Job Title- Program Manager Company sector: Development Sector - Inclusive Education & Economic Opportunities Start date: ASAP! Location: Oshiwara, Mumbai Timing: Flexible between 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. Working Hours: 8 Language: English & Hindi Education: Post Graduate in Social Work, Data Science, Program Management, or a related field; Experience level: 5 to 8 years of relevant experience, including managing a team of atleast 5 to 7 people, including remote team management. Managing program operations, including having a project foresight, resource allocation and management. Monitoring & evaluation of the program. Passion: Advocate for Team Harmony Competence level: High (we ll need some showcase/demonstration of skills) Professionalism: High (we ll look for evidence of self-direction / ownership / project and team management) About Us Sol s ARC is a registered NGO dedicated to inclusion and equity for individuals with special needs. For the past 20 years, we have worked to ensure that every child learns and every adult earns by providing education, vocational training, and economic opportunities for the educable and trainable special needs population. About the Role The Program Manager at Sol s ARC will bring structure and clarity to how our programs run. They will guide and support the team, helping to build a positive and collaborative work culture. This role includes working closely with partners like NGOs and placement agencies, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. By using data to understand what s working and what needs to change, the Program Manager will help improve outcomes on the ground. They will also solve problems as they come up, adapt to real-world challenges, and use feedback to keep making the program better. What We Need Our immediate need is a Program Manager who can structure our programs and provide strong people leadership. The immediate priority is to streamline processes, define clear roles and responsibilities, and support the team to work efficiently and collaboratively. Building a well-organised program with a motivated and aligned team is key to setting the foundation for long-term success. Long-Term Goal - To build a program that runs smoothly and grows over time. The Program Manager will set up simple, clear ways of working like checklists, routines, and team practices that help everyone stay focused and do their best. Over the long run, this role will help the team meet program targets every year, make it easier to expand the work to new places, and ensure the program stays strong even as people or needs change. Role expectation setting Quantifying both immediate and long-term program plans will be conducted for the appointed Program Manager in collaboration with their Reporting Manager. Our main priorities for this role are Keep day-to-day program activities organised, on schedule, and running smoothly. Support, guide, and motivate the team; ensure roles are clear and work is well-coordinated. Track progress, collect data, and use it to understand what s working and what needs improvement. Communicate clearly with the team, partners, and leadership; share updates and listen actively. Handle team or partner concerns with care, fairness, and timely action. Anticipate challenges, spot risks early, and plan ahead to keep the program on track. You dont have to be an expert at everything we need as long as youre willing to develop or learn new skills if needed, but we do need you to take ownership, be enthusiastic and be a good verbal communicator in English. Personal Traits You Are committed to inclusion in all interactions Can manage multiple tasks without losing track. Handle challenges with a steady and solution-focused approach. Care about people, listen well, and support their growth. Express ideas simply and listen actively. Are willing to change course based on what s working. Enjoy figuring things out and finding practical solutions. Take ownership and follows through on commitments. Keep long-term goals in mind while managing day-to-day work. Professional Traits You are One who brings structure, plans ahead, and keeps things running without much oversight Someone who takes initiative, spots gaps, and acts quickly to solve problems, including teams capacity building Comfortable leading teams, setting clear expectations, and following through Able to manage timelines and stay focused on short- and long-term program targets Good at using data and feedback to guide your work and improve outcomes Flexible and solution-focused when things don t go as planned Professional and clear in your communication with team members, partners, and leadership Open to learning, while maintaining clear boundaries and accountability Attitudes - You re invested in building strong programs that make a real difference on the ground motivated by challenges and see them as opportunities to improve and grow someone who values teamwork and believes in lifting others up, not just getting things done open to feedback from the field, your team, and peers and use it to keep improving the program driven by purpose and care deeply about the impact your work has on people someone who takes pride in setting up systems that last, not just quick fixes always looking for ways to do things better and more efficiently without compromising quality Skills: Demonstrable proficiency (that you can showcase) in: Leading day-to-day program operations and managing timelines effectively People management, team coordination, and building a positive work culture Using data to track program outcomes, identify gaps, and support decision-making Coordinating with partner NGOs, placement agencies, and other stakeholders Creating SOPs, program checklists, and systems for smooth implementation Handling grievances with empathy and professionalism Communicating clearly both in writing and in person with teams, partners, and leadership Adapting program plans based on feedback and real-time field realities Anticipating risks and planning ahead to avoid disruptions Tools: Demonstrable Proficiency (that you can showcase) with: Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) Project Management Systems (PMS) for tracking and reporting Should be willing to self-learn and experiment with: Willingness to self-learn and experiment with AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) What we can offer: Flexible working hours and conditions if needed Compensatory off for working on weekends and holidays. Learning and development Programs Positive, cheerful, trust-based environment Nice people and no micro-management Treat you respectfully and support your wider goals and development Personal mentoring and insight into a wide range of commercial and impact fields, skills and knowledge An opportunity to create something amazing for your portfolio! Experience Level: Proven experience in managing and structuring multi-site programs with clear goals and operational systems Experience in collaborating with NGOs, placement partners, and government departments Experience in tracking program targets, monitoring progress, and using data for decision-making Ability to manage diverse teams and maintain coordination across multiple locations Experience in problem-solving based on ground realities and adapting plans when needed Experience in designing or implementing SOPs, workflows, and documentation systems Comfortable working in dynamic, fast-paced environments with shifting priorities Experience handling team or partner grievances with empathy and timely resolution Remuneration: Remuneration (range 75k-90k pm) The level of remuneration we offer will be based on how many of the listed skills you have, the level of competence you can demonstrate in those skills, and how much mentoring, support or learning time you need We won t base it on previous salary or years of experience. If you meet our standards, we ll meet your ask.
