Advisory Support - Internal Capability Building

About Pratham International

Pratham International (PI) is a US 501(c)(3) established to support learning innovations for children and youth in contexts across the globe. We enable the adaptation and spread of proven and scalable education solutions pioneered in India by Pratham Education Foundation, such as Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), to contexts across the global south through programming and technical assistance tailored to local realities.  Today, Pratham innovations reach millions of children annually through partnerships across ~30 countries.

Background

Pratham International (PI) works across 30+ countries on foundational learning, with a core team of approximately 65 people in 7 countries. PI is putting in place a structured Internal Capability Building model: a defined set of programs, a delivery approach that works across time zones, and a repeatable cadence for on-boarding new joiners.

PI will not build learning content in-house. The model rests on external partners who can design and deliver to a dispersed team. Provider evaluation for the first program in scope, inclusion and cross-cultural sensitisation, is underway and at an early stage. PI is engaging an advisor to complete that assessment, support selection, anchor the first rollout, and leave behind a process PI can run on its own.

Scope and deliverables

Deliverable 1 — Comprehensive partner assessment

• Develop an evaluation framework with PI, covering at minimum:
  –    reach and scheduling across 7 countries and multiple time zones
  –    blended delivery: self-paced content plus live online sessions
  –    ability to run small quarterly cohorts, not only one-off large-group programs
  –    cultural relevance across PI's geographies, and facilitator bench and quality
  –    platform capability, pricing at PI's likely cohort sizes, and client references
• Assess the providers PI has identified — Sparkwise, Joy of Performance and affiliates, Guiding Star, Growth Space — and scan additional options, India-based and international, so the assessment is comprehensive rather than limited to inbound leads.
• Output: comparison matrix, a short written assessment of the shortlist, and a recommendation with rationale and trade-off.

Deliverable 2 — Delivery model and partner selection

• Recommend the delivery model: the split between self-paced and live content, cohort sizing, scheduling logic across time zones, and what “quarterly” looks like in practice.
• Support selection — structure provider conversations and demos, test the recommendation with stakeholders, and surface the decision for PI sign-off.
• Support scoping with the selected partner, including what PI owns versus what the partner owns.
• Output: delivery model note, a selection recommendation ready for decision, and an agreed scope of work with the partner.

Deliverable 3 — Anchor the cross-cultural sensitisation rollout

• Anchor end-to-end delivery of the program to all current members of the PI team.
• Work with the partner to contextualise content to PI: network structure, entity mix, and the cross-cultural dynamics of PI's teams.
• Own the rollout mechanics: cohorting, scheduling across time zones, participant communications, leadership framing, completion tracking and follow-up.
• Output: rollout plan and calendar, participant communications, completion and feedback data, and a short post-rollout report with implications for the quarterly model.

Deliverable 4 — Quarterly process for new hires

• Design the standing process: quarterly windows, enrolment triggers off the joining date, cohort minimums and maximums, ownership within PI's HR and PMO team, tracking, escalation, and indicative annual budget.
• Map which programs belong in the recurring on-boarding stream alongside cross-cultural sensitisation.
• Hand over the documentation, templates, and partner-facing routines PI needs to run it without ongoing advisory support.
• Output: documented process and calendar, templates and trackers, and a handover session with the PI team.

Working Arrangement

•  Remote and part-time; hours and days of work to be estimated by mutual agreement.
• Availability for calls in late India hours, typically 7:00–10:00 pm IST, to overlap with the US East Coast morning.
• A standing weekly check-in, plus working sessions with the HR and PMO team.
• Deliverables to be decision-ready rather than discussion-starters.

Advisor profile

Essential

• India-based, with availability for late-IST calls.
• Demonstrated experience designing and rolling out capability-building or L&D programs for globally dispersed teams.
• Experience with blended delivery, and with evaluating, selecting and managing external learning providers.
• Strong written outputs that senior stakeholders can decide from.
• Able to work independently in a lean organisation.

Desirable

• Familiarity with inclusion, DEI or cross-cultural content; nonprofit or international development experience; exposure to LMS platforms.

Indicative Timeline

Phase 1  [Weeks 1-2]    Evaluation framework and provider scan
Phase 2  [Weeks 3-4]    Assessment, recommendation, selection          
Phase 3  [Weeks 4-6]    Scoping with the selected partner                     
Phase 4  [Weeks 6-8]    Cross-cultural sensitisation rollout to full team   
Phase 5  [Weeks 8-10]  Quarterly process design and handover            

What PI will provide

• Access to discussions on this topic so far, key stakeholders across teams and levels, plus decision forums for the recommendation.
• Materials and contacts for the four Partner-candidates already identified.
• Team roster, geographic distribution, new-hire volumes, and budget parameters.

Confidentiality and IP

• All materials produced under this engagement are the property of Pratham International. Provider pricing, proposals and internal assessments are not to be shared outside PI.
• The advisor will sign PI's standard confidentiality agreement before starting.

Location and Compensation

• Location: This is a remote role based in India.  
• Compensation: Commensurate with experience.
• Hiring Note: This position will be hired via our organisational partner in India – PUSA Learning Solutions, LLC.

Employment Details

• Remit: Global
• Location: India
• Start Date: As soon as possible.  

Pratham is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply for positions within our organization.