EkStep Foundation

Associate Manager – Operations & Strategy

AXL – Assisted Language & Math Learning | axl.org.in

LOCATION

Bengaluru, Karnataka

WORK TYPE

On-site

JOINING

Immediate or within 30 days

ABOUT EKSTEP FOUNDATION

EkStep Foundation is a nonprofit co-founded by Nandan Nilekani, Rohini Nilekani, and Shankar Maruwada. We work to improve foundational learning outcomes for children across India by building open digital infrastructure, applying Societal Platform thinking, and creating digital public goods that enable large-scale impact in education.

AXL (Assisted Language and Math Learning) is EkStep's flagship AI-powered program , active across 10000+ government schools in 6+ states.

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are hiring an Operations Manager to sit at the nerve centre of AXL's multi-state program from Bengaluru. Coordinating implementation health, supporting leadership on strategy, building systems that allow field teams to operate independently, and managing a small central team and also doing ground operations. You will be the connective tissue between field operations, central leadership, government stakeholders, and implementation partners.

This role is for someone who is analytically strong, writes with clarity, builds systems instinctively, and can handle team of at least 10-15 members

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Multi-State Program Coordination

- Serve as the operational hub for AXL's active state deployments — tracking health, flagging risks, and driving resolution across multiple states.
- Work closely with state-level ops leads and interns to surface bottlenecks and coordinate resolution from the centre.




- Prepare structured program updates, governance reports, and status briefs for leadership and external stakeholders.

Strategy & Program Design Support

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- Contribute to current state onboarding frameworks, pilot design, and scale-up planning.
- Assist leadership in preparing for government meetings, MoU discussions, funder reporting, and partner engagements.
- Synthesise field and data insights into recommendations on program design, resource allocation, and state prioritisation.

Stakeholder & Partner Coordination

- Liaise with implementation partners (NGOs, PMU agencies, state government teams) to ensure alignment on goals, timelines, and deliverables.
- Coordinate between central team functions — product, program, evidence — so field inputs reach the right people and decisions loop back.

Team & Operations Management

- Manage and coordinate a central team of 5-10 associates or interns based in Bengaluru.
- Own the central reporting rhythm — weekly dashboards, monthly state reviews, quarterly summary packages.
- Build and maintain centralised documentation — SOP repositories, state playbooks, training materials, and decision logs.
- Manage vendor coordination, procurement, and central operational logistics as needed.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR





Experience

- 2–4+ years in program management, field operations, strategy, or coordination
- Demonstrated experience managing or coordinating teams of 10 or more people, or programs spanning multiple sites or geographies.
- Exposure to government stakeholder engagement, state-level program design, or policy-linked implementation is a significant advantage.
- Prior experience in a PMU, consulting firm, or strategic planning role in a nonprofit or social enterprise is preferred.

Skills & Attributes

- Strategic thinker — zooms out to see patterns, gaps, and opportunities across a complex, multi-state program portfolio.
- Analytically strong — comfortable with data, dashboards, and turning numbers into clear, actionable insights.
- Exceptional written communication — produces sharp, well-structured reports, briefs, and presentations for senior audiences.
- Systems-oriented — builds SOPs, trackers, and documentation so institutional knowledge doesn't sit only in people's heads.
- Collaborative and credible — holds relationships with senior leadership, field teams, and government counterparts simultaneously.
- Proficient in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and MS Office; comfortable with data tracking and reporting tools.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Background in management consulting, program design, or impact evaluation frameworks.
- Telugu language proficiency is a plus given the active states.
- Strong English writing skills — essential, as this role regularly produces leadership facing communication.

📌 Operations Manager (Bengaluru)
🏢 Ekstep Foundation
📍 Bengaluru