Manager Livelihood Programmes

About us:

Sense International India, also known as Sense India, was established in 1997 as the first and only non-governmental organisation to support the development of comprehensive services for people with deaf blindness and multiple disabilities throughout India. Sense India works in partnership with persons with deaf blindness, their families, carers and professionals to ensure that everyone facing challenges because of deaf blindness has access to advice, opportunities and support, we’ve been making an impact for last 29 years.

We work with local, national and international partners, including governments to provide innovative and practical solutions.

Sense India is expanding its scope and activities and is setting up a team of highly motivated and qualified professionals to lead its growth.

Purpose of the post:

Persons with deaf blindness and multiple disabilities face unique, compounded barriers in inclusion, access to education, independent living and economic participation. Many civil society organisations / NGOs do not have skills to manage specialised programmes to address needs of persons with deaf blindness and multiple disabilities. Standard vocational models often do not apply. We are seeking a visionary, empathetic, and strategic Manager –Programs to lead the design, implementation, and scaling of innovative, highly customized programmes, including livelihood models.

Working closely with the Head of Programmes, the successful candidate will ensure the implementation of project objectives, capacity building of partner organisations in programme management, bridge the gap between special education and economic independence by developing supported employment, sheltered workshops, family-based enterprises, and inclusive mainstream skilling opportunities for youth and adults.

Key

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Program Strategy & Design
Design and pilot innovative skilling and livelihood models tailored to the unique sensory and physical needs of persons with deaf blindness and multiple disabilities.
Ensure individualized vocational plans (IVPs) are developed in close collaboration with the capacity building team.
Identify realistic livelihood pathways, including home-based income generation, sheltered enterprises, micro-business for caregivers, and supported open employment.
2. Program Implementation & Management
Lead the end-to-end execution of education and skilling projects, ensuring they meet programmatic timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
Oversee the establishment and operations of educational and vocational training centers and inclusive production units.
Support the capacity building team in developing pre-vocational training modules focusing on independent living, mobility and basic financial literacy.
3. Partnerships, Advocacy & Employer Engagement
Build and maintain partnerships with government bodies (e.g., NSDC, SCPwD, MSJE), corporate CSR foundations, and inclusive employers.
Advocate for the inclusion of persons with deaf blindness in mainstream education and government skilling schemes and leverage provisions under the RPWD Act, 2016.
Sensitize potential employers, conduct workplace accessibility audits, and provide continuous on-the-job support/job-coaching to both the employer and the employee.
4. Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement
Collaborate with the capacity-building team to organise workshops for vocational trainers, special educators, and field staff.
Work closely with parents, families, and primary caregivers to build their capacity as co-entrepreneurs or livelihood supporters.
Support in the creation of accessible training materials using tactile, auditory, or visual adaptations as required.
Work with partner organisations and vocational training centres to explore market for job placement and product marketing
5. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
Develop robust M&E frameworks to track the economic and social impact of the education and livelihood programs.
Maintain comprehensive data, beneficiary case studies, and documentation.
Prepare high-quality progress reports, impact assessments, and funding proposals for donors and internal leadership.

Person Specification

Qualifi…