Gmc Relationship Manager

Job Title: Relationship 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. 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 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

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 entrepreneurial manager who is excited by the opportunity to cultivate partnerships with school leaders, and work collaboratively to increase management capacity, identify demand driven solutions to increase quality, and set industry performance benchmarks. The Relationship Manager will strengthen the ecosystem by building relationships that will facilitate the execution of the program portfolio. The ideal candidate will thrive in a start-up environment, have a passion for education, and is comfortable spending at least 60% of their time in low-income schools. Responsibilities and Tasks: • • • • • • • • • •

Serve as the direct point of contact for schools; cultivating and maintaining trust-based relationships through a track record of delivering results Maintain a thorough understanding of the school market; the key priorities, opportunities, and gaps Create a delivery channel to facilitate execution, monitoring, and evaluation of the program portfolio Identify and make recommendations for the opportunities pipeline, ensuring alignment with market demand Develop and maintain tracking systems, maps, and a database of schools and ecosystem partners Coordinate with Communications/Public Relations Associate on marketing strategies and consult on research and awareness initiatives Collaborate with the Country Director on the development, launch, and management of an association that will engage ecosystem stakeholders and establish industry benchmarks Sustain communication and information flow between schools and the GMC team Represent GMC to diverse audiences at the school and community level Promote the school rating; explain benefits and results to school managers and set school performance goals

Skills: • 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 • Ability to conceptualize, administer, evaluate and communicate education programs Qualifications: • BA level degree or equivalent in relevant field and minimum 4 years work experience • Knowledge of the Old City, and fluent in Telugu and/or Urdu • English/Hindi language (spoken) • Knowledge of education is ideal but not essential Working Conditions: Position will be based in Hyderabad, India and will require 60% time in low income communities and schools. 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 state the position in the email subject heading. Applications must be received before May 20th. 1) CV 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 build trust based and effective relationships with school corresondents, teachers, parents, and students. 2) CV (max 2 pages) • Please tailor CV to this specific position and include contact information for (2) references

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