Senior Program Associate - Strategic Public Finance at CEGIS Foundation

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

23 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

23 Dec, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Data Analysis, Insight Generation, Research, Documentation, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, Project Management, Delivery, Problem-Solving, Econometric Analysis, Report Writing, Presentation Skills, Collaboration, Leadership, Data Cleaning, MS Office Proficiency, Fluency in English and Hindi

Industry

Public Policy

Description

About the projects in Uttar Pradesh: CEGIS has partnered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to strengthen governance systems and enable data-driven decision-making in the states Finance and Planning departments. The partnership supports Uttar Pradeshs strategic vision through initiatives to establish a Financial Analytics Unit, strengthen data systems for improved planning and service delivery, and build institutional and personnel capacity aligned with Mission Karmayogi principles. This collaboration aims to embed evidence-based reforms and enhance outcomes across the states core development priorities. Position Summary The Senior Program Associate (SPA) will play an important role in contextualising and executing the CEGIS vision in Government of Uttar Pradesh. The role will collaborate with other CEGIS teams (Outcome Measurement, Public Finance; Personnel Management; Sectoral teams). The Senior Program Associate will be directly reporting to the respective Program Manager in the State. Role and Responsibilities: Data Analysis and Insight Generation: Engage with departments to collect relevant data, develop quantitative and qualitative tools/templates, administer these tools, and support in cleaning and organizing the data. Track and analyze data for accuracy and conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis. Extract important insights from complex datasets relevant to key stakeholders. Prioritize and address data issues promptly to support project progress and decision-making. Ensure compliance with internal data management and security protocols Research and Documentation Independently conduct research and root cause analysis, documenting and presenting insights. Produce comprehensive presentations and documentation to convey critical project insights. Collaborate with other teams to jointly develop and implement technical solutions tailored to specific project requirements as is suitable for the states context. Create concept notes, policy briefs, and other documentation for stakeholder communication. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Evaluate project contingencies and engage with internal and external stakeholders. Assist the project team in collecting critical information and departmental updates by maintaining regular communication with government counterparts, partner organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. Coordinate stakeholder meetings and gather feedback for project progress and decision-making. Foster deep connections with stakeholders and suggest innovative ideas to nurture partnerships. Project Management & Delivery: Understand project requirements, coordinate with internal teams and external partners for delivery excellence. Support comparison and assessment of different strategies, frameworks, and solutions for effective decision-making. Plan and prioritise work plans, ensuring accountability for set timelines. Assist in altering project goals and outcomes based on stakeholder feedback and project progress, flag project risks. Support knowledge management processes to help achieve project and organisational objectives (for example, assisting in maintaining a project-based knowledge repository). Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities: A Masters degree or equivalent preferred in economics, public policy, social science or related fields from a reputed institution, bright graduate applicants may be considered. 3-6 years of experience. Minimum 3 years of work experience in India with organisations working in related fields of work i.e., research agencies, policy think-tanks, government or private sector organisations working on government advisory or consulting Proven experience in project management and analytical contributions. Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills. Experience with data cleaning and analysis of large and complex data sets and econometric analysis Knowledge of STATA or R (strongly preferred) or any other data analysis software is preferred Experience in client servicing/government projects would be preferred Report writing and presentations with proficiency in MS Office and other tools Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities Fluency in English and Hindi proficiency Excellent problem-solving skills, with an aptitude for research to formulate solutions Excellent writing and communication skills (ability to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way and across different audiences) Ability to set priorities, plan timelines and meet deadlines Ability to think creatively, willing to take risks, to experiment with new ideas and to turn ideas into action High ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understanding and valuing others views Operating style suited to working independently and in a small organization setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued Location and Compensation Location: The role can be based out of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Travel to other states may be required. Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidate's experience levels. Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form. Pre-reads CEGIS Overview A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024 Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan – on education , healthcare , federalism and state capacity, and bureaucracy in India. You are also highly encouraged to read Prof. Karthik Muralidharans book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development that informs much of CEGISs work and theory of change (especially Chapters 1, 4-6, 10-12, and 15-16)

Responsibilities

The Senior Program Associate will contextualize and execute the CEGIS vision in the Government of Uttar Pradesh, collaborating with various teams and engaging with stakeholders. Responsibilities include data analysis, research, stakeholder communication, and project management.