Background
Leadership For Skilled Education Foundation
(branded as Leadership For Equity, LFE), is a non-profit (NGO) based out of Pune, Maharashtra.
We envision Public Education Systems That Refuse To Let Children Down
APPROACH
: In our two-fold approach to change, we build the capacity of government system leaders and we influence system processes. In partnership with the local and state education bodies, we co-create programs that shift teaching-learning practices and improve student learning and well-being. This work coupled with our research and advisory support to influence policies, we hope to create an effective government education system.
Over the last 5 years, LFE has built the capacity of 2100+ system leaders and 40,200+ teachers to impact 8 million students across Maharashtra. Additionally, LFE has recently expanded its operations and started working in another 3 states of India, including Haryana, Tripura & Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra, LFE works with 5 districts (Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Satara & Akola), 3 municipal bodies (Pune MC, Pimpri Chinchwad MC & Nagpur MC) & 5 state-level education bodies (School Education Dept, SCERT, Samagra Shiksha, Tribal Development Dept, & TRTI). In Andhra Pradesh, LFE works closely with the Samagra Shiksha Office, SCERT & The World Bank on a multi-year strategic project to improve the quality of learning across 26 districts of the State. And lastly, in Haryana & Tripura, LFE works with SCERTs of both states in setting up targeted program management units (PMUs) to strengthen the delivery of large-scale academic programs.
BELIEF
: We believe Public Education Systems are the gatekeepers of social EQUITY
, especially when Indias 120 million children continue to go to government-run schools. A multi-layered, complex, and systemic problem of educational inequity, will require a solution rooted in the SYSTEMS CHANGE
approach. We believe that a COLLECTIVE
effort by forging partnerships with governments, like-minded philanthropists, corporates, donors, nonprofits, and grassroots organizations will help bring scalable and sustainable social change.
We at LFE are seeking a proactive and people-centric HR Specialist to support the effective implementation of our People & Culture Operations and initiatives across the organization. The role will focus on managing key HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, performance management, learning & development and policy implementation.
The HR Manager will work closely with the Associate Director, People & Culture to ensure smooth execution of organization-wide processes, foster a positive and inclusive work culture, and provide responsive support to employees across locations. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a dynamic environment, takes initiative, and is passionate about enabling people and teams to do their best work in pursuit of LFE s mission.
Reporting Manager:
Associate Director, People & Culture | Team Size:
5-6 people
Staff Recruitment & Engagement (35%)
- Lead the end-to-end recruitment and onboarding process including sourcing, screening, coordinating interviews, reference checks, and onboarding documentation.
- Build and maintain partnerships with universities, recruitment agencies, and other talent sources to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified candidates.
- Support employee engagement and retention initiatives through regular communication, feedback mechanisms, and recognition programs.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding HR-related queries, grievances, or concerns, ensuring timely resolution and escalation when necessary.
- Support the Senior Manager and leadership team with data and insights related to workforce planning, job satisfaction, and performance trends.
Staff Learning & Development (30%)
- Coordinate the implementation of learning and development (L&D) programs and ensure smooth execution of ongoing initiatives such as team learning sessions, PLCs, and internal workshops.
- Assist in the design and rollout of training calendars for staff across different levels, based on needs identified through performance reviews and feedback.
- Liaise with external partners, facilitators, and vendors to organize training programs and capacity-building workshops.
- Maintain records and track participation, feedback, and outcomes of all learning activities to measure impact and inform improvements.
- Support documentation and knowledge management of L&D efforts within the organisation.
Compliance & HR Administration (25%)
- Implement and manage HR policies and processes in line with the organisation s strategy, culture, and compliance requirements.
- Maintain and regularly update HR databases and systems (HRMS platform) to ensure accuracy of employee records, performance, and leave data.
- Coordinate with the Finance team for payroll processing, staff reimbursements, and statutory compliance related to employee benefits, taxes, and labour laws.
- Ensure timely completion of all compliance requirements, including documentation, contract renewals, and statutory filings.
- Support the performance management process through the timely collection of feedback, documentation, and communication of appraisal outcomes.
- Maintain confidentiality and ensure adherence to data protection and privacy standards in all People & Culture operations.
Team & Organisational Support (10%)
- Supervise and support the HR & Admin associates as assigned, guiding them in process adherence and professional development.
- Contribute to a positive and inclusive work culture by organizing team-building activities and employee well-being initiatives.
- Support the Associate Director, People & Culture, in organizational projects related to culture-building, HR analytics, or policy improvement.
- Prepare periodic HR reports and dashboards for leadership review.
Requirements
Education & Experience -
-
6+ Years of work experience
in HR teams, preferably in the social sector/education-based organisations. - Bachelors in any field. A Masters in HR / Management/ Development is highly preferred
- People-oriented and results-driven
- Prior experience in managing small teams would be highly preferred
- Competence to build and effectively manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the organization
- In-depth knowledge of HR management, labour (legal) laws and HR best practices
- Interest or prior experience in the Capacity building of staff
Important
: Given the nature of the role, please apply only if you qualify based on the above requirements
Knowledge, Skills & Capabilities
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and
functional knowledge of the regional languages (Hindi, Marathi and/or Telugu) would be preferred
- A basic understanding of
social equity, development discourse, and education policy
in India - Knowledge of HR systems and databases
- Excellent active listening, negotiation and presentation skills
- Adaptability to changing responsibilities and resourcefulness to respond to them
- High openness to learning
- Strong ability to create outstanding presentations, work with Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, and varied data sets
- Strong facilitation and session conducting skills
- Patience and resilience to stick it out in the face of setbacks and uncertainties
- Belief in public education systems and LFE s vision to improve quality at scale
Location and Compensation
Location
: Pune, Maharashtra.
Travel to all LFE sites across cities and states.
Compensation
: Apart from being a part of a young and dynamic learning team, the individual will receive a healthy compensation at par with the non-profit sector benchmark for this position, commensurate with the individual s prior experience and qualifications. The current compensation band offered, based on fit and experience, is 7 - 10 lakh INR per annum CTC.
Leadership For Equity is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind. We do not discriminate on the basis of caste, race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor.
