Program Manager – Project Springboard

About Vision-Aid:

Vision-Aid's mission is to enable, educate and empower persons with vision-related disabilities so that they can live with independence and dignity.

Vision-Aid India is a dynamic and growing NGO with a team currently comprising around 70+ staff members and 200+ interns and part-time support staff.  

Vision-Aid provides rehabilitation and skill development services for the visually impaired through its network of resource centers across India, through virtual training programs and through its online academy.

Vision-Aid has conceptualised Project Springboard, which envisages Partnership with Blind Schools Pan India. The partnership comprises of imparting Vision-Aid training programs, Distribution of Assistive Devices, to the students at the partner Blind Schools. From a modest beginning in 2021, the number of Blind Schools has now grown to fifty in number spread across India.

Vision-Aid India is keen on continuing the Model of project Springboard and enroll more Blind Schools, by reaching out to many under-served cities and towns, so that the Visually impaired children get access to enhanced Education and various Assistive Devices, which will help them live independently and do well in their studies. The main objective of the program are as follows:

1. Help create necessary technical infrastructure at the school to enable the students to acquire specialized skills; This would include providing desktop computers, smartphones, assistive devices, access to internet connectivity at the computer labs, power backup systems for the labs and so on.
2. Provide specialized training for the students using Vision-Aid curriculum; Some of the programs that could be offered are:
3. Certificate Course in Computer Applications
4. Certificate Course in Mobile Technology
5. Spoken English Programs (for beginners as well as Intermediate levels)
6. Orientation and Mobility
7. Life Skills Training
8. Counselling
9. Mobile Technology
10. Train the existing school staff on Vision-Aid curriculum or deploy Vision-Aid staff at the school to import the training courses listed in item no 2 above.

Vision-Aid is seeking a program manager who would spearhead this program end-to-end and would be responsible for delivering the required outcomes. The position requires an individual who has prior experience working in schools, colleges or institutions providing education. Preference would be given to one’s who has prior experience collaborating with schools for the blind or disabled.

The MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this Role is that this position requires someone who is highly service oriented and interested in helping to bring a positive difference in the life of visually impaired population. We encourage only candidates who have this quality to apply for this position. The Role requires day to day interaction with the Blind Schools and monitor how the support from Vision-Aid is being used and obtain periodical reports from the Blind Schools highlighting the impact creation. This Role demands extensive Travel to visit the Blind Schools, build a long-term relationship with the school.

How to apply for this position:

saranya@visionaid.org

(A) Your updated resume/CV 

(B) A short essay response answering these two questions. The total length of your response addressing both questions should not exceed five hundred words:

 (i) Why are you interested in this position?

(ii) Why do you think you are a good fit for this position?

(C) What is your salary expectation? All applicants must include this information.

Important note to all applicants:

Responsibilities:

He / She will:

• Work directly with the school management and ensure that all the outcomes as outlined in the MoU are met
• Ensure that the school delivers on all the infrastructure projects undertaken without any issues
• Ensure the smooth conduct of training programs by schools and the learning outcomes are met
• Work with the school management / Vision-Aid teams to ensure that all staff requirement for training programs is adequately met
• Ensure the school submits weekly/monthly reports as per the guidelines prescribed by Vision-Aid
• Make periodical visit to the schools across PAN India to assess the impact of the program on students; Ensure corrective actions are taken where required
• Work with the schools to create an annual operating plan identifying the infrastructural and training needs of the school
• Responsible for expanding the reach of the program to include more schools across India
• Foster good working relationship with the school management and other stakeholders
• Responsible for understanding the curriculum learning outcomes, methodology of Vision-Aid and ensure it’s implemented in the right way
• Responsible for ensuring that all documentation (online or computerized) related to the program is developed and maintained with the highest standards of quality.
• Responsible for reporting with full transparency the progress and status of the program to Vision-Aid stakeholders

Qualification:

·      Bachelor’s Degree or higher degree in Arts / Social Work

·      An additional Management degree will be desirable.

Skills:

·      High level of management and coordination and public relations skills

·      Good English communication (both written & oral) and people skills.

·      Knowledge of Hindi is necessary; Additional knowledge of Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam preferred.

·      Knowledge of general problems and behaviours of visually impaired students

·      Knowledge of needs and behaviours of students of various cultural backgrounds

·      Knowledge and proficiency in MS Office tools for preparation of Reports

·      Finally, spirit of Teamwork.

Experience:

·      5+ years of experience working in schools, colleges, or educational institutions.

·      5+ years program management experience