Program Manager - Infrastructure Projects

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Program Manager to lead our infrastructure development portfolio across health, education and community facilities. This role requires someone who can assess community infrastructure needs, coordinate with technical experts to design appropriate solutions, and then manage the entire project lifecycle—from planning to completion—ensuring quality, budget adherence and timely delivery. You'll be the orchestrator who brings together technical specialists, contractors, communities and donors to create lasting infrastructure that transforms lives.

Scope of Infrastructure Projects:

Your portfolio will include diverse infrastructure projects such as:

• PHC/CHC upgradation, construction/renovation of health facilities, OPD spaces, labor rooms, diagnostic centers, sanitation facilities, Classroom construction/renovation, school building upgrades, smart classroom installations, science labs, libraries, WASH facilities in schools, Solar panel installations, energy-efficient solutions for community facilities, Community toilets, water supply systems, rainwater harvesting structures, groundwater recharge systems, Anganwadi centers,

Key Responsibilities:

Project Planning & Coordination

• Conduct comprehensive baseline assessments to identify infrastructure needs, gaps and priorities
• Coordinate with technical experts (civil engineers, architects, consultants) to develop project designs and specifications
• Develop detailed project implementation plans with clear timelines, milestones and resource requirements
• Create realistic project budgets with detailed cost breakdowns and contingency planning
• Ensure project designs align with community needs, donor expectations and government norms
• Translate technical specifications into actionable project plans

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with government departments (Health, Education, PWD, Panchayati Raj) for approvals and coordination
• Build strong relationships with community members, school management committees, PRIs to ensure ownership and participation
• Engage with donors and funding partners, providing regular updates and addressing queries
• Manage relationships with technical consultants, architects and engineers
• Present project proposals, progress updates and completion reports to various stakeholders
• Navigate complex multi-stakeholder environments with diplomacy and clarity

Procurement & Vendor Coordination

• Work with technical experts to prepare specifications for procurement of materials, equipment and services
• Coordinate with procurement team for vendor identification, evaluation and contractor selection
• Participate in contract negotiations with civil contractors, equipment suppliers and service providers
• Ensure all procurement follows organizational policies and donor compliance requirements
• Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure commitment to quality and timelines

Project Implementation & Monitoring

• Oversee day-to-day execution of multiple infrastructure projects across locations
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress against plans and timelines
• Coordinate with site engineers/supervisors or technical consultants to track implementation and resolve issues
• Work with technical team to ensure quality standards are maintained at every project stage
• Identify bottlenecks, delays or quality concerns early and mobilize resources to address them
• Ensure safety protocols are followed during construction/installation activities
• Manage project timelines and push for milestone-based completion

Budget & Financial Oversight

• Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets and flag deviations proactively
• Review contractor bills and payment requests for alignment with work completed
• Track project-wise costs and maintain detailed financial documentation
• Work with finance team to ensure proper fund flow and expenditure tracking
• Optimize resource utilization to deliver maximum value within budget constraints

Quality Assurance

• Coordinate quality inspections with technical experts at critical project stages
• Ensure work is verified and certified by qualified engineers before payments
• Document quality issues and ensure corrective actions are taken
• Learn to identify common quality concerns through field experience and expert guidance
• Build quality consciousness across the project team

Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain comprehensive project documentation: baseline reports, designs, approvals, contracts, progress photos, inspection reports
• Prepare regular progress reports for management and donors with quantitative and qualitative updates
• Document best practices, learnings and case studies from completed projects
• Ensure compliance with donor reporting requirements and formats
• Maintain updated project trackers, Gantt charts and dashboards for portfolio overview
• Create project completion reports with before-after documentation and impact assessment

Team Management

• Lead and coordinate a small team of 2-3 people including project coordinators, field staff, or documentation support
• Set clear roles, responsibilities and performance expectations for team members
• Conduct regular team meetings for coordination, problem-solving and learning
• Foster collaboration and effective communication within the team
• Manage team performance, provide feedback and support professional development

Learning & Innovation

• Build understanding of civil construction processes, materials and quality benchmarks through field experience
• Stay updated on sector trends, innovative technologies and best practices in infrastructure development
• Learn from technical experts and incorporate learnings into project management approaches
• Explore cost-effective, sustainable solutions appropriate to rural/semi-urban contexts
• Document lessons learned and continuously improve project methodologies

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Rural Management, Development Studies, Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy, Project Management, Business Administration or related field
• 5-6 years of progressive program management experience in NGO/development sector with significant exposure to infrastructure/capital projects
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects on time and within budget
• Experience managing small teams
• Strong project management skills with understanding of planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting
• Excellent MS Excel and MS Project (or similar tools) proficiency for project tracking and analysis

Must-Have Skills & Competencies:

• Project Management

  : Strong understanding of project lifecycle, milestone planning, critical path management, risk mitigation

• Baseline Assessment

  : Ability to conduct systematic needs assessments, gap analysis and stakeholder consultations

• Coordination Skills

  : Ability to effectively coordinate with diverse stakeholders—technical experts, contractors, government officials, communities

• Budget Management

  : Experience creating and managing project budgets, tracking expenditures, optimizing costs

• Quality Orientation

  : Commitment to quality even without technical background; ability to learn quality benchmarks and hold teams accountable

• Vendor Management

  : Ability to build professional relationships with contractors and suppliers; hold them to commitments

• Documentation

  : Meticulous in maintaining records, preparing reports, creating audit trails

• Communication

  : Excellent written and verbal skills to engage with technical and non-technical audiences

• Government Liaison

  : Experience navigating bureaucratic processes, obtaining approvals, building relationships with officials

Must-Have Traits & Personal Attributes:

• Meticulous attention to detail

   - nothing falls through the cracks; maintains systematic tracking of multiple moving parts

• Learning orientation

   - genuinely curious about technical aspects; asks questions to understand construction processes and quality standards

• Timeline discipline

   - plans realistically and then drives execution to meet commitments

• Strong leadership

   - inspires confidence in small team; holds people accountable while being supportive

• Problem-solver

   - finds solutions when challenges arise; doesn't wait for someone else to fix things

• Excellent communicator

   - bridges technical and non-technical worlds; builds consensus across diverse groups

• Integrity & transparency

   - maintains honesty in all dealings; doesn't cut corners

What Makes a Candidate Stand Out:

• Previous experience managing health or education infrastructure projects in NGO/government context
• Understanding of government schemes related to infrastructure (Aspirational Districts, Ayushman Bharat, Samagra Shiksha, MGNREGA)
• Experience with renewable energy projects or WASH infrastructure
• Experience managing donor-funded infrastructure projects with strict compliance requirements
• Previous exposure to civil construction (even if not formally trained)

Technical Support Structure:

While you don't need civil engineering background, you will:

• Work closely with civil engineers, architects and technical consultants who will provide technical guidance
• Engage technical experts for design, quality inspections and certifications
• Build your technical knowledge progressively through field experience and expert interactions
• May have site coordinators or technical personnel as part of your small team for on-ground support

Travel Requirements:

This role requires 40-50% field travel to project sites across multiple states.

Why This Role Matters:

Every classroom you help create shapes learning for hundreds of children. Every PHC you help upgrade means better healthcare access for entire communities. Every infrastructure project you complete serves communities for decades. Your coordination skills, strategic thinking and commitment to quality ensure these projects happen efficiently and sustainably. Your ability to bridge technical and social dimensions ensures infrastructure truly serves community needs. If you're passionate about creating lasting physical assets that enable development, this role offers immense satisfaction.