Head – English Language Program

Position Overview
The Head of the English Program is responsible for leading the academic development of QUEST’s English language initiative, Let’s Learn English. The role includes curriculum and content development, program design, teacher training design, and documentation of the program’s pedagogical and theoretical framework.

The person in this role will build on the work already done in the English program, deeply understand QUEST’s core pedagogy, and work closely with senior leadership and field teams to strengthen and complete the program. This is a full-time role that combines hands-on academic work with leading discussions and decisions on program design, teacher capacity building, and the future direction of the English program.

Organizational Context
Quality Education Support Trust (QUEST) is an NGO working in the field of education since 2007. QUEST has developed strong programs in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, which have been implemented at scale in Maharashtra and other states, primarily in partnership with the government system in rural and tribal areas.

Developing robust pedagogy that learns from international research while being rooted in local language and context is central to QUEST’s work.
QUEST is currently developing an English language program called Let’s Learn English for learners who are literate in their mother tongue. Parts of the program have been developed and implemented in an ad hoc manner over the last few years. The program has now reached a stage where dedicated academic leadership is required to complete its development, consolidate learning, and finalize a clear and coherent program design.

Program Vision and Outcomes
Let’s Learn English is designed for students from Grades 3 to 5 who are literate in their mother tongue. The program uses the child’s first language as a strong foundation for learning English and follows a clear, structured approach to language and literacy development.

The program recognizes that teachers may have limited proficiency in English, yet are central to the teaching-learning process. It therefore focuses on building teacher capacity in ways that are realistic, supportive, and effective in low-proficiency contexts.

The program aims to develop learners’ holistic English proficiency by balancing listening, speaking, reading, and writing, while building confidence and meaningful use of the language.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program & Content Development
  • Complete the development of teaching-learning materials (readers and workbooks) in collaboration with internal content experts
  • Design and develop training modules for teachers and field teams
  • Develop a clear curricular framework, including competencies and learning outcomes, drawing from international, national, and QUEST’s own expectations
2. Field-based Design & Iteration
  • Pilot activities in classrooms with support from the field team
  • Observe implementation, gather insights, and continuously improve materials and design based on field learning
3. Program Implementation & Strengthening
  • Lead discussions on implementation design and approach
  • Work closely with the management and field teams to review implementation, identify gaps, and lead improvements in the program
  • Ensure alignment between program design, classroom practice, and teacher capacity
4. Capacity Building
  • Build the capacity of internal teams based on the developed content and approach
  • Participate in and support teacher trainings
5. Documentation & Knowledge Building
  • Document program design, processes, learnings, and changes
  • Write clear reports to support internal learning and decision-making

Qualifications

Expected –
  1. Strong oral and written proficiency in English and at least a working knowledge of Marathi
  2. At least 3-5 years of experience in the education sector, preferably in rural contexts
  3. Experience in content development, especially in foundational literacy
  4. Understanding of literacy pedagogy, along with a willingness to deepen and adapt this understanding based on QUEST’s work and context
  5. Experience of teaching English or undertaking content development for English as a second language.
Desired  –
  1. Experience working on English as a Second Language (ESL) programs
  2. Experience in developing curricular frameworks or teacher training modules

Location – Pune with approximately 12-15 days of travel per month.

Compensation – This is a full‑time position for a minimum duration of one year, with a salary of ₹9.5 lakhs per annum. The final compensation may be adjusted in line with the candidate’s current CTC and relevant experience, ensuring fairness and alignment with organizational standards.

This role is central to shaping and strengthening QUEST’s English program and will play a key role in ensuring that the program is academically robust, contextually relevant, and scalable.
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