General Manager, Schools Programme Management Unit

The General Manager (GM) of the Schools Programme Management Unit will play a critical role in translating organizational priorities into well-governed, measurable, and implementation-ready programmes across the school network. This position ensures that programme design logic, operating models, school-facing policies, SOPs, annual planning, performance visibility, data quality governance, and continuous improvement mechanisms are clearly defined and strengthened. The GM will lead key workstreams including Operational Design and Process Improvement, as well as Planning, Performance, and Data Governance. Collaboration with the Project Executive on high-impact cross-functional initiatives is essential. The role requires close coordination with teams across Schools Programme Management, Operations, HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Technology and Transformation, and Research and Analytics to maintain alignment with organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Design, Operating Models, and Governance
Lead the development of coherent programme designs, operating models, governance structures, implementation sequencing, and readiness requirements. Define clear accountability boundaries, decision rights, handoffs, service expectations, escalation routes, and review mechanisms. Oversee the creation and periodic review of school-facing policies, SOPs, process flows, and the School Manual. Ensure integration of education programme needs, staff development, technology, data requirements, and operational realities within the programme and operating models.

Annual Planning, Network Expansion, and Resource Coordination
Drive integrated annual planning for both new and existing schools, managing planning calendars, assumptions, dependencies, timelines, and resource needs. Oversee network expansion and optimization efforts, including capacity planning, school configurations, geographic prioritization, student transition pathways, and school readiness. Coordinate budgeting inputs with Finance, Operations, and other relevant functions while maintaining ownership of financial controls and formal reporting. Support major programme rollouts, school openings, transitions, and operating-model changes with clear plans, decision logs, follow-up trackers, and readiness reviews.

Performance, Data Governance, and Improvement
Establish routines for target-setting, performance review, risk escalation, and corrective actions related to school-facing priorities. Define and maintain critical data standards, ownership, quality controls, validation rules, dashboard requirements, and correction workflows. Use planning, performance data, field feedback, and data-quality insights to drive continuous improvements in programme design, policies, SOPs, and operating models. Collaborate with Research and Analytics for deeper analysis and evaluation as needed.

Portfolio and Project Oversight
Provide direction and governance for complex, high-impact initiatives managed through the Project Executive. Approve project charters, milestones, budgets, governance frameworks, risk mitigation plans, and escalation decisions within delegated authority. Resolve complex cross-functional challenges affecting scope, timelines, budgets, readiness, quality, or adoption. Ensure lessons learned from projects are incorporated into operating models, policies, processes, and future planning.

Team Leadership and Stakeholder Management
Lead, coach, and develop the Heads of Operational Design and Process Improvement and Planning, Performance and Data Governance. Collaborate closely with the Project Executive on initiatives within the Unit’s mandate. Set clear goals, performance expectations, review routines, succession plans, and capability-building priorities. Coordinate with the six Schools Programme Management teams and cross-functional partners to ensure coherent design, planning, governance, and execution. Represent the Unit in senior management forums, providing decision support, risk visibility, and progress reporting to the VP Outcomes.

Budget and Resource Management
Lead annual budgeting and resource planning for the Unit. Monitor expenditure, resource utilization, and delivery against approved priorities and budgets. Identify opportunities to enhance value for money, simplify processes, and improve scalability without compromising programme quality or controls.

Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in Business Administration, Education Management, Public Policy, Operations, Strategy, Data, or a related field.

Preferred Experience and Skills
12-15 years of progressive experience in programme management, operational excellence, data governance, or related fields. Proven leadership of large-scale, cross-functional programmes, preferably across multiple regions or national networks. Expertise in policy and process flow development, process improvement, and governance frameworks. Familiarity with digital workflows, dashboards, data-quality systems, budgeting coordination, and change management is advantageous.

Strong understanding of programme design, operating models, process governance, annual planning, and operational excellence is essential. Ability to translate strategic priorities into practical policies, SOPs, implementation plans, governance routines, and measurable outcomes. Excellent planning, data literacy, performance management, and decision-support skills. Proven capability to lead functional heads, manage performance, build capability, and establish accountability. Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, communication, and cross-functional problem-solving abilities. Knowledge of network planning, school readiness, digital workflows, dashboards, and data governance systems. Competence in governance, risk management, budgeting coordination, and project portfolio oversight is required.