Officer/ Senior officer -Government Partnerships- Tamil Nadu : Lend A Hand India

Lend A Hand India, established in 2006 in Pune, Maharashtra, is a non-profit organization working at the intersection of education and livelihood to provide youth employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Lend A Hand India focuses on integrating vocational education with mainstream education at secondary and higher secondary education levels (Grades 9-12 and students aged 14-18) to make secondary education more meaningful and interesting for their sustainable livelihoods. We set up labs with requisite tools and equipment, recruit and train qualified vocational trainers, arrange internship opportunities for the students, and get them assessed and certified, followed by placement support. Students are also provided internship opportunities with small or micro-enterprises to help them gain real-life exposure to the “World of Work.” We also bridge the gap between policy and execution by providing technical and project management support to the state governments to scale up vocational education. Our team members are co-located within the state education department, helping the state formulate the policy for vocational education and ensure effective execution. Out of 270+ employees, 50+ Lend A Hand India staff members support 25 states across India. Lend A Hand India’s current scale in partnership with state governments is 12,000+ schools with 1.2 million+ students.

Job Description
The Officer/ Senior Officer (Internships & Government Partnership) plays a critical role in supporting state-level implementation of Skill Education and Internships in schools by managing data, monitoring program execution, and facilitating stakeholder interactions to effectively implement School-based Vocational Education Programs in Tamil Nadu.   This role involves hands-on work with various stakeholders at the state/district/block level as well as working to build industry linkages to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of  Vocational Education and Internship programs under Samagra Shiksha

Project Management and Stakeholder engagement

• Represent and coordinate Lend a Hand India’s vocational education initiatives within the state’s education department and lead the Internship program
• Develop and implement state-level initiatives for internships for school students.
• Monitor program implementation and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Generate monthly progress reports and oversee data management.
• Collaborate with government departments to support and guide project outcomes.

Internship

• Facilitate the implementation of internships at district and block levels.
• Support State Samagra Shiksha in monitoring internships and providing guidance to schools.
• Coordinate with local representatives, corporates, and industry partners for internship placements.
• Lead engagement initiatives that promote community and industry participation.
• Track student outcomes and support their post-vocational education pathways.
• Maintain communication with stakeholders and compile data for case studies and program impact assessment.

Requirements

• Engaging in extensive field travel, averaging 15 working days per month.
• Driving and achieving internship targets while ensuring adherence to quality standards
• Operating with minimal supervision in ambiguous or uncertain scenarios

Personal Attributes

• Enterprising nature with a make-it-happen attitude.
• Curiosity, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in data handling and business tools.
• A sense of humour and resilience in facing challenges.

Process Competency:

Understanding of government process and education- skill education eco system

• Fluency in Hindi, English and Tamil. Working knowledge of Tamil
• Proficiency in computer applications (PowerPoint, Word, Excel).
• Experience in using and managing MIS systems.