Academic Lead

Job Description

The Center will undertake the following activities: Run reflective and immersive practice-oriented certificate programs for youth with teaching degrees but unable to secure employment as a teacher. Run online and in-person in-service certificate programs to strengthen teachers pedagogical and subject competencies. Function as a resource center for teachers to learn and experiment in the spirit of continuous learning and development. The scope of work for the project will be as follows: Design and execute a certification course for aspiring teachers rooted in immersive and reflective practice. Conduct classes, field internships, and reflection sessions with course participants to enable successful mastery of learning competencies. Partner with schools and educational institutions to facilitate placement for the successfully certified course participants. Conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation to assess project progress and outcomes. Job Description and Responsibilities The Academic Lead of the Teacher Excellence Lab will work with the Chief Programs Officer, LFE, and the faculty of the CETE, TISS to ensure project goals are achieved. Additionally, they will support teaching faculty to successfully plan and implement the project at the center. This is an aspirational senior leadership position to revolutionize the pre-service teacher professional development working with reputed sector leaders in the field of teacher education. Program Design and Operations (60%) Design of detailed iterative blended and in-person teacher training certificate programs with measurable outcomes under the guidance of CETE Academic Experts. Design processes, rubrics, and checklists for the content team to create high-quality outputs based on industry standards and evidence-based practices while adhering to strict timelines Advise on and oversee the design of training materials, scripts, storyboards, course outlines, structured lesson plans, and other auxiliary training-related aspects. Advise on and oversee the design of project plans, pre and post-tests, training assessments, monitoring mechanisms, and guidelines to enable smooth implementation. Visit training sites, classrooms, and other offices across districts to oversee implementation and use the observation data to tweak subsequent plans. Coordinate with LFE Program teams and CETE counterparts to ensure smooth program implementation. Compile project completion and impact reports in digital and print formats that are widely consumable. Team Management (20%) Manage a team 1-2 Teaching Faculty, focusing on their deliverables professional support, and ongoing development. Design and lead team structures such as check-ins and reviews to sustain a culture of collaboration, academic rigour, belief in public systems, and strong accountability rooted in LFE s organizational values. Assist the organization in the recruitment and selection of team members Partnerships Donor Management (20%) Coordinate with CETE and TISS faculty to ensure that the TISS courses are executed and completed on time. Conduct course wise reviews with CETE and TISS faculty to understand and use the student performance data to tweak subsequent plans Conduct regular update meetings with all concerned partners, and donors and provide progress toward the goals of the relevant programs in a consumable format to all stakeholders. Compile Progress reports and presentations to update senior leadership regarding the projects progress. Requirements Education Experience Degree in education/teacher development or related discipline. MPhil/PhD preferred, Masters degree mandatory 7-10 Years of experience leading large-scale training programs, preferably with the government or with government school teachers Should have led at least 1-2 projects in the teacher training space at the State/district level Proven experience in instructional design, project management, and training course creation and management Knowledge, Skills Capabilities Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Marathi Expertise in tools like Videoscribe, Filmora, Articulate 360, Premiere Pro, etc., for video editing. Interest in exploring AI tools for educational media development. Being able to take the initiative and work in an autonomous, semi-structured environment Belief in the potential of the public sector and that government systems can and will change toward overcoming systemic inequities and ensuring improved outcomes for all citizens Working knowledge of policy and programs in Teacher Education in India is preferred. Certification or strong understanding of instructional design for professional development courses and curriculum design A basic understanding of social equity, development discourse, and education policy in India Adaptability to changing responsibilities and resourcefulness to respond to them High openness to learning Ability to influence people, take initiatives, and build and sustain relationships with multiple stakeholders partners across public and private spaces Strong ability to create outstanding presentations, work with Microsoft Excel Google Suite Patience and resilience to stick it out in the face of setbacks and uncertainties.