Senior Project Associate - PM SHRI

Nature of employment: Full-time Reporting to: (Sr.) Project Manager Location(s): English Content – Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Implementation

• Dewas, Sagar, Chattarpur / Panna, Madhya Pradesh About Peepul Peepul is an education-focused non-profit organization committed to transforming India's education system and enabling every child to reach their full potential. We work closely with national, state, and local governments to strengthen government schools and education systems at scale. Currently, we partner with governments in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, impacting over 6.6 million students, 273,000+ teachers, and 2,400+ school leaders across 90,000+ government schools. At Peepul, we collaborate with school systems to build the capacity of leaders, teachers, and institutions. We advocate policy improvements, support mentoring and monitoring mechanisms, and enhance student-teacher engagement in classrooms. Through our work, we have directly supported 5.94 million students, 254,000 teachers, and 1,644 school leaders across 88,711 schools in Madhya Pradesh, and 658,000 students, 19,000 teachers, and 821 school leaders across 1,500 schools in Delhi. Our work has been recognized internationally, including receiving the Commonwealth Education Awards for Innovation and being featured in reports by respected organizations such as the United Nations and the Ministry of Education, Government of India. We are supported by leading Indian CSR partners and prominent international foundations that share our vision of ensuring excellent education for the most disadvantaged children. Driven by our core values of impact, excellence, and leadership, we are a restless, resilient, and reflective organization. Our team of 200+ employees is passionate about creating lasting change and is rewarded competitively for their dedication. Join us in our mission to create a world where every child has equal access to high-quality education. Learn more about our transformative work at http://peepulindia.org. Programme Overview Peepul has been partnering with the School Education Department, Govt of Madhya Pradesh, for multiple years now. Working closely with the state bureaucratic leadership, Peepul has played a meaningful role in strengthening the education system of the state. The partnership has been a successful one – with national and international recognition of the work. The PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India to create model government schools that embody the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020—focusing on joyful learning, holistic development, and excellence in teaching and leadership. In Madhya Pradesh, Peepul partners with the Department of School Education (DPI) to strengthen the implementation of the PM SHRI programme across 799 schools, building capacities of school leaders and teachers, improving school processes, and enabling data-driven decision-making at every level.

About the role

The (Senior) Project Associate will be responsible for ensuring high-quality on-ground execution of Peepul’s school-improvement initiatives. The role combines strategic understanding with operational execution — translating programme design into visible change in schools and districts. The position requires strong collaboration with government counterparts, teachers, and school leaders, as well as with Peepul’s internal teams on content, training, and monitoring.

Each associate will anchor implementation across assigned districts and schools, regularly visit schools to provide on-site support, and contribute to capacity-building efforts for teachers and officials.

Responsibilities

To support project design and delivery: Collaborate with senior government stakeholders and Peepul's leadership for project design, development, and implementation. Build consensus among all stakeholders regarding the program's vision and objectives. Provide ground-level insights to inform design of learning materials, training plans, and monitoring tools.

Define success metrics and communicate them effectively. Work with the M&E team and external experts to develop appropriate project evaluation tools, including academic assessment. To ensure best-in-class project implementation: Lead day-to-day implementation across assigned geographies, coordinating with education officials and school leaders.

Conduct regular school visits for classroom observations, teacher and leader support, and process monitoring. Facilitate professional learning communities, review meetings, and capacity-building sessions at block or district level. Develop and maintain effective work-planning and tracking systems to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.

Utilise data and field insights to identify implementation gaps and support corrective actions. Document promising practices and contribute to recognition mechanisms that showcase school and teacher achievements. To be a strong team collaborator and engage with key government stakeholders: Work effectively in a matrixed environment with education specialists, subject matter experts, and field staff.

Cultivate strong operational relationships with government partners, providing leadership and mechanisms for collaboration. Design and build effective partnerships with external expertise, as needed. Build capacity within government teams for ongoing organisational self-improvement beyond the project's end.

Qualifications

At Peepul, we seek talented professionals passionate about driving educational transformation and making a positive impact. We are looking for individuals who possess the following qualifications and meet the role requirements: Educational Background: A relevant educational background in Education, Public Policy, Development Studies, or a related field.

Work Experience: We value both professional and personal experience. Candidates with 2-4 years of experience in project management and implementation, preferably in education or development projects. Preference will be given to candidates who also have direct classroom teaching experience, ideally within the government school system for atleast 2-3 years.

Other Skills: Strong ability to collaborate and build partnerships with senior internal and external stakeholders, including senior political figures, with excellent communication skills for diverse audiences. Language Proficiency: English and Hindi Willingness to travel frequently for school visits and district engagements.

Requirements