Digital Programs Manager

About Pratham International

Pratham International is a US 501(c)(3) established to support learning innovations for children and youth in contexts across the globe. We enable the adaptation and spread of proven and scalable education solutions pioneered in India by Pratham Education Foundation to contexts across the global south through programming and technical assistance tailored to local realities.  Today, Pratham reaches approximately 7.5 million children annually across 23 Indian states and union territories and several more million across 31 countries.

Through the Pratham Shah PraDigi Innovation Centre (PraDigi), Pratham International also seeks to create technology innovations for low-resource communities, and support models aimed at learning for school, work, and life for children and youth. We work on several cutting-edge projects in the domain of Generative AI, Automatic Speech Recognition, and Natural Language Processing. 

The team’s innovative technology products include the PadhAI: Reading Assessment App, which uses advanced speech recognition to evaluate children’s reading fluency in 8 Indian languages and 6 global languages; Anytime Testing Model (ATM), an AI-enabled question generation and grading system that allows learners to be assessed on any topic, anytime; and a suite of AI-powered chatbots designed for diverse learning contexts: from early childhood care, to youth employment readiness, and OCR-based analysis tools that digitize and assess student work at scale. 

At Pratham International, we build for the long term. Whether it’s ensuring products are truly accessible across rural India and the global south through languages, building datasets to ensure context and accuracy for products, or gathering feedback from the field.  Backed by partners like Google.org, Anthropic, and the Gates Foundation, we are committed to building digital public goods that ensure every child is in school and learning well.

Role Overview

We are seeking a results-oriented Manager – Digital Programs to lead our expanding technology portfolio in Kenya and support our growth in Africa. This role  works across critical aspects of high-level partnership management and implementation of technology solutions. 

The Manager will be responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and scaling of impactful, tech-enabled learning programs in Kenya and other countries in Africa. You will drive the roadmap for our digital learning solutions and AI-enabled tools, ensuring that community-centric edtech innovations reach their full potential.  The role is ideal for someone who is passionate about education, social innovation, and the potential of technology to drive equitable learning, and who is eager to grow in a dynamic, cross-functional, and globally collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Design & rollout Digital Programs in Kenya & the region: Drive the digital programs and plans for the expansion of AI-enabled solutions in Kenya and other countries in Africa.
• Local Integration: Oversee collaboration with partners and stakeholders in implementation locations to ensure deep contextualization of content, delivery, and assessments.
• Program Management: Accountable for program timelines, ensuring all deliverables across multiple projects align with donor goals, commitments and compliance norms.
• Evidence & Evaluation: Direct the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks to measure impact and iterate on digital interventions.
• Field Leadership: Provide daily technical and operational support to field teams to resolve implementation bottlenecks.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for donors, technical collaborators, and implementation partners in Kenya.
• Technical Collaboration: Manage complex relationships with AI development partners and research institutions to retain our work at the cutting edge.
• Contractual Oversight: Oversee the drafting and execution of MoUs and formal agreements with external stakeholders.

Managing Financials, Documentation & Thought Leadership

• Financial Oversight: Manage program budgets and ensure rigorous monthly financial reporting.
• Knowledge Products: Oversee the production of high-quality reports to meet donor requirements and presentations, and papers that highlight program innovations for global audiences.
• Voice of the Organization: Author and edit blogs and articles to position Pratham International’s digital work at the forefront of the edtech sector.

Events and Knowledge Exchange

• Global Representation: Represent Pratham International at international symposia and learning exchanges.
• Internal Leadership: Coordinate cross-functional updates for internal leadership to facilitate organizational alignment.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (Education, Development, Public Policy, or related field) preferred.
• Experience: 5–8 years of experience in program leadership, stakeholder management, or digital transformation, with atleast 3 years in the Education sector.
• Communication: Exceptional writing and public speaking skills, with a proven ability to influence external stakeholders.
• Project Mastery: Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects with meticulous attention to detail.
• Technical Savvy: High proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with EdTech tools.
• Global Mobility: Willingness and ability to travel extensively, including frequent international travel.
• Cultural Intelligence: Proven ability to work across diverse cultures with ease.
• Work across time zones: Openness to work across 2-3 time zones in a day - with teams spread across India, the US, Africa and Latin America.

Why join us?

• Impact at Scale: Your work will directly support the learning journeys of millions of children. With programs active in 31 countries, you will help build Digital Public Goods that bridge the gap for the millions of children across the Global South who still struggle with foundational literacy
• Innovation at the intersection of Education and Technology: Lead the charge in redefining learning and learning processes through technology. You will contribute to the design and development of cutting-edge learning tools and AI-driven initiatives, ensuring EdTech isn't just a buzzword, but a scalable solution for global equity. 
• A Culture of Growth and Evidence: At Pratham, we value rigorous testing and continuous learning. You will have the autonomy to experiment with the latest SOTA models, supported by a 5-year strategic roadmap and funding from partners like the Gates Foundation and Anthropic.
• High-Calibre, Mission-Driven Team: You will work alongside a global team of experts from institutions like MIT, Harvard, and INSEAD. Our alumni have gone on to lead successful startups and international policy shifts, all while remaining dedicated to the goal of "Every Child in School and Learning Well."
• Inclusive and Collaborative Environment: Join a diverse team that spans Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We value innovative thinking and local expertise, ensuring that the technology we build is deeply rooted in the realities of the communities we serve.

Employment Details

• Vacancy: 1
• Expected Start Date: Immediate
• Location: Kenya; work authorization for Kenya needed
• Remuneration: Based on candidate’s experience and skillset

Pratham International is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified people from diverse backgrounds to apply for positions within our organisation, regardless of race, gender, disability or any other status.

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