Program Lead

Location: Pālghar

1. POSITION VACANT:
Program Lead, leading Philanthropic Organisation ,  Palghar, Maharashtra

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Our client is a leading Philanthropic Organisation of a leading Indian business group to drive social impact initiatives in India. The foundation works across community development areas and supports programs aimed at improving the well-being and opportunities of underserved communities through partnerships, research, and collaborative initiatives.

3.

JOB DESCRIPTION / RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the  Program Lead , the incumbent will be the visionary architect responsible for designing and stewarding an ecosystem that nurtures the voice, agency, and well-being of girls from an underprivileged background. The incumbent will bridge high-level systemic strategy with grounded, trauma-informed implementation, transforming a residential and community-based initiative in Palghar into a replicable gold-standard model for child development and welfare in India.

A. Strategic Program Architecture & Model Building:
(1) Design the programmodel as an integrated, evidence-based care framework that covers education, mental health, and agency-building for holistic development. This includes (but is not limited to) designing evidence-based curriculum, care protocols, and transition pathways aligned with girl-centred best practices and regulatory requirements;
(2) Establish and oversee beyond-compliance Operating Procedures (SOPs) that ensure a trauma-informed, rights-based, and secure environment;
(3) Design sustainable life-readiness and integration frameworks that support girls beyond their time within the residential program.

B. Ecosystem Partnerships & Systems Advocacy:
(1) Build deep, collaborative relationships with the District Administration, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Zilla Parishad, Tribal Development Department, Women and Child Development (WCD) department, Education department, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), and other allied district & state officials to integrate program’s learnings into state systems;
(2) Cultivate a multi-layered network of NGOs, social enterprises, and service providers to ensure a holistic support continuum;
(3) Represent the organisation   at regional and national forums, using field-level evidence to advocate for policy strengthening and adaptations in child-centred care.

C. Evidence, Learning, and Knowledge Management
(1) Develop representative and wholesome metrics to track agency and resilience alongside traditional developmental indicators;
(2) Document best practices, failures, and methodology to contribute to the national & global discourse on child rights and welfare;
(3) Lead the adoption of secure digital tools for case management and data-driven decision-making.

D. People, Culture, and Field Leadership
(1) Recruit and coach a diverse, interdisciplinary team, fostering a work environment rooted in accountability, compassion, high-performance, and psychological safety;
(2) Oversee continuous professional development for field staff to ensure the highest standards of care and field-level excellence;
(3) Ensure that organisation’s core values of dignity and justice are reflected in every interaction on the ground at the Palghar centre;
(4) Provide an oversight on project financials, operational performance and project management;
(5) Play an active role in the recruitment, training, development and performance management of program resources, including field workers, site staff and other resources.

5. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND

COMPETENCIES:

Qualification
(1) Master’s degree in Social Work, Development Management, Child Psychology, or Public Policy.

Experience
(1)  Sector Expertise : 12-15 years of experience in residential children homes/ hostels, child welfare, protection, or social justice, with at least five years in a senior leadership role;
(2)  Domain Mastery :
Deep understanding of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, POCSO, child protection, and trauma-informed care protocols in the Indian context;
(3)  Proven Track Record :
Experience in moving an initiative from concept to full-scale, high-quality operations;

Core Competencies and Values Alignment
(1)  Systems Thinking :
Ability to connect field-level realities to broader policy and systemic shifts;
(2)  Adaptive Resilience :
Navigate complex and dynamic field challenges with patience, emotional intelligence, and strategic pivots;
(3)  Relational Leadership : A coaching, distributed leadership style, that centers the voices of the girls and the frontline staff;
(4)  Inclusive Communication :
Fluency in English, Hindi, and Marathi (or openness to learn) is essential for effective engagement across all stakeholders, from government officials to community members.

6. COMPENSATION OFFERED AND BENEFITS:

(1) Gross compensation budgeted for the positions is attractive and in alignment with salaries paid by leading NGOs for similar roles. The offers made to the selected candidates shall be commensurate with qualifications,…