Program Operations

JOB DESCRIPTION Role - Program Operations   Level: L2/L3 Location: Hubli, Dharwad, Karnataka. Travelling: Extensive field travel required (~50 - 60% of time) Reports To: Program Director Team size: 2 - 3 field team members reporting to this role About EarlySpark: EarlySpark, an initiative of Deshpande Foundation, focuses on improving students’ learning outcomes through high-quality teacher training. We are currently running two new teacher training program models – pre-service (B.Ed./D.Ed./M.Ed students) and in-service (private school teachers) – with ambitions to scale across multiple geographies. About the role:   This role will serve as the single point of contact (SPOC) for all on-ground operations in the assigned geographies. She/He/They will lead a small team of 2 - 3 field members and be responsible for driving institutional partnerships, managing stakeholders, and ensuring smooth program rollout from the ground up. This is a high-ownership, target-driven role that demands strong persuasion, relationship-building, and execution skills. You will be expected to meet monthly and quarterly targets on enrolment, onboarding, and partnership closures. Key Responsibilities: 1. Institutional Partnerships, Mobilisation & Outreach ● Lead your team in outreach activities to build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective partner schools and teacher education institutions within the assigned geography. ● Conduct meetings, presentations, institutional visits, and outreach activities to generate interest and convert prospects into active partners. ● Lead negotiations and facilitate timely closure of institutional partnerships and agreements. ● Own monthly and quarterly targets related to institutional onboarding, enrolments, and related partnership closures. 2. Placement Partnerships & Employer Outreach ● Identify and reach out to potential hiring partners - schools, education institutions, and organisations looking to recruit trained teachers. ● Build and maintain a pipeline of employer contacts in the assigned geography. ● Coordinate handover of confirmed hiring partners to the internal placements coordinator for further process management. ● Track and report on employer pipeline status as part of regular field reporting. 3. Stakeholder Management, Retention & Satisfaction ● Build trusted relationships with school principals, college management, and government liaison contacts. ● Act as the primary SPOC for all external institutional stakeholders. ● Track satisfaction levels of partner institutions and act on feedback promptly. ● Drive continued engagement and re-enrolment of institutions across program cycles. ● Maintain the credibility and reputation of EarlySpark in every stakeholder interaction. 4. Program Onboarding & Execution Support ● Coordinate onboarding processes - institutional agreements, enrollments, scheduling of training etc.. ● Liaise with the internal academic/training team to ensure…