Program Manager – Urban & Rural Skilling Programs
- Company
Smile Foundation
- Location
New Delhi, Delhi
- Employment Type
Full-Time
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Functional Category
Programme Management & Implementation
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Experience
7 - 10 years
About Smile Foundation
Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 15,00,000 children and their families every year, through more than 400 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 2000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. We believe that unless members of the civil society are involved proactively in the process of development, sustainable change will not happen. Following this model of Civic Driven Change, Smile Foundation sensitizes and engages the civil society, making it an active partner in all its welfare initiatives.
Overview of the Role
The Program Manager will be responsible for end-to-end management of skill development programs across urban and rural areas, ensuring quality training, high placement outcomes, and effective budget utilization. The role requires strong expertise in program implementation, placement linkages, financial oversight, and partner management.
Job Description
Program Implementation & Delivery
• Lead and manage all stages of urban and rural skilling projects – mobilization, training, certification, and placement.
• Ensure curriculum is delivered as per industry standards and sector skill council norms.
• Design innovative strategies for youth mobilization, especially in rural geographies.
Placement & Industry Linkages
• Build strong employer networks across sectors (urban & rural) to secure job opportunities.
• Ensure minimum 70–80% placement of trained youth with focus on sustainable employment.
• Track post-placement retention (3–6 months) and provide support for re-placement where needed.
• Develop entrepreneurship and self-employment linkages, especially in rural areas.
Budgeting & Financial Oversight
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and ensure compliance with donor/organizational norms.
• Provide timely financial reports and flag variances for corrective action.
• Optimize resources to maximize program impact.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Track KPIs including mobilization, course completion, certification, placement, and retention.
• Maintain updated MIS and dashboards for internal review and donor reporting.
• Document impact stories, case studies, and best practices for knowledge sharing.
Partnership & Stakeholder Management
• Manage relationships with donors, corporate partners, NSDC, and government agencies.
• Collaborate with grassroots NGOs, panchayats, and local industry for rural skilling.
• Ensure all reporting, branding, and visibility commitments are fulfilled.
Team Leadership & Capacity Building
• Lead and mentor regional officers, centre managers, and trainers.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and build staff capacity on program delivery and placements.
• Foster a results-oriented, collaborative team culture.
Strategic Development
• Identify new growth opportunities in both urban and rural livelihoods.
• Contribute to proposal development, donor pitches, and scaling models.
• Align programs with emerging industry trends, certification standards, and government schemes.
Required & Preferred Qualifications
Skill
• Attention to Detail: Pays close attention to information that is overlooked or taken for granted by others. Prefers to look beyond the obvious and does not accept situations or take information at face value. Scrutinizes how things go together, making sure components are indeed aligned and appropriately interrelated.
• Flexible and Adaptive: Remains effective when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Analyzes information to understand relationships, patterns, and causes and effects, integrate data, and check facts. This is done with both qualitative and quantitative information, making rational and timely judgments on the basis of the information that is available.
• Planning and organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• Contributes to Team Performance & Team Collaboration: Is an engaged and integral member of a group, recognizing the need for group collaboration, empathy, consensual decision-making, and respect for others.
• Initiating action: Taking prompt action to accomplish objectives; taking action to achieve goals beyond what is required; being proactive.
• Communication: Clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message. Able to give and take during a conversation in a balanced way, listening as well as speaking at appropriate intervals.
• Manages Conflict: Dealing effectively with others in an antagonistic situation; using appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people.
Education
Postgraduate in Social Work, Rural Development, Management, or related field.
Experience
• 8–10 years of relevant experience, with at least 5 years managing skilling/livelihood programs. • Proven track record in placements, budgeting, and donor reporting. • Experience in urban skilling sectors (BFSI, ITES, Retail, etc.) and rural livelihoods (Green Jobs, BPO etc.). • Strong financial acumen with ability to manage budgets and resources efficiently. • Willingness to travel across urban and rural sites.