Gmc Program Manager

Job Title: Program Manager Job Status: Full Time Application Deadline: May 20, 2009 (See Application Instructions) About Gray Matters Capital Foundation: Gray Matters Capital Foundation (GMC), the charitable arm of Gray Ghost Ventures1, uses philanthropic capital to research and co-create initiatives with partners in developing countries to build sustainable, replicable business models for the benefit of underserved populations. One of GMC’s focus areas is to increase the access to and quality of primary and secondary education for the poor in India. GMC is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, USA. Focus: Affordable Private Schools (APSs) in Hyderabad, India GMC believes that access to quality education can provide new opportunities and significantly improve lives. Many countries are facing severe problems with their government-run education system due to limited resources and multiple layers of bureaucracy resulting in ineffective learning environments. As a result, privately owned schools for low-income families have been started by educational entrepreneurs. Families become paying clients with rights to insist on quality. They generate market demand and drive intense competition through school selection. Because these schools are social enterprises, they put an emphasis on quality, efficiency and performance, justifying the modest tuition charged that allow them to become sustainable enterprises. The combined business and academic model makes these schools a market-based solution to increase access and quality of education and provides parents with a viable alternative to ineffective government schools. Approach: APS Ecosystem Development GMC’s goal is to strengthen the ecosystem around the emerging affordable private school sector to ensure that schools have access to affordable tools and resources that allow them to offer quality education in a sustainable manner. We want to support schools in their quest to keep learning at the forefront of the business model, believing that quality is a key driver of viability. The ecosystem consists of a network of stakeholders including school owners/principals, teachers, parents and students working with external partners such as education service providers, donors, investors, and regulators. We will fortify the ecosystem by focusing on the following strategic objectives: (1) Quality Teaching and Learning, (2) Management Leadership, (3) Infrastructure Development, (4) Advancing Knowledge, and (5) Transparency. Philosophy: Social Enterprise Sustainability is the cornerstone of GMC interventions. Activities are prioritized according to market demand and will not undermine the market-based models. Over the long run, it is our vision that school owners will recognize the benefits and adopt these new methods as part of doing business well. Therefore, they will incorporate the costs of the tools into their expenses without compromising financial viability. Impact By incorporating social enterprise philosophy into its ecosystem building initiatives, GMC aims to increase learning outcomes in 1,000 affordable private schools in Hyderabad, AP by 2011. Once a scalable and impactful model is developed and tested successfully, GMC will expand its activities to benefit India’s low-income children at the national level.

1 Since 1996, Gray Ghost Ventures has worked to foster strategic innovation by incubating and investing in enterprises and tools to provide market-based solutions to social issues. Through the initiatives of its investment activities and charitable foundations, The Rockdale Foundation and Gray Matters Capital Foundation (GMC), Gray Ghost Ventures has improved capacity of the microfinance industry in the Arab world, supported successful reform efforts in the Atlanta Public Schools, and created the first privately-held global microfinance investment portfolio and social venture capital fund, offering both financial and social returns.

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Job Summary: GMC is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial executive manager who is excited by the challenge of innovating demand driven solutions and strengthening the infrastructure of an emerging education market. The Program Manager will report to the Program Officer on strategic direction and ensure overall success of the India initiative. She/he will cultivate ecosystem partnerships, set industry practice and standards for performance and accountability, as well as lead a growing dynamic team. The ideal candidate will thrive in a start-up environment, and bring leadership and expertise in sourcing, due diligence, monitoring, analysis, and planning. Responsibilities and Tasks: Management/Strategic Direction:
Collaborate with and report to Program Officer on the development of both the short-term and long-term strategic agendas
Maintain a thorough understanding of the APS landscape in the country and the key priorities, opportunities, and gaps
Establish and oversee processes and tools for planning, budgeting and financial reporting
Present results and sustain communication and information flow with the Program Officer, Atlanta team, and Advisory Board.
Lead talent recruitment and management of local staff including capacity building, goal setting, and performance evaluation
Represent GMC in a variety of venues to diverse audiences from high level to the general public. Programs Portfolio: Quality Teaching and Learning and Management Leadership
Manage the programs portfolio from design through execution, monitoring and evaluation
Identify promising partners and maintain pipeline of opportunities
Establish performance tracking systems, as well as conduct ongoing portfolio financial and social impact analysis
In collaboration with GMC Relationship Manager, ensure portfolio alignment with market demand and facilitate the delivery of programs and services Ecosystem/Infrastructure Building:
Serve as the direct point of contact for ecosystem stakeholders; cultivating and maintaining trust-based relationships through a track record of delivering results
Conceptualize, plan, and launch of an industry association that will engage ecosystem stakeholders and set industry benchmarks
Set marketing strategies with the help of GMC Communications Associate, as well as research and awareness initiatives Skills: • Project management experience • A strong networker with an intuitive ability to understand stakeholders and build collaborative relationships • Comfortable working in both low income communities and corporate environments • Strong self-motivation, enthusiasm, the ability to work cross-culturally • Superior organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks • Excellent listening skills, and strong written and communication skills Qualifications: • Master’s Degree in relevant field and minimum 8 years work experience in private or public sector enterprise with increasing levels of responsibility and leadership • Proven track record to innovate and achieve outcomes in environments that are less structured • Proficient at working on highly complex problems, with multiple stakeholders, and achieving consensus • Experience in strategic planning, and mentoring and leading teams • Professional, social and cultural experience in India • Knowledge of education is ideal but not essential

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Working Conditions: Position will be based in Hyderabad, AP and will require frequent visits to low income communities as well as travel across India. The GMC culture is results-oriented and similar to a start-up. A competitive Indian salary and benefits package (medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance) will be commensurate with experience. Application Instructions: To apply, send the following items to Molly McMahon at [email protected]. Please th state the position in the email subject heading. Applications must be received before May 20 . 1) Cover letter with responses (max 2 pages) to the following questions:
What do you believe is the role of private schools for the poor in India?
Please describe how you would engage the various ecosystem stakeholders in this emerging education market 2) CV (max 2 pages)
Please tailor CV to this specific position and include contact information for two references

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