Associate Manager- Livelihood

Plastics For Change; Chennai District; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PF (Provident Fund)

Health and accidental insurance

Training & development

Flexible leave & paid time off

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Plastics For Change is seeking a Program Manager to lead livelihood initiatives with informal waste workers, ensuring implementation aligns with design, budgets, and quality standards. You will coordinate with government, private partners, and NGOs to build capacity and market linkages, while mentoring women entrepreneurs.

Qualifications include a Master’s degree and 5+ years in social program management, with fluency in English and Tamil.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Fluency in Tamil and English is essential; knowledge of Hindi is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support project leads to effectively implement livelihood activities aligned with the project design and quality standards.
• Enhance the technical quality of project interventions through regular coordination with senior leadership.
• Develop detailed implementation plans and budgets; support teams in meeting objectives.
• Identify government skilling, private sector actors, and institutions for capacity building and support.
• Organize entrepreneurship awareness and development programs for beneficiaries.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism and ensure confidentiality across activities.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Financial analysis

Negotiation

Independent worker

Communication skills

Report writing

Strategic thinking

Governance & advocacy

Poverty & development

MS Office proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work/Sciences, Entrepreneurship Development, or related fields

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Plastics For Change is a purpose-driven social enterprise building ethical, traceable, and inclusive recycling supply chains. The company works with informal waste collectors to formalize recycling systems, ensure fair wages, and create measurable social and environmental impact.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Operations and Learning

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.

I dentify proac tive 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.

Compensation

As per industry standards.

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees’ well-being and growth, including an attractive salary, Provident Fund (PF) for financial security, performance-based incentives, comprehensive health and accidental insurance coverage, and strong career growth opportunities. Employees benefit from continuous learning and development through training programs, a healthy work-life balance with flexible policies, and generous paid time off including leave and holidays. Additionally, we provide employee engagement activities, recognition programs to reward achievements, and access to wellness and support initiatives, ensuring a positive and rewarding work environment.