Gmc_communications And Research Associate

Job Title: Communications and Research Associate 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 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

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 communications associate who is excited by the challenge of developing a comprehensive public relations campaign that drives consensus for quality standards and attracts more stakeholders to the APS market. The ideal candidate will thrive in a start-up environment, and bring leadership and expertise in print and online media, PR, marketing, and brand management. The Communications and Research Associate will play a critical role in establishing GMC’s presence and market leadership in the Indian education sector. Responsibilities and Tasks: Public Relations/Communications:
Cultivate a public relations network of print, online, TV, and radio contacts
Write and disseminate press releases and human interest stories capturing the progress of the APS market and its stakeholders
Aggregate data and findings in a bi-annual public report that sets benchmarks and holds APS stakeholders accountable to student and school performance
Support Program Officer in developing and executing a stakeholder engagement strategy
Manage external communications utilizing stakeholder appropriate media tools: o Schools: Oversee industry newsletter o Stakeholders: Create an online distribution channel for APS news and research o GMC: Establish social networking spaces to increase collaborative thought partnership Research Agenda:
Collaborate with the Program Officer on developing a research agenda that explores best practices, identifies gaps, and advocates opportunities
Polish research findings for public circulation and standardize dissemination process
Partner on data collection and writing of case studies
Strengthen relationships and assess partnerships with research institutes, consulting firms, and market research vendors Brand Management:
Establish GMC brand and oversee marketing in India
Develop print collateral, press packages, and common templates for distribution
Serve as a liaison to the GMC’s Enterprising Schools awareness initiative Event Planning:
Oversee logistics and PR materials for leadership conferences, symposiums, and social action workshops. Skills: • Ability to write professionally for an international audience • Proficient use of design software (Illustrator, Photoshop etc), web site development, and social networking tools • 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: • BA level degree or equivalent in relevant field and minimum 4 years work experience • Strong background in communications, marketing, brand management, research and public relations • Telugu/Hindi language (spoken) Working Conditions: Position will be based in Hyderabad, India and will require frequent visits to low income communities. 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 provided.

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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) 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 leverage various forms of media to raise awareness of the APS market and drive consensus on quality education standards. 2) CV (max 2 pages) • Please tailor CV to this specific position and include contact information for two references

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