Program Manager - Skilling & Employability

Role Summary:

The Program Manager Skilling & Employability will lead the design and execution of strategic, high-impact programs aimed at enhancing workforce readiness, livelihoods, and sustainable employment, particularly for underserved youth and women. The role will require a strong understanding of skilling ecosystems, employment trends, and CSR priorities, aligned with national frameworks like NSDC, NAPS/NATS, and global goals such as SDGs. The role also involves deep collaboration with training institutions, corporates, and implementation partners to ensure outcomes-based programming.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deep understanding of the skilling and employability ecosystem including vocational training, soft skills, digital skills, career counselling, job placements, and livelihood generation.
• Design innovative, outcome-driven skilling and employment programs, aligned with market needs, corporate CSR priorities, and global goals such as the SDGs.
• Plan, design, and manage programs with clarity on outputs, outcomes, and long-term impact.
• Prepare and manage program budgets, ensure cost optimization, and create clear scaling and replication strategies.
• Conduct skill gap analyses, employer consultations, and community needs assessments to guide program design.
• Forge partnerships with skill development institutions, sector skill councils, employers, and government agencies for program delivery and job linkages.
• Create and maintain robust MIS and tracking systems to monitor training quality, certification, and placement rates.
• Ensure program quality, compliance, and timely execution, with mechanisms for feedback and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation plans to safeguard program success.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, NGOs, corporates, and government bodies.
• Develop playbooks and standardized models for scaling successful skilling initiatives across geographies.
• Prepare professional documentation for donors, internal teams, and regulatory authorities; maintain clear records of milestones, outcomes, and impact.
• Represent the organization in forums, industry roundtables, skilling summits, and CSR platforms to showcase successful models and build new partnerships.
• Stay up to date with labour market trends, NEP 2020 guidelines, BRSR, SROI, and other reporting standards relevant to employability programs.
• Collaborate with universities, NSDC partners, vocational institutions, and research bodies for certifications, innovation, and capacity building.
• Drive strategic communications around success stories and community impact, in collaboration with the MarCom team.
• Take on any other responsibilities assigned by the organization from time to time.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Postgraduate degree in MSW, MA in Development, Public Policy, Education, HR, or related disciplines.
• 10-12 years of experience, with at least 4-5 years in leading skilling and employability programs, especially those funded by CSR.
• Demonstrated experience in program design, stakeholder management, partnership building, budgeting, and impact reporting.
• Familiarity with frameworks such as SDGs, NSDC standards, BRSR, SROI, and national apprenticeship/scholarship schemes.
• Strong command of English and Hindi (Kannada would be an added advantage).
• Strong communication, team management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel for work-related assignments, field visits, and stakeholder meetings.