State Lead and Skill Development Expert - Women’s Economic Empowerment (Bhopal & Chennai)

Position Summary

IPE Global’s Social and Economic Empowerment practice works towards building girl capital, empowering women and nurturing resilient communities by creating inclusive and sustainable solutions, including but not limited to policy development, capacity building, adaptive management, community mobilisation, behaviour change communication, deepening social safety nets, beneficiary feedback analysis, poverty assessment, and evidence-based monitoring.

a State Lead and Skill Development Exper

Key Responsibilities

Programme Strategy, Planning and Execution

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive strategy for enhancing female labour force participation (FLFP) in paid jobs in respective states, focusing on high-potential sectors and under-served geographies with particular focus on young women.
• Oversee on-ground implementation of interventions spanning skill development, career counselling, safe mobility, workplace readiness, and social protection.
• Lead strategic research and industry consultations to identify non-traditional and emerging livelihood opportunities (e.g., green jobs, digital economy, care economy) aligned with local aspirations and labour market trends.
• Lead the review of existing enabling infrastructure, such as working women's hostels, etc., and develop strategies to create additional infrastructure to boost FLFP.
• Guide implementation of industry-aligned training ecosystems through partnerships with sector skill councils, training institutions, and employers.
• Monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of the programme using key performance indicators (KPIs), adjusting strategies as needed based on evidence and feedback.

Partnership Management

• Work collaboratively with relevant state departments, private businesses, industry associations, development partners and other implementation partners in the state.
• Work closely with policymakers to support evidence-guided policy frameworks that promote young women’s economic empowerment and employment opportunities.
• Collaborate with the private sector for gender-responsive skilling, apprenticeships, and job creation, leveraging CSR funds and ESG priorities.

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Provide technical mentorship and build team capacity for effectively delivering programme objectives.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the national WEE team to ensure alignment.
• Prepare policy briefs, reports, and research papers to support engagement efforts and contribute to public discourse on FLFP.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the specialist may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities as determined by the senior leadership.

Educational Background

Master’s degree or higher in Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related field.

Work Experience

• 10-15 years of experience in leading programmes or projects focused on skill development, employment generation, women’s economic empowerment, or labour market development in India.
• Strong understanding of the socio-cultural, economic, and policy-related factors affecting female labour force participation in paid jobs in India and respective states, with experience in addressing these through actionable interventions.
• Proven track record of engaging with state departments and the private sector to strengthen female labour force participation.

Technical Expertise

• Knowledge of the drivers of low FLFP, such as gender norms, access to education and skill development, childcare, workplace conditions, and social security frameworks.
• Proven expertise in skill ecosystem design, curriculum localisation, and demand-driven training models with a particular focus on aspirational jobs.
• Familiarity with national skilling programs and regulatory frameworks (e.g., NSDC, NCVET, MSDE guidelines), PPP modalities, blended finance tools, and government procurement rules relevant to skilling and infrastructure.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Language proficiency:

  Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in the local language of the state (Hindi/ Tamil).

• Strategic Leadership:

  Demonstrated capacity to lead complex, multi-stakeholder programmes at scale.

• Analytical Thinking:

  Strong data interpretation skills, research, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Negotiation:

  Ability to engage and persuade diverse stakeholders.

• Team Building:

  Ability to lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.