Associate Manager - Livelihood

Plastics For Change; Chennai District; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Plastics For Change in Chennai, India seeks a capable professional to lead livelihood interventions, coordinate multi-stakeholder efforts, and ensure measurable impact across project components. The role emphasizes building partnerships with government, private sector, and civil society, developing implementation plans, and maintaining high standards of accountability.

Ideal candidates hold a Master's degree in related fields, 5+ years of program management in the social sector, and strong

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work/Sciences, Entrepreneurship Development, or related fields.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing livelihood or income generation programs.
• Experience in social business development is highly desirable.
• Prior experience working with informal sectors and vulnerable workforce.
• Fluency in Tamil and English is essential; Hindi knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support project leads/teams to effectively implement livelihood activities aligned with project design, activity plan, and quality standards.
• Enhance the technical quality of project interventions through regular coordination with the Director – Social Additionality.
• Develop detailed implementation plans and budgets; support project teams in achieving defined objectives and targets.
• Issue relevant directives and guidelines for timely and effective implementation of project activities.
• Proactively identify operational challenges and coordinate timely solutions with the project team and Director – SA.

Skills

Innovative and collaborative mindset

Analytical skills

Financial skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Documentation and report writing

MS Office

ICT tools

Education

Master's degree in Social Work/Sciences

Job description

• Support project leads/teams to effectively implement livelihood activities aligned with the project design, activity plan, and quality standards.
• Enhance the technical quality of project interventions through regular coordination with the Director – Social Additionality.
• Develop detailed implementation plans and budgets; support project teams in achieving defined objectives and targets.
• Issue relevant directives and guidelines for timely and effective implementation of project activities.
• Proactively identify operational challenges and coordinate timely solutions with the project team and Director – SA.
• Develop knowledge management products such as case studies, success stories, technical manuals, and booklets showcasing project impact.
• Promote reflective practices to continuously refine strategies and approaches for greater impact and scalability.
• Identify proactive women entrepreneurs from our intervention zones and Collection Points within waste collector communities.
• Monitor the income generation pattern and volumes through our e-tricycle-based initiatives for informal waste collectors.
• Implement skill training initiatives and develop market linkages to ensure decent income opportunities for target groups.
• Collaborate with Govt partnerships lead of SA in identifying government skilling, private sector actors, and technical institutions for capacity building, technical and enterprise support.Build strong networks with key stakeholders to support the effective delivery of the project. Establish institutional linkages at the district level with banks, incubator/accelerator programs, retail outlets, and e-commerce platforms for financial and marketing support.

3. Capacity Building

• Organize entrepreneurship awareness and development programs for beneficiaries.
• Coordinate multi-stakeholder workshops on enterprise development.
• Conduct EAPs (Entrepreneurship Awareness Programs), EDPs (Entrepreneurship Development Programs), and mentorship sessions for emerging entrepreneurs.
• Offer continuous business support and mentorship for women micro-entrepreneurs.
• Conduct capacity needs assessments for institutional partners as needed.
• Develop IEC materials, demonstration tools, training modules, and capacity-building resources.

4. Reporting and Documentation

• Log key performance indicators (KPIs) into the PFC platform for monitoring.
• Ensure accurate, timely documentation and data flow through the PFC technology platform.
• Periodically review and update policies and SOPs with required documentation.
• Submit daily, weekly, and monthly reports in prescribed formats.
• Prepare and submit financial reports on income and expenditure.
• Maintain and analyze all MIS (Management Information System) data related to Livelihood.
• Provide insights and analysis of project activities to the Director – SA and relevant teams as required.

5. General Responsibilities

• Maintain high standards of professionalism and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Uphold PFC's policies, SOPs, and protocols across all levels of the organization.
• Foster collaborative communication with stakeholders.
• Ensure confidentiality and data security at all times.
• Be open to frequent travel across India, including on short notice, based on project needs.
• Collaborate closely with the broader PFC team and external partners.
• Note: The above roles and responsibilities are indicative and not exhaustive. Flexibility is expected, and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed to support the optimal functioning of the organization.

Requirements

Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge

• Master’s degree in Social Work/Sciences, Entrepreneurship Development, or related fields.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing livelihood or income generation programs in the social sector.
• Experience in social business development is highly desirable.
• Prior experience working with informal sectors and vulnerable workforce.
• Strong understanding of social and environmental sustainability concepts.
• Proficiency in English, Tamil, Hindi is a plus Bengali, and Telugu is essential.

Skills and Competencies

• Innovative and collaborative mindset.
• Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strategic, decisive, and action-oriented approach.
• Results-driven with a strong sense of accountability.
• Deep understanding of poverty, governance, and advocacy contexts.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and networking skills.
• Strong documentation and report writing skills.
• Effective communication and information management capabilities.
• Fluency in Tamil and English is essential; knowledge of Hindi is a plus.
• Proficient in MS Office and other ICT tools.

Operational Excellence (Project Implementation & Management)

• Proven ability to manage project deliverables within timelines and budgets.
• Ability to incorporate feedback and continuously improve project outcomes.