Evaluation
- Prior experience working with district and state government systems
- Knowledge of local context and languages
Full description
Role: State Project Manager - Education, Lucknow, UP
Experience: 10 to 15 years
Salary: 16-20 LPA
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About the Project:
We currently work with 8 state governments across the country, including a robust presence in Uttar Pradesh. Our approach focuses on sustained program quality, institutionalization of processes, effective stakeholder engagement, and smooth execution of state priorities. The program focuses on: Overseeing day-to-day implementation across assigned mature program districts (Varanasi, Chandauli, Bhadohi, and Fatehpur) at different stages of implementation and transition. Supporting sustainability and institutionalization efforts by strengthening district ownership and government engagement. Structuring field insights and M&E data to proactively identify and address implementation risks while translating state-level priorities into smooth field execution.
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About the Role:
The State Project Manager is the core operational lead for our work across the assigned districts in Uttar Pradesh. The role involves ensuring effective, timely, and high-quality implementation of district-level programs by closely monitoring field operations, supporting district teams, strengthening coordination across functions, and resolving operational challenges on the ground. While academic leadership (FLN/MLE/Numeracy) continues to be anchored with the State Manager and academic specialists, this position requires strong operational discipline, team management capabilities, and the ability to work in close collaboration with district education systems and state/central teams.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Program Operations & Implementation Oversight: Oversee day-to-day implementation of programs across the assigned districts of Varanasi, Chandauli, Bhadohi, and Fatehpur, ensuring adherence to approved plans, timelines, deliverables, and quality standards. Support sustainability and institutionalization efforts in mature program districts by strengthening district ownership, government engagement, and transition readiness where applicable. Track implementation progress across districts and blocks, identifying bottlenecks and ensuring timely resolution. Conduct frequent field visits to districts and blocks to monitor implementation, mentor district teams, and provide on-ground problem-solving support. Ensure coordination and alignment between district plans and state-level priorities.
- District & Team Management: Provide direct supervision, guidance, and support to District Program Managers (DPMs). Conduct regular review meetings with DPMs to track progress, risks, and support needs. Strengthen district-level planning, execution discipline, and reporting practices. Facilitate coordination between district teams and state-level academic, M&E, and operations staff. Supervise direct reportees including DPCs, M&E Officer, and Admin Associate to optimize regional efficiency.