Posted By: Third Sector Partners
Bhubaneshwar
Middle Mgt (Regional/ Zonal Manager, AVP, State /Regional Head)
Program Development & Management
Rural and Urban Development
Organization: JANAAGRAHA
Job Title: STATE HEAD – ODISHA PROGRAMS
Reports to: CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
Location: ODISHA (preferred)
Introduction:
Janaagraha is a non-profit trust, established in 2001, working towards the mission of transforming quality of life in India’s cities and towns. It works with citizens to catalyze active citizenship in city neighborhoods and with governments to institute reforms to city governance (what we call “City- Systems”). Janaagraha is part of the JANA Group - one of India’s best-known groups of not-for- profit institutions working towards the mission of fixing India’s cities. Swati Ramanathan and Ramesh Ramanathan co-founded Jana Group in 2001 and it presently works across citizen participation and city governance reforms (through Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy), city planning and design (through Jana Urban Space Foundation), municipal consulting services (through Jana Urban Services for Transformation Pvt. Ltd.), banking and financial services for the urban poor (through Jana Small Finance Bank) and affordable housing for the urban poor (through Janaadhar).
Read more about Janaagraha’s work at: https://www.janaagraha.org/
Reason for the hire:
Janaagraha has an ongoing strategic partnership with the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Government of Odisha covering civic participation, municipal finance and organization development with state-wide impact across all 115 urban local bodies. Work in Odisha is supported by different donors. We are looking for a highly passionate, experienced and competent professional from the development sector to serve as State Head for our programs in Odisha. The position will currently work with Chief Policy & Insights officer, holding charge of Odisha, and eventually report to the Chief Program Officer.
The State Head – Odisha Programs will be the single point of contact for all of Janaagraha’s work in Odisha with primary responsibility for stakeholder management (government, donors) and program management (internal program teams). The position will have a small team of project manager(s) and associate(s) reporting to it, but with heads of programs being accountable to this position for delivery of their respective outputs and outcomes
What will the State Head – Odisha Programs really do?
• Program Management
? Accountable for delivering on the outputs and outcomes, adhering to timelines, and ensuring high quality work as committed to both governments and donors
? Ensure effective and efficient project management systems and processes with government and internal program teams
Communicate effectively with heads of civic participation, municipal finance, and organizational development teams to ensure coherent and coordinated project delivery
? Work closely with Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation team for timely monitoring and evaluation of state programs, documentation and dissemination of learnings, and incorporation of the same into future program design and implementation
? Ensure deliverables produced are of high quality and are accompanied by a roadmap for adoption at scale outside of Odisha
? Regularly communicate to donors, government, and with program teams on project delivery and status and curate and implement a communication strategy and plan for Janaagraha’s work across Odisha
• Stakeholder Management
? Be Janaagraha’s single point of contact for interactions with the Housing and Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha
? Develop and maintain healthy working relationships with the Principal Secretary of HUDD and his/her senior team.
? Meet regularly with the government stakeholders to provide as well as receive feedback on project progress, identify newer opportunities for systems change, and identify and address any roadblocks or escalations on a priority basis.
? In case of additional/ad hoc tasks from government, co-ordinate with heads of civic participation, municipal finance, and organization development teams to ensure alignment between tasks, bandwidth and resources. In case of either, ensure delivery as per nature of tasks, bandwidth and resources. If not matching either, to convey politely maintaining State relations.
? Represent Janaagraha in external forums, events and meetings, participate in policy dialogue; discuss policy initiatives, and/or present policy papers/ideas.
? Work with the Development Team at JCCD for long-term fundraising & development strategy for Odisha, and give inputs for programs in other states and relevant proposals.
• Team Management
? Work with the Program Heads to create a vibrant work culture in the team that aligns with the organization values, visions, and goals, while creating an enabling ecosystem to ideate boldly and creatively, to rapidly convert ideas to action plans and to execute the same at scale and with agility.
• Qualifications and Experience:
? A Master’s degree preferably in Development / Policy / Management / equivalent. The higher degree is preferred, but can be relaxed for candidates with exceptional track record.
? 15+ years’ experience in the development sector with preference for urban development, with at least five years in senior management roles
? Strong systems change knowledge and practice including ability to adapt to differing contexts
? Candidates with direct government experience in any civil services are particularly welcome
? Experience in working closely with state and/or union governments in large scale systems change or consulting projects, involving stakeholder relationship and program management would be a big plus
• What competencies does it take to be State Head – Odisha Programs
? Systems thinking and practice with respect to large scale public systems; ability to connect the dots between programs and critical reform agendas and achieve synergies in efforts
? Program management of large projects in partnership with governments
? Rich experience in program management, project management, team management (including learning and development), managing senior government and donor relationships
? Effective budget management skills to work with available funding to deliver maximum impact.
? Excellent written and oral communication skills
? Digital and Media skills
• What Janaagraha offers
At Janaagraha, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and passionate citizens who apply cutting-edge technologies and practices aimed at social change in India’s cities. We offer a dynamic, driven and vibrant work environment for professionals who are passionate about investing their time, skill sets and energy to transform quality of life in India’s cities. At work, you will be exposed to a unique combination of policy, practice and platforms and will have abundant opportunities to learn and apply professional skills to social challenges.
This position will report to the Chief Program Officer. This engagement will be for an initial period of 3 years with a probation period of 6 months. Third Sector Partners is a pioneering cause-connected executive search firm and has been retained for this position. Interested candidates can send in their CVs along with three references and a cover note to michelle@thirdsectorpartners.com
Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Post Graduation - MSW