Program Associate

Role Overview

The Program Associate will play a critical role in the implementation of initiatives aimed at strengthening 35 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) within the Mangalore region division, based out of Mangalore. This position involves close collaboration with institute leadership, trainers, government stakeholders, and internal teams to enhance training quality, build institutional capacity, and support long-term sustainability of ITIs in alignment with the states systemic reform roadmap.

Key Responsibilities :

Program Implementation & Capacity Building

• Lead the implementation of program activities across 35 ITIs, ensuring alignment with agreed standards and timelines.
• Build collaborative relationships with institute principals and support their institutional development journey.
• Develop and implement a structured regional work plan, ensuring timely delivery of key milestones across ITIs.
• Conduct regular field visits to assist trainers in curriculum planning, content delivery, and improved teaching practices.
• Facilitate regular review and reflection meetings with center heads, trainers, and other stakeholders to monitor progress and address challenges.
• Document key learnings, insights, and best practices to support program refinement and scalability.
• Support institutes in becoming self-reliant by empowering trainers and placement officers to independently sustain improvements.
• Participate in internal content reviews and contribute to capacity-building sessions for the broader team.

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Establish and nurture strong relationships with government officials, institute heads, placement officers, and facilitators across the Mysore region division.
• Collaborate with the internal placement team to implement industry engagement strategies for improved student outcomes.
• Coordinate with the states Placement Manager and Apprenticeship Advisors to drive employment-linked interventions.
• Represent the organization in relevant district and regional-level stakeholder meetings.

Team Facilitation & Mentorship

• Support facilitators in creating and executing detailed work plans for each assigned ITI.
• Provide mentorship to reportees to ensure effective on-ground implementation and encourage expansion to additional institutes when required.
• Build the facilitation team’s capacity to act as regional resource leaders and peer mentors.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Ensure timely and accurate data collection and reporting in collaboration with the M&E team.
• Facilitate the implementation of baseline, endline, and other evaluation tools across ITIs.
• Maintain up-to-date student and placement records in the centralized database.
• Ensure timely submission of monthly progress reports and success stories from each institute.
• Contribute to quarterly and annual review processes through detailed documentation and insights.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking placement data and analyzing outcomes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Education, Social Work, Development Studies, or a related discipline.
• 0–3 years of relevant experience in program implementation, institutional development, or capacity-building roles, preferably in the skilling or education sector.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with data monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within the Mangalore region division.

Salary: