Program Associate – School Relations
North South Foundation is hiring a Program Associate – School Relations in Vijayawada (2–3 years' experience, ₹4–5 LPA). The role involves managing government school partnerships, training teachers on competency-based assessments, stakeholder engagement, and reporting. Ideal candidates have education/social sciences backgrounds and Telugu proficiency.
9/11/20263 min read
Program Associate – School Relations (Vijayawada): A Career Opportunity with North South Foundation
If you're searching for a meaningful career in the education and non-profit sector in Andhra Pradesh, North South Foundation (NSF) has opened applications for a Program Associate – School Relations role based in Vijayawada, India. This position offers professionals with 2–3 years of relevant experience the chance to work at the intersection of education policy, government partnerships, and grassroots impact.
Here's everything you need to know about this opportunity, the organization behind it, and how to apply.
About North South Foundation
North South Foundation (NSF) is a volunteer-driven non-profit that has been championing educational access since 1989 in the United States and since 2004 in India. Its mission centers on helping students — particularly those in government and budget private schools — achieve academic excellence and build leadership skills through scholarships and structured educational programs. Over the years, NSF has built a reputation for improving learning outcomes at scale by working directly with school systems and education departments across India.
Job Overview
DetailInformationJob TitleProgram Associate – School RelationsLocationVijayawada, IndiaOrganizationNorth South FoundationExperience Required2–3 yearsSalary₹4–5 LPAEmployment TypeFull-time
As the primary liaison between NSF, school systems, government education departments, and CSR/NGO partners, the Program Associate will play a pivotal role in expanding NSF's footprint across India. Working alongside a compact field team and interns, this role blends program execution, stakeholder management, and data-driven reporting.
Key Responsibilities
1. Program Implementation & Management
The role involves overseeing the execution of NSF's assessments and learning initiatives within government schools, coordinating closely with NSF headquarters on planning, student registrations, and progress tracking. The Program Associate also acts as the go-to contact for school leaders and education officials, resolving operational issues quickly, and helps design pilot programs that demonstrate the real-world impact of NSF's assessment tools.
2. Capacity Building & Training
A major part of the job centers on training and onboarding. This includes supporting the registration of students and teachers onto the NSF digital platform, conducting hands-on training sessions for teachers and school coordinators on Competency-Based Education (CBE) and Competency-Based Assessment (CBA), and providing on-ground support to ensure assessments and learning modules run smoothly.
3. School & Stakeholder Engagement
Relationship-building is central to this position. The Program Associate will build and maintain connections with education officials — including State Program Directors (SPDs), Commissioners, and District Collectors (DCs) — as well as CSR and NGO partners, to support Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and long-term collaborations. Regular field visits and virtual check-ins keep stakeholders engaged and challenges resolved quickly, while identifying and empowering school-level champions helps sustain program momentum.
4. Partnerships & Advocacy
The role also involves supporting partnerships across government bodies, CSR/NGO entities, and private-school initiatives — including MOU development and onboarding — and coordinating pilot programs with private and international schools. Representing NSF at government forums, education conferences, and stakeholder meetings is another key expectation, helping advocate for wider adoption of competency-based assessments.
5. Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation
Data and reporting form the backbone of accountability in this role. Responsibilities include defining and tracking KPIs related to student participation, program performance, and dashboard usage, preparing analytical reports and briefing documents for internal leadership and external stakeholders, and organizing periodic review meetings with district and state education officials to assess progress and refine strategy.
Who Should Apply? Required Qualifications & Experience
NSF is looking for candidates who bring both academic grounding and field-tested experience:
A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Education, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Social Work, or a related field
Experience in education program coordination, government partnerships, or project implementation
A demonstrated track record working with government school systems and education departments
Excellent communication skills in English, with proficiency in Telugu considered essential given the Vijayawada/Andhra Pradesh regional focus
Proficiency in MS Office, Google Suite, and data-visualization tools
Desirable Attributes
Beyond qualifications, NSF values candidates who demonstrate:
A genuine passion for equitable learning outcomes and social impact
Strong interpersonal and networking skills across diverse stakeholder groups, from government officials to school teachers
A self-motivated, detail-oriented approach, with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
Strategic thinking paired with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset
Willingness to travel 3–5 days a month across the region for field visits and stakeholder engagement
Why This Role Matters
This position sits at a unique intersection of education technology, public policy, and on-ground implementation. For professionals passionate about improving learning outcomes in government schools, this role offers direct exposure to how large-scale educational interventions are designed, piloted, and scaled through partnerships with state education departments and CSR initiatives — making it an excellent fit for those building a career in the social impact and education development sector in India.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can send their resume and a brief cover letter to archana.chamanti@northsouth.org with the subject line:
"Program Associate – School Relations (Vijayawada Region)"
If you're passionate about driving educational equity and want hands-on experience managing government and CSR partnerships in the education space, this could be your next career move.
For more information about North South Foundation's mission and programs, candidates are encouraged to research the organization's work in scholarship distribution and academic skill-building across India and the USA.
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