_f289d88e-72ef-42f8-a77b-e7c3d1c0ac9b.jpg)
Lead, State Policy And Advocacy
- Company
Rocket Learning
- Location
Remote
- Employment Type
Full-Time
-
Experience
8 - 10 years
- Date Posted
15-Sep-2026
- Application Deadline
15-Oct-2026
About Rocket Learning
Over 85% of brain development occurs before the age of six. Quality Early Childhood Education (ECE) ensures school readiness, substantially increases school completion and lifelong earnings, and frees up parents (especially women) to enter formal employment. It is called one of the 'greatest and most powerful equalizers' by India's National Education Policy. The Problem The Solution However, over 35 million children in India do not have access to high quality education at the preschool level, meaning that they are not ready when they enter the first grade in school. This leads to dismal educational outcomes at the foundational learning level - 43% of low income children can’t recognize letters of the alphabet and 35% numbers 1-9 in grade 1. Even worse, children have lost out on the chance to build their brain capacity and fall tens of IQ points behind their higher-income peers, as early as age six. This is a fundamental injustice that is nearly impossible to remedy later and condemns them to continue in the vicious cycle of poverty.
- Website
Overview of the Role
This is a senior, full-time leadership role reporting directly to the Co-Founders. The position sits at the intersection of Early Childhood Development (ECD), public policy, and ecosystem strengthening. Rocket Learning has been supporting the Central Government and multiple State Governments on key initiatives within the Anganwadi system, and we are now expanding this work. The Lead, State Policy and Advocacy will be responsible for driving and managing these strategic partnerships across priority states. The candidate will work closely with the Co-Founders to anchor, deepen, and scale collaborations with State Governments, particularly the departments of Women and Child Development and Education. They will also oversee state-level policy teams, ensuring high-quality support to government counterparts. In addition, the role involves responding to government requests, coordinating across internal functional teams, and mobilising institutional resources to enable seamless execution of state partnerships and policy initiatives.
Job Description
Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior government stakeholders in states to strengthen the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) ecosystem
Lead and manage State Program Management Units (PMUs) to design, operationalize, and monitor ECD-related policies and initiatives in partnership with state departments
Support state operations teams by engaging with key stakeholders to advance Rocket Learning’s initiatives, including digital interventions, events, training programmes, and curriculum development
Develop high-quality knowledge products such as briefs, strategy notes, policy documents, file notings, proposals, and research reports to inform and support government decision-making on ECCE
Provide end-to-end support to state government partners, including planning, coordination, drafting, research, report writing, speech writing, and M&E activities aligned with strengthening ECCE, particularly within the Anganwadi system
Collaborate closely with Rocket Learning’s National Initiatives & Policy team, as well as functional and operational teams, to provide policy inputs, conduct comparative state analyses, document best practices, coordinate field visits, and support state-level priorities.
Demonstrate ownership, initiative, and agility, consistently delivering high-quality outputs in dynamic and unpredictable environments.
Willingness to travel extensively (7-10 days per month) to state capitals, including at short notice, to support urgent government requests and engagements.
Required & Preferred Qualifications
Skill
Exceptional ability to think, synthesize, and communicate with clarity while navigating complex systems and multi-stakeholder environments
Strong writing and analytical skills, including research, structuring, and drafting, with the ability to deliver high-quality outputs quickly
Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, solve problems independently, and operate effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure settings
Deep alignment with Rocket Learning’s values and mission, including a commitment to equity, systems change, and collaborative working.
Education
Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as public policy, economics, management, or related fields
Experience
8-10 years of total work experience, including 3-5 years in a senior role within government or in leading government-facing partnerships for private or non-profit organizations