Porticus
WHO WE ARE
Porticus is a philanthropic organization that aims to create a just and sustainable future where human dignity flourishes. Our work aims to strengthen the resilience of communities so that all people have ownership over their future and natural resources are used in a sustainable way. Our work is realized through strong networks of partners including local and global NGOs, communities, people with lived experience, policy makers and co-funders. With colleagues based in 14 offices around the world in six regions, we want to provide solutions to today’s social and environmental problems that benefit generations to come in four areas: the natural environment, society, education and faith.
In close collaboration with our partners, we design initiatives that contribute to systems-change and benefit future generations in the following Sectors:
- Strengthening our Societies – making sure all people have agency to lead self-determined lives and contribute to their communities through social justice.
- Building Future Generations – strengthening education systems to nurture social and emotional learning, especially for children in extreme adversity
- Caring for the Earth – ensuring a fair transition to a sustainable future
- Fostering Vital Faith Communities – enable the Catholic Church as a force for good in the world
In each of these Sectors, Porticus’ focus areas include specific global social and environmental Challenges.
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are looking for a Senior Programme Manager (PM) to support our work in India with the vision to contribute to the transformation of education systems, ensuring that children in extreme adversity are supported to build resilience and socio-emotional skills. This work fits within the ‘Children on the Margin’ Challenge, one of the two Challenges in the Building Future Generations (BFG) Sector. The broad areas of focus would include deepening and expanding work in Jharkhand for 3-15 years old; narrative building at sub-national and national level; and building and strengthening collaboratives made up of aligned NGOs, funders and civil society. The Senior PM is responsible for developing and managing strategic programmes, as well as forging networks, the scope of which is aligned to Porticus BFG strategies. The Senior PM reports to the Regional Director Asia of Porticus, and works closely with the Challenge Leads of BFG (Children on the Margin and Children in Displacement), Porticus Asia team as well as colleagues in other offices who are part of the BFG team. In India, the Senior PM will work closely alongside a PM in developing and delivering this work.
Porticus’ work in education in India builds on a significant footprint developed over the past 10+ years. We are currently in the middle of co-creating with partners the next phase of the strategy that will run up till 2029. This is a part of the wider framework of our global Children on the Margin Challenge, which encompasses similar work in Bangladesh, Kenya, Brazil, Peru, Haiti, and with global partners.
Key responsibilities:
Leadership
- A thought leader, able to influence and push the field towards higher impact and systemic change.
BFG programme design and implementation
- Actively building the field in education (pushing the thematic discourse further), nurturing networks (outside of grants, with funders, other stakeholders), creating platforms and drawing in lessons and learnings (beyond reporting).
- Develops programmes that aim for systemic and lasting changes in alignment with Challenge strategies and leads the implementation of these programme, including but not limited to:
- Applying meaningful participation approach to the extent possible in all stages of the programme
- Grant making from co-developing applications with partners to accompanying the implementing and closing
- Convening programme partners and other key stakeholders
- Applying sophisticated safeguarding and GESI lenses to programme development and management.
Exploration
- In addition to the main focus on the BFG programme, the Senior PM should also identify opportunities for strategy-aligned projects and programmes in the region and where possible contributing to the BFG strategy with clear attention to the learning cycle within which these ideas are developing.
- Works to concurrently articulate and socialize the concepts within the organization based on tangible lessons and learnings.
Contextualisation
- In collaboration with the Regional Director Asia, enables sense-making when it comes to strategic decisions related to a Challenge or a Sector, but also going beyond the Challenge. Thinks broader than programme Challenge-related work.
- Internally and externally represents a region’s contextual needs/possibilities for sectoral/cross thematic work, nudging the discourse further within the ecosystem.
- Continuously analyses opportunities, momentum, trends and challenges related to the Sector and/or region they are responsible for.
- Develops knowledge on region and/or Challenge-related topics and participates in related expert network.
Storytelling
- Represents the programme internally and externally.
- Engages in relevant fora and champion the work of partners.
- Prepares communication material in collaboration with communication colleagues.
Building & maintaining relationships
- Develops strategic partnerships, in close cooperation with Regional Director and Challenge Leads.
- Builds and manages trust-based strategic partnerships and engages in strategic dialogue on emerging and critical issues with diverse network in a region or globally.
- Understands the role and value of partners as contributing to the overall strategic intent.
- Contributes to annual reflection cycles with input, discussion and managing the integration of the learning in future work.
- Non-financial contribution to partners such as capacity building on fundraising and identifying co-funders.
Supervisory responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities but expected to contribute to the professional development of colleagues or peers.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Holds professional and/or academic qualifications, has extensive (lived) experience and demonstrates a broad range of achievements in the education sector or relevant industries and geographies.
- Approx. 10+ years in fields relevant to assigned responsibilities.
- Preference for significant relevant work and (lived) experience with strong networks and contacts in India.
- A broad background with deep comprehensive understanding of programme design and development, systems, networking and community change.
- Experience of and commitment to, working with and through partners and contributing to partnership strategies.
- Experience with strategy, monitoring, evaluation and learning (SMEL) and working with other technical advisors and research teams to establish effective monitoring systems in relation to programme activities.
- Demonstrated skill in independent thinking and problem-solving, with proven ability to manage a complex strategy.
- Availability to travel extensively in India and periodically to other countries.
Skills:
- Ability to think and act on a strategic level.
- Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communications skills in English are required and verbal communication skills in Hindi would be desirable.
- Ability to accurately assess situations and find appropriate solutions to generate impact.
- Strong in building and maintaining networks. Adaptability to changing contexts.
- Strong analytical and project management skills, able to break down and solve complex problems and present these to internal and external stakeholders.
- Commitment to addressing power dynamics in philanthropic partners.
- Ability to multi-task and set priorities and be an effective collaborator in a complex internal and external environment, including the ability to work with efficiency and tact in a matrixed environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Job location: Gurugram, Haryana, India
- This position is full-time.
- To apply please include your CV and motivation letter.
- Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
We stand for equal opportunities and are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse team in an equitable and inclusive environment. We strongly encourage applications of people with lived experience, as well as of candidates coming from any minority or underrepresented groups.