Organisation's Profile

Transform Schools is working to ensure that every child realises their full potential in school and beyond. Anchored in India's national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 5, and 10), our mission is to improve learning outcomes, gender equity, and life opportunities for secondary-grade students aged 13–18. 

We co-design and implement evidence-based education programmes with State governments, with a focus on strengthening foundational learning, building equitable learning environments, and preparing students for transitions beyond school. Our work combines pedagogical innovation, teacher development, data-driven systemic reform to ensure every adolescent, especially those from underserved communities, can thrive. As co-convenors of the State of Secondary Education (SOSE) global collaborative, we are also shaping a global agenda to position secondary education as a societal minimum standard, mobilising research, investment, and practice across the Global South. 

A key part of our work is the Learning Equaliser Programme, an integrated learning, gender, and life skills initiative for students in Classes 8 and 9. The programme combines targeted academic instruction with gender-transformative education and life skills development to address both learning gaps and the social barriers that affect adolescents? agency, aspirations, and well-being. Through structured instruction, participatory learning methods, and engagement with teachers, parents, and communities, the programme aims to create supportive ecosystems that enable adolescents of all genders to exercise voice, confidence, and leadership. 

Our work spans two institutional vehicles: People For Action, a charitable society that delivers CSR and grant-funded programmes, and The Transform Trust, which leads outcomes-linked engagements. 

With a strong footprint across multiple states and a commitment to scale, we aim to reach 30 million children by 2030, building a future where quality secondary education is a reality for all. 

Job Purpose

Transform Schools is developing the Learning Equaliser (LE) approach. This school-based programme seeks to enable adolescents to question restrictive norms, build agency, and engage in more equitable relationships with peers, teachers, and families. 

Transform Schools is seeking a Programme Officer – Gender and Life Skills to support the effective implementation and quality delivery of gender-focused programme interventions across the assigned region. 

The role will work closely with Programme teams, regional teams and a network of facilitators to ensure that gender-related programme activities are delivered consistently, effectively and in accordance with the programme design. The incumbent will provide day-to-day guidance and support to facilitators, monitor field implementation, identify implementation challenges and support timely resolution.

The role requires a working understanding of gender norms, gender-equitable behaviours and adolescent development, with the ability to translate these concepts into practical programme implementation. The position is not expected to lead the organisation's overall gender strategy but will serve as a programme specialist who ensures that gender components are effectively integrated into field implementation. 

The Senior Programme Officer will also contribute to facilitator capacity building, programme planning, field monitoring, documentation, reporting and learning. The role will work closely with the State Lead and other technical and implementation teams to strengthen programme quality and ensure that gender outcomes are meaningfully reflected in programme delivery. 

1. Regional Programme Implementation

• Serve as the organisation's technical authority on gender, providing strategic direction across programmes, partnerships, research, and internal systems.
• Support the planning and implementation of gender-focused programme activities across the assigned region.
• Ensure that programme activities are implemented according to approved programme design, curriculum, tools, timelines, and quality standards.
• Work closely with regional programme teams to integrate gender-focused activities into ongoing programme implementation.
• Support programme teams in translating gender concepts and programme approaches into practical field-level activities.
• Track implementation progress and identify gaps, delays or emerging challenges requiring support.
• Ensure timely completion of programme activities and achievement of agreed implementation milestones.
  

2. Facilitator Management and Support

• Manage, guide and support facilitators responsible for delivering gender-focused programme interventions in the assigned region.
• Provide regular guidance to facilitators on session preparation, delivery, classroom/group facilitation and engagement with adolescents.
• Conduct regular review meetings with facilitators to discuss progress, challenges, field experiences and support requirements.
• Observe facilitator sessions periodically and provide constructive feedback to improve facilitation quality.
• Identify individual facilitator capacity-building needs and work with the Programme Lead to address them.
• Support facilitators in maintaining appropriate programme documentation, attendance records, session records and field reports. 

3. Field Monitoring and Quality Assurance

• Conduct regular field visits to monitor programme implementation and facilitator performance.
• Observe programme sessions and assess the quality of facilitation, participant engagement and adherence to programme methodology.
• Use agreed monitoring tools and checklists to document observations and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide timely feedback to facilitators and regional programme teams following field visits.
• Track recurring implementation issues and support the development of practical solutions.
• Escalate significant programme quality or safeguarding concerns through appropriate channels.
• Contribute to maintaining consistent programme quality across the assigned region.
• Support the development of regional implementation plans, activity calendars and facilitator deployment plans.
• Coordinate with regional programme teams to ensure that facilitators have the information, materials and support required for timely implementation.
• Track programme activities against agreed plans and flag risks to timelines.
• Coordinate with relevant internal teams for programme materials, training, data collection and other implementation requirements.
• Participate in programme review meetings and contribute field-level perspectives and recommendations.

4. Stakeholder Coordination

• Build effective working relationships with regional programme teams, facilitators and other implementation stakeholders.
• Coordinate with school-level and community-level stakeholders, as required for programme implementation.
• Represent the gender programme component professionally during field engagements and programme meetings.
• Communicate programme requirements and expectations clearly to facilitators and implementation teams.
• Escalate operational or technical issues appropriately and ensure timely follow-up. 

5. Programme Learning and Continuous Improvement

• Regularly reflect on programme implementation and identify opportunities to improve facilitator support and programme quality.
• Contribute to reviews of programme tools, facilitation approaches and implementation processes based on field experience.
• Share practical recommendations with the Programme Lead and wider programme team.
• Participate in internal learning forums and contribute to organisational knowledge-building on gender-responsive programme implementation. 

Qualifications and Skills

• Postgraduate or graduate qualification in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Education, Psychology, Sociology or a related discipline.
• 4–6 years of relevant professional experience in programme implementation, gender programming, adolescent development, education, community development or a related field.
• Working knowledge of gender norms, gender roles, stereotypes and gender-equitable behaviours, preferably in the context of adolescents or young people.
• Demonstrated experience in managing, mentoring, coaching or supporting field teams/facilitators.
• Experience in conducting field visits, observing programme sessions and providing constructive feedback to frontline staff.
• Experience in programme implementation, monitoring, documentation and reporting.
• Strong facilitation and training skills, with the ability to engage adult learners and frontline staff.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.