Senior Program Associate - Procurement

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About the Organization

CEGIS work under the theme of State and Market (SAM) focuses on improving state capacity for better management of State interfaces with the larger market, especially in service delivery functions. The focus of the SAM team is to identify points of interaction between the Government and the Private Sector and to support States in reducing the frictions in such transactions. We work with State Governments in three capacities:

• Procurement: Improving procurement policies, processes, and decisions to improve value for money in public procurement
• Policy: Development of sectoral policy to incentivize cost effective service delivery, through the most appropriate models
• Regulation: Assessment of market failures and design and execution of proportionate regulatory interventions to address these

Job Description

The Senior Program Associate - SAM is required to play a vital role in executing the CEGIS vision across States. The role will involve working closely with the other team members and the relevant State teams, and collaborating with the other CEGIS teams.

Job Responsibilities

• Supporting the State Governments in Implementing/Strengthening Digital Tools in Project Planning, Procurement systems, & Contract Management.
• Work on Projects in improving the Capital Expenditure process of the State Governments
• Develop understanding of Procurement Acts & Policies in the country
• Develop understanding on Policy & Regulatory aspects of CEGIS Core Sectors
• Coordinate with the relevant Government officials for smooth implementation of interventions on which CEGIS is supporting the State Government.

Project Management and Delivery:

• Understand project requirements, coordinate with internal teams and external partners for delivery excellence.
• Plan and prioritise work plans, ensuring accountability for set timelines.
• Assist in altering project goals and outcomes based on stakeholder feedback and project progress, flag project risks.

Data Analysis and Insight Generation:

• Engage with departments to collect relevant data, develop quantitative and qualitative tools/templates, administer these tools, and support in cleaning and organizing the data.
• Track and analyze data for accuracy and conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Extract important insights from complex datasets relevant to key stakeholders.
• Prioritize and address data issues promptly to support project progress and decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with internal data management and security protocols

Research & Documentation:

• Research on problem statements identified by the State Governments. Independently conduct research and root cause analysis, documenting and presenting insights.
• Produce comprehensive presentations and documentation to convey critical project insights.
• Support in development of Knowledge Outputs for SAM and the Company.
• Support in developing concept notes, policy briefs, and other documentation for stakeholder communication.
• Create Internal reports/documents for projects under execution for training and reporting purposes as well as to create institutional memory on projects.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

• Prepare detailed presentations and documents for stakeholders.
• Assist the project team in collecting critical information and departmental updates by maintaining regular communication with government counterparts, partner organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings and gather feedback for project progress and decision-making.
• Foster deep connections with stakeholders and suggest innovative ideas to nurture partnerships.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

• Build and maintain relationships internally and externally.
• Collaborate with academics and stakeholders for research adaptation.
• Work closely with senior academics and government stakeholders to tailor procurement/regulatory/policy design and implementation protocols to local contexts.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

• Masters degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, public policy, management, engineering, social science, or related fields from a reputed institution
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in Government Advisory, Social Impact Sector, including research, basic quantitative analysis, experience of working with Government stakeholders is preferable
• Experience in at least one of the areas of public procurement or service regulation is highly desirable
• Knowledge of STATA or R (strongly preferred) or any other data analysis software preferred.
• Sectoral exposure to one or more of the following - education and skills, healthcare, infrastructure, and local government is desirable.

Required Skills, Characteristics and Qualities:

• Knowledge of Procurement processes and experience in use of/ advising Public Sector entities in the use of e-procurement platform(s).
• Fluency in English and basic to intermediate proficiency in one of the South Indian regional languages is an added benefit.
• Excellent problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, strong research aptitude ability to analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data and formulate solutions.
• Excellent writing and communication skills (ability to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way and across different audiences) within and outside the organisation
• Strong planning and organisational skills, and an ability to be able to set priorities, plan timelines and meet deadlines.
• Operating style suited to working independently and in a small-organisation setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued.
• High ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understanding and valuing others views.
• Versatility to be comfortable taking on different projects and quickly dive into new sectors.

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