High Quality
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Job Title: Program ManagerJob 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 Ventures
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, usesphilanthropic capital to research and co-create initiatives with partners in developing countries to buildsustainable, replicable business models for the benefit of underserved populations. One of GMC’sfocus areas is to increase the access to and quality of primary and secondary education for the poorin India. GMC is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, USA.
Focus: Affordable Private Schools (APSs) in Hyderabad, India
GMC believes that access to quality education can provide new opportunities and significantlyimprove lives. Many countries are facing severe problems with their government-run educationsystem due to limited resources and multiple layers of bureaucracy resulting in ineffective learningenvironments. As a result, privately owned schools for low-income families have been started byeducational entrepreneurs. Families become paying clients with rights to insist on quality. Theygenerate market demand and drive intense competition through school selection. Because theseschools are social enterprises, they put an emphasis on quality, efficiency and performance, justifyingthe modest tuition charged that allow them to become sustainable enterprises. The combinedbusiness and academic model makes these schools a market-based solution to increase access andquality 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 toensure that schools have access to affordable tools and resources that allow them to offer qualityeducation in a sustainable manner. We want to support schools in their quest to keep learning at theforefront of the business model, believing that quality is a key driver of viability
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The ecosystemconsists of a network of stakeholders including school owners/principals, teachers, parents andstudents working with external partners such as education service providers, donors, investors, andregulators.We will fortify the ecosystem by focusing on the following strategic objectives: (1) Quality Teachingand Learning, (2) Management Leadership, (3) Infrastructure Development, (4) AdvancingKnowledge, and (5) Transparency.
Philosophy: Social Enterprise
Sustainability is the cornerstone of GMC interventions. Activities are prioritized according to marketdemand and will not undermine the market-based models. Over the long run, it is our vision thatschool owners will recognize the benefits and adopt these new methods as part of doing businesswell. Therefore, they will incorporate the costs of the tools into their expenses without compromisingfinancial viability.
Impact
By incorporating social enterprise philosophy into its ecosystem building initiatives, GMC aims toincrease learning outcomes in 1,000 affordable private schools in Hyderabad, AP by 2011. Once ascalable and impactful model is developed and tested successfully, GMC will expand its activities tobenefit India’s low-income children at the national level.
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Since 1996, Gray Ghost Ventures has worked to foster strategic innovation by incubating and investing in enterprises andtools to provide market-based solutions to social issues. Through the initiatives of its investment activities and charitablefoundations, The Rockdale Foundation and Gray Matters Capital Foundation (GMC), Gray Ghost Ventures has improvedcapacity of the microfinance industry in the Arab world, supported successful reform efforts in the Atlanta Public Schools, andcreated the first privately-held global microfinance investment portfolio and social venture capital fund, offering both financialand social returns.
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Job Summary:
GMC is seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial executive manager who is excited by thechallenge of innovating demand driven solutions and strengthening the infrastructure of an emergingeducation market. The Program Manager will report to the Program Officer on strategic direction andensure overall success of the India initiative. She/he will cultivate ecosystem partnerships, set industrypractice and standards for performance and accountability, as well as lead a growing dynamic team.The ideal candidate will thrive in a start-up environment, and bring leadership and expertise insourcing, due diligence, monitoring, analysis, and planning.
Responsibilities and Tasks:Management/Strategic Direction:
Collaborate with and report to Program Officer on the development of both the short-term andlong-term strategic agendas
Maintain a thorough understanding of the APS landscape in the country and the key priorities,opportunities, and gaps
Establish and oversee processes and tools for planning, budgeting and financial reporting
Present results and sustain communication and information flow with the Program Officer,Atlanta team, and Advisory Board.
Lead talent recruitment and management of local staff including capacity building, goalsetting, and performance evaluation
Represent GMC in a variety of venues to diverse audiences from high level to the generalpublic.
Programs Portfolio: Quality Teaching and Learning and Management Leadership
Manage the programs portfolio from design through execution, monitoring and evaluation
Identify promising partners and maintain pipeline of opportunities
Establish performance tracking systems, as well as conduct ongoing portfolio financial andsocial impact analysis
In collaboration with GMC Relationship Manager, ensure portfolio alignment with marketdemand and facilitate the delivery of programs and services
Ecosystem/Infrastructure Building:
Serve as the direct point of contact for ecosystem stakeholders; cultivating and maintainingtrust-based relationships through a track record of delivering results
Conceptualize, plan, and launch of an industry association that will engage ecosystemstakeholders and set industry benchmarks
Set marketing strategies with the help of GMC Communications Associate, as well asresearch and awareness initiatives
Skills:
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Project management experience
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A strong networker with an intuitive ability to understand stakeholders and build collaborativerelationships
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Comfortable working in both low income communities and corporate environments
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Strong self-motivation, enthusiasm, the ability to work cross-culturally
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Superior organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks
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Excellent listening skills, and strong written and communication skills
Qualifications
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Master’s Degree in relevant field and minimum 8 years work experience in private or publicsector enterprise with increasing levels of responsibility and leadership
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Proven track record to innovate and achieve outcomes in environments that are lessstructured
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Proficient at working on highly complex problems, with multiple stakeholders, and achievingconsensus
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Experience in strategic planning, and mentoring and leading teams
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Professional, social and cultural experience in India
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Knowledge of education is ideal but not essential
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