Manager, Learning Research and Policy

Manager, Learning Research and Policy

Room to Read

New Delhi, India

Position Overview:

The manager will oversee knowledge management and innovation initiatives, fostering collaboration across departments to identify educational trends and design impactful learning interventions Additionally, the role will lead policy engagement and influencing strategies by cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, steer the dissemination of insights through strategic knowledge-sharing platforms, and guide research efforts that generate actionable evidence to inform programming and policy advocacy aligned with Room to Read’s mission.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Knowledge Management, Learning and Innovation Initiatives:

• Oversee knowledge management activities, including capturing, sharing, and ensuring accessibility of knowledge assets;
• Develop organization learning documents in collaboration with various departments (Program, Operations, RM&E);
• Research and assess collaboration trends in education, identifying innovative technologies and instructional methods for enhanced learning experiences;
• Design and implement learning interventions addressing identified needs within RtR, focusing on custom projects and organizational learning;
• Stay informed on educational trends (early grade literacy, girl education, life skills) and use this knowledge to assess and inform RtR’s literacy program and strategy;
• Facilitate internal communities of practice that foster cross-functional learning, peer exchange, and professional development around core education themes;
• Ensure systematic documentation and codification of programmatic and operational learnings, especially from pilot initiatives and custom projects, for long-term institutional memory;
• Support monitoring of innovation pilots through the development of learning questions, data capture tools, and periodic reflection sessions;
• Leverage technology platforms (e.g., LMS, intranet) to disseminate knowledge resources and learning tools across geographically distributed teams.

Collaboration, Policy Analysis, and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Analyze government policies, sector trends, and donor interest areas, presenting insights to Country Management Team, Programs, and Operations;
• Build relationships with NGOs and other organizations aligned with RtR’s agenda, collaborating with the government to support early grade reading and life skills initiatives;
• Identify potential collaborators and competitors, assessing RtR’s comparative advantage;
• Lead organizational effectiveness efforts and strategic initiatives, ensuring collaboration between horizontal and vertical functions for improved outcomes;
• Develop briefing notes and advocacy materials to support leadership in high-level engagements with government, donors, and civil society actors;
• Establish mechanisms for regular dialogue with government counterparts to track progress, identify challenges, and co-create scalable models;
• Guide the alignment of custom project goals with national/state education priorities, ensuring responsiveness to local policy contexts;
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration for joint initiatives, such as state-level education summits, dissemination workshops, and research publications;
• Contribute to institutional positioning and brand visibility by ensuring that policy engagement and stakeholder collaboration reflect Room to Read’s values and impact narrative.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Master’s in education/social sciences/Social Work or equivalent;
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience;
• Knowledge of various programs and organizations in the field of early grade reading/literacy and Gender/Girls education in India and abroad;
• Excellent managerial and interpersonal skills, including skills of managing and mentoring people;
• Good written and oral communication skills;
• Understanding of government structure and policy formulation;
• Experience of working with Government at National and state level and bringing a policy impact/change;
• Excellent presentation skills and expertise in presentation tools;
• Basic understanding of evidence building and dissemination practices.

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