Leads academic and social-emotional learning strategy across Tamil Nadu residential and tribal schools. Responsibilities include designing SEL frameworks and student programs, integrating SEL into curriculum and teacher resources, researching education models, conducting field visits, developing teacher training materials, facilitating trainings, establishing quality and monitoring systems, analyzing feedback and data, observing classrooms, and coordinating with government, district, and school stakeholders.
The Senior Specialist – Academic & Social Emotional Learning (SEL) will serve as a strategic and programmatic anchor for strengthening academic quality, teacher effectiveness, and holistic student development across Adi Dravidar Welfare (ADW) Schools, Government Tribal Residential (GTR) Schools, and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Tamil Nadu.
This role requires a senior-level professional who can operate at the intersection of policy design, program implementation, field systems strengthening, and capacity building. The Specialist will contribute to shaping large-scale academic and SEL interventions while ensuring deep contextual alignment with the needs of first-generation learners and tribal communities.
The position demands both strategic thinking and ground-level execution, with regular engagement across state, district, and school ecosystems. The Specialist will work closely with AD&TW leadership, district officials, school heads, and teachers to institutionalise sustainable improvements in learning outcomes and student well-being.
Core Role and Responsibilities
Review and Integration of SEL Content
- Lead the design and contextualization of SEL frameworks aligned to the needs of tribal and Rural students in residential school settings
- Integrate SEL into academic processes, ensuring alignment between educational and co-curricular components
- Embed SEL practices into classroom transactions through structured activities, reflection prompts, and discussion tools
- Develop and strengthen SEL components within teacher handbooks and instructional resources
- Align SEL integration with broader academic strategies across GTR, EMRS, and ADW schools
- Design student-facing programs (life skills, mentorship, career guidance) grounded in SEL principles
- Ensure SEL approaches are culturally responsive and relevant to first-generation learners
Domain Research and Content Understanding
- Conduct continuous research on best practices in SEL, curriculum design, and tribal/residential education models
- Develop a strong contextual understanding of the Tamil Nadu education ecosystem and AD&TW priorities
- Contribute to academic strategy design, including curriculum implementation and assessment strengthening
- Translate research insights into actionable program design and content frameworks
- Undertake regular field visits to gather qualitative and quantitative insights from schools and communities
- Use field learnings to refine content, adapt strategies, and improve program relevance
- Build and contribute to a knowledge base to inform programmatic and policy-level decisions
Quality Assurance and Teaching Support
- Design and institutionalize teacher professional development systems on pedagogy, SEL, and inclusive practices
- Develop training modules, SOPs, facilitation guides, and implementation frameworks for scale
- Support and co-facilitate high-quality teacher training sessions across districts
- Establish monitoring and evaluation systems to track program quality and training effectiveness
- Analyze feedback and data to drive continuous improvement in content and delivery
- Conduct classroom observations and implementation reviews to ensure fidelity and quality
- Coordinate with stakeholders (AD&TW, districts, school leaders) to ensure smooth execution and alignment
Candidate Profile
- 5–7+ years of experience in the education sector, with expertise in curriculum design, teacher training, academic programs, or SEL
- Strong understanding of Tamil Nadu’s education system, especially government, residential, and Tribal community contexts
- Experience working with tribal communities, first-generation learners, or large-scale public education programs preferred
- Strong facilitation, training, and program design skills, with proficiency in Tamil (speaking required; reading/writing preferred)
- Strong analytical and planning abilities, with experience in data tracking, reporting, and use of MS Office and Google Suite tools
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