Senior Associate

Vibha

Job Overview

Job Title: PMU Senior Associate

Salary: 9-12 LPA

Reporting To: State Lead

Location: Chandigarh/Mohali

About The Vibha Foundation: 

Vibha is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 in the United States and in 2008 in India (under the name 'Vibha India'). Vibha's primary focus has always been on underprivileged children, and the organization has impacted the lives of over 2 million children in India and the United States through partnerships with over 300 grassroots organizations. It serves as a social venture catalyst, bringing together various stakeholders, corporates, grassroots entrepreneurs, donors, volunteers, government agencies, and partner NGOs to improve the lives of underprivileged children. A dedicated team of volunteers and experienced social sector professionals collaborates with partner NGOs to find scalable solutions to improve public education quality.

Why Vibha? 

Joining Vibha provides you with a rare opportunity to drive meaningful and lasting change within the education system, working alongside top policymakers leading education reform in the country. As a member of our team, you'll have the chance to help deliver statewide education projects that make a real difference to the lives of young adults and their families. At Vibha, we believe in creating a positive work environment that fosters growth and development.

About the Project:

In Punjab, approximately 2.5 Lakh students leave the government school system annually with around 1.5 Lakh entering the workforce immediately post-school. Additionally, nearly 90,000 students study in government colleges and government-run polytechnic institutes. The government of Punjab is strengthening vocational and higher education by laying special focus on them.

The program represents a strategic effort to enhance the state's skill-based education offerings and aims to deliver a more comprehensive, industry-aligned approach to skill development. This program seeks to equip students with practical, job-ready competencies that enable a seamless transition into the workforce or further educational pursuits in their chosen trade.

The project focuses on three key areas:

1. Facilitate and support the Government of Punjab in forging partnerships with the industry for students’ internships, apprenticeships, training, and jobs.
2. Building a student tracking mechanism to facilitate alumni association strengthening and supporting students post their completion of the courses.
3. Supporting students’ skill-building and capacity development as well as curriculum reviews to ensure alignment with industry needs. This also includes faculty capacity development.

The goal is to create a vocational and higher education system that aligns with the needs and aspirations of students, equipping them with industry-relevant skills and facilitating their smooth transition into the workforce.

About the Role:

The PMU Senior Associate will play a crucial role in driving the operational and strategic components of the program. As part of the Program Management Unit (PMU), you will support the State Lead in managing various workstreams, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, and driving on-ground implementation. This position requires strong analytical skills, project management experience, and a passion for creating impact in the education and vocational training sector.

Responsibilities

1. Program Implementation:

• Collaborate with the State Lead to develop and execute strategic plans for achieving program objectives.
• Facilitate the roll-out of initiatives in alignment with the goals of the vocational and higher education system.
• Conduct school and college visits to support program execution, ensuring adherence to quality benchmarks.

2. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain productive relationships with government officials, school principals, faculty, and industry partners.
• Serve as the point of contact for on-ground stakeholders to address queries, provide updates, and facilitate coordination.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Support the development of tracking mechanisms to measure program impact, including alumni tracking and industry partnerships.
• Analyze collected data to derive insights and inform decision-making for program improvement.

4. Curriculum Development Support:

• Assist in the review and enhancement of vocational training curricula by engaging with industry experts, educators, and students.
• Organize focus group discussions and workshops to incorporate diverse perspectives into curriculum design.

5. Team Collaboration:

• Provide guidance and mentorship to PMU Associates, ensuring their tasks align with the overall program strategy.
• Coordinate with team members to ensure seamless execution of program verticals and timely delivery of outputs.

6. Communication and Reporting:

• Prepare reports, presentations, and other documentation to communicate project progress to internal and external stakeholders.
• Document learnings and case studies to contribute to the organization’s knowledge base.

7. Research and Analysis:

• Conduct research on vocational education trends, industry needs, and best practices to inform program strategy.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing initiatives and recommend course corrections where necessary.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with 3-5  years of experience in consulting, project management, or the education sector.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with familiarity in working with data and deriving actionable insights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to draft reports, create presentations, and engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage projects with multiple stakeholders and deliver results within tight deadlines.
• Hands-on experience with program implementation, preferably in the social sector or education-focused initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration among government officials, educators, and industry representatives.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and data visualization tools.

Why Join Vibha?

• Be part of a dynamic team that is driving systemic change in the vocational and higher education ecosystem.
• Collaborate with top policymakers, industry leaders, and education experts to implement impactful projects.
• Work in a supportive and growth-oriented environment that encourages innovation and professional development.