Deputy Team Lead, EMBRACE Secretariat

About EMBRACE

EMBRACE (Empowering Mothers with Birth Readiness, Agency, and Care) is a five-year programme by AVPN that aims to improve Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Nutrition Health (MNCHN) outcomes by reducing the incidence of low birth weight across 10 high-burden states in India. The programme supports state and district governments, as well as government agencies, by providing technical assistance to improve the quality and coverage of maternal nutrition, home-based newborn and child care (HBNCC), and technological innovations

The EMBRACE Secretariat plays a central role in coordinating partners, managing sub-grants, ensuring alignment with government priorities, and maintaining effective engagement with the programme funder.

Job Description

The Deputy Team Lead, EMBRACE Secretariat will support the Team Lead in the overall management, coordination, and delivery of the EMBRACE programme. The role is responsible for overseeing day-to-day Secretariat operations, supervising Secretariat staff, and ensuring effective coordination with partners at state and district levels.

The Deputy Team Lead will also play a key role in maintaining consistent communication and messaging across project sponsor(s), AVPN, and grantee partners, and will represent the programme in donor and partner engagements as required. This role requires strong operational leadership, stakeholder coordination skills, and the ability to translate strategic direction into effective on-the-ground implementation.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Support the Team Lead in programme management and partner coordination.

• Support the Team Lead in programme planning, coordination, and implementation across all EMBRACE components.
• Contribute to the development and execution of Secretariat workplans, timelines, and internal coordination processes.
• Assist in identifying operational risks, implementation bottlenecks, and emerging issues, and support the development of mitigation strategies.
• Ensure effective follow-through on decisions, action points, and commitments across the Secretariat and partner organisations.

1. Oversee day-to-day operations and supervise Secretariat staff.

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the EMBRACE Secretariat to ensure smooth and timely delivery of programme activities.
• Supervise Secretariat staff and consultants, providing guidance, performance oversight, and day-to-day problem-solving support.
• Support internal coordination, information flow, and documentation to maintain operational efficiency and accountability.
• Ensure adherence to internal processes, reporting timelines, and quality standards.

1. Manage district-level collaboration, ensuring smooth implementation.

• Oversee coordination with district-level partners and stakeholders to support effective programme implementation.
• Monitor progress of district-level activities, flag implementation challenges, and support partners in resolving operational issues.
• Facilitate alignment between district-level implementation realities and state- or national-level programme priorities.
• Support learning and feedback loops from district implementation to inform programme adjustments and improvements.

1. Step in for Team Lead as needed in donor and partner engagements

• Step in for the Team Lead in donor, partner, and internal engagements as required, including meetings with project sponsor(s), AVPN teams, and grantee partners
• Support preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and updates for donor and partner engagements.
• Ensure continuity of leadership and decision-making in the Team Lead's absence.

1. Ensure consistent messaging across project sponsor(s), AVPN, and grantee partners

• Support the Team Lead in ensuring consistent, accurate, and aligned messaging across project sponsor(s), AVPN, and grantee partners.
• Manage internal coordination processes to support the timely consolidation of inputs for real-time data and information requests from sponsor(s).
• Coordinate closely with partners to ensure shared understanding of programme priorities, expectations, and progress.
• Contribute to the preparation and review of programme updates, reports, and communications to maintain coherence and quality.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in public policy, public health, development studies, social sciences, or a related field; a postgraduate degree is an advantage.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience in programme management, secretariat support, operations, or partner coordination within the development, philanthropy, or public sector ecosystem.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-stakeholder programmes involving funders, implementing partners, and government stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing day-to-day operations and supervising staff or consultants.
• Familiarity with MNCHN or related social sector programmes in India is highly desirable.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the programme professionally.
• High attention to detail, reliability, and follow-through.
• Ability to work collaboratively while exercising sound judgement and initiative.

Application Process

Please apply through our application form. Due to the high volume of applications, we will only notify candidates who have been shortlisted.