Project Manager, Strategy

Role Purpose

The Project Manager will be a core member of CSF’s new Strategy Vertical, working at the intersection of enterprise strategy, cross-portfolio integration, and ecosystem leadership.

The role will support the development of CSF’s strategic priorities, drive high-impact cross-cutting initiatives, synthesise insights across programs, and contribute to building CSF’s institutional voice through high-quality public goods.

This is a high-ownership role suited for individuals who can combine structured thinking with execution discipline, and are comfortable operating in ambiguity while working on organisation-wide priorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Enterprise Strategy & Strategic Initiatives

• Support development and evolution of CSF’s enterprise strategy through research, synthesis, and structured problem-solving

• Contribute to identification and incubation of new strategic bets across system strengthening, ecosystem leadership, and school education

• Drive select CEO-sponsored and cross-cutting initiatives from problem definition to execution

• Contribute to preparation for external forums, conferences, and knowledge dissemination platforms

2. Cross-Portfolio Integration & Learning Loops

• Work across verticals (FLN, Ed

Tech, etc.) to identify integration opportunities and support coordinated action

• Synthesise insights across states and programs to identify patterns of what is working, what is not, and what should be done differently

• Enable cross-state learning loops by translating these insights into actionable recommendations for teams

3. Strategic Performance Insight & Review Strengthening

• Analyse program-level data, reviews, and field insights to surface key risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities

• Support preparation of high-quality inputs for CEO and leadership reviews, improving clarity of problem diagnosis and solution pathways

• Contribute to strengthening articulation and strategic sharpness of program teams

• Translate complex field insights into clear, structured, and compelling narratives

4. Centre for Best Practices (CoBP)

• Support codification of high-quality system reform models into toolkits, playbooks, and case studies

• Assist in design and execution of:

• Convenings and conferences

• Immersive learning visits (state and cross-country)

• Peer learning platforms for governments and partners

What Success Looks Like (Year 1)

• Contributed meaningfully to development of CSF’s enterprise strategy and at least one new strategic initiative

• Delivered 1–2 high-quality institutional outputs (playbooks, synthesis reports, or case studies)

• Enabled at least one cross-portfolio initiative or integration effort

• Strengthened quality of inputs for leadership reviews through sharp analysis and synthesis

• Supported successful execution of key Centre for Best Practices activities (e.g., convening, immersion, or publication)

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong structured thinking and problem-solving ability

• Ability to synthesise large amounts of information into clear insights and recommendations

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work across teams and influence without authority

• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to drive work independently

Experience

• 3–6 years of experience in consulting, public policy, reform, or strategy roles

• Experience working on education/ system reform /government programs is a strong plus

• Exposure to cross-functional or multi-stakeholder environments preferred

Role Characteristics

• High ownership, low hand-holding

• Mix of strategy, execution, and synthesis

• Significant exposure to CEO-level thinking and organisation-wide priorities

• Opportunity to contribute to sector-level thought leadership

Who this role is NOT for

• Individuals looking for purely operational or execution-heavy roles

• Candidates uncomfortable with ambiguity or cross-functional work

• Those who prefer narrowly defined scopes over evolving, high-impact problem spaces