About Pratham
Pratham Education Foundation (Pratham) is one of the largest education NGOs in India with a record of innovative, rigorously evaluated programs that have inspired similar programs across three continents. With a history spanning 30 years, Pratham’s work today extends from programs for early and elementary years to girls and women, and youth skilling. Through programs covering 25 states and Union Territories, in an average year, Pratham usually reaches over 6 million children and youth. This is achieved through a combination of efforts: directly working with children and youth in communities, as well as through collaborations with state and district-level governments.
Pratham has received notable awards such as the Lui Che Woo Prize, WISE Prize for Innovation, Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Henry R Kravis Prize in Leadership and the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for Public Service. Pratham also received the 2021 Yidan Prize for Education Development and the Yashraj Bharati Samman in 2025.
For more details, refer to www.pratham.org
Pratham’s Work in Tamil Nadu
Pratham’s work in Tamil Nadu is anchored in the Hamara Gaon program, with a focus on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy among children in elementary grades. The program integrates school-based efforts with community engagement, working closely with children, mothers, volunteers and local structures to enable learning continuity beyond the classroom. Current efforts are focused on deepening the Hamara Gaon model across selected geographies, strengthening engagement with government systems, and ensuring consistency in implementation. There is a continued emphasis on adapting content to the local language and context, alongside exploring opportunities for responsible expansion.
About the Role
The Senior Program Associate will play a critical role in strengthening program implementation and enabling state-level execution of Pratham’s strategic priorities in Tamil Nadu. The role requires working closely with a diverse set of stakeholders, including state leadership, district and block officials, partner organizations, and internal central teams. It demands the ability to translate strategy into action, while ensuring that insights from the field inform ongoing program design and decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Government engagement and partnerships: Build and sustain relationships with district and state officials (including CEOs, DEOs, and BEOs). Support program rollout through consistent follow-up, alignment, and coordination, while keeping central teams informed of evolving government priorities and opportunities.
- Implementation oversight and quality tracking: Monitor program progress across geographies, identify gaps, and support course correction. Ensure alignment with agreed plans and share structured updates on progress, risks, and implementation challenges.
- State-level planning and strategic inputs: Contribute to program design and planning by identifying operational gaps and opportunities. Support contextual adaptation of strategies to reflect local realities while maintaining alignment with organisational priorities.
- Reporting, documentation, and systems strengthening: Ensure timely and accurate reporting from the field. Strengthen documentation processes and the flow of insights between field, state, and central teams. Support donor reporting and internal review processes.
- Alignment with organisational priorities and processes: Ensure adherence to Pratham’s programmatic approaches, operational systems, and compliance requirements, while enabling flexibility and responsiveness at the state level.
- Content translation and contextualisation: Support the translation and adaptation of content, training materials, and communication into local languages. Ensure that materials are field-ready, contextually relevant, and aligned with program timelines.
Desired Qualifications and Experience
- 2–3 years of relevant work experience, preferably in the development sector, management consulting, or in roles involving government engagement
- A Master’s degree or equivalent in Development Studies, International Development, Management, Economics, or related disciplines
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English, Hindi, and Tamil
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- High proficiency in Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides
- Demonstrated ability to take ownership of work streams and deliver end-to-end
- Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders in dynamic, field-driven environments
- Comfort with ambiguity and evolving priorities
- Willingness to commit to at least 2–3 years with Pratham
Location & Compensation
The role is based in Chennai. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application Procedure
To apply, please click here: https://forms.gle/n7bee5Fh8o9BSShf6
Your application should include:
- Updated resume
- Contact details
- Academic background (institutions attended, degrees obtained, academic record)
- Relevant work experience
- Language proficiency
Note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to provide individual responses to every applicant. We will reach out only to shortlisted candidates. We appreciate your understanding and patience.
