Manager - Program Support

TechnoServe Inc.; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

TechnoServe Inc. is seeking a technical lead to strengthen agriculture and livelihoods programs in India. The role focuses on designing high-quality initiatives, engaging with partners, and ensuring alignment with global standards.

You will support design through implementation, contribute to evaluations, and promote innovative approaches across the portfolio to boost farmer productivity and resilience.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Rural Management, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Forestry, Environmental Sciences, or related field.
• Proven expertise in Rural Development, agriculture, and allied sectors.
• Experience in project design, project monitoring, stakeholder management, and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support across agriculture, regenerative agriculture, climate-resilient farming, NRM, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), market systems, and rural livelihoods programs.
• Support project teams in identifying innovative approaches, technologies, and delivery models to improve farmer productivity, resilience, incomes, and market access.
• Lead technical reviews, quality assurance processes, and periodic program diagnostics to ensure alignment with TechnoServe global standards and industry best practices.
• Identify opportunities for integrating regenerative agriculture, sustainable land management, water stewardship, climate adaptation, and carbon-smart practices into ongoing and future programs.
• Facilitate cross-project learning and knowledge sharing, and promote adoption of successful models and best practices across the portfolio.
• Design and develop high-quality agriculture and livelihoods programs from concept through implementation.
• Contribute to scoping studies, landscape assessments, value chain analyses, baseline assessments, and feasibility studies.
• Work with Program Development and Business Development teams to develop competitive technical proposals, budgets, and implementation frameworks.
• Contribute technical inputs to theories of change, results frameworks, logframes, work plans, and monitoring systems.
• Identify emerging trends, innovations, and opportunities in agriculture and rural development to strengthen TechnoServe’s portfolio.
• Serve as the technical lead during the start-up phase of new projects; develop inception and start-up plans.
• Coordinate with HR, Finance, Procurement, MEL, and Operations for timely project mobilization.
• Facilitate smooth transition of projects to implementation teams while maintaining quality and compliance.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government, universities, donors, and private sector actors.
• Engage with Agriculture Departments, Rural Development Departments, NRLM, NABARD, and related institutions.
• Collaborate with agribusinesses and market actors to strengthen market-driven development models.
• Represent TechnoServe in technical forums, working groups, and conferences.
• Work with MEL and Global Impact to strengthen program quality and learning systems.
• Develop technical guidance notes, case studies, and knowledge products.

Skills

Analytical skills

Written and verbal communication

Program management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Master's degree in Agriculture or related field

Job description

Technical Leadership and Program Excellence

• Provide technical support across agriculture, regenerative agriculture, climate-resilient farming, NRM, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), market systems, and rural livelihoods programs.


• Support project teams in identifying innovative approaches, technologies, and delivery models to improve farmer productivity, resilience, incomes, and market access.


• Lead technical reviews, quality assurance processes, and periodic program diagnostics to ensure alignment with TechnoServe global standards and industry best practices.


• Identify opportunities for integrating regenerative agriculture, sustainable land management, water stewardship, climate adaptation, and carbon-smart practices into ongoing and future programs.


• Facilitate cross-project learning and knowledge sharing, and promote adoption of successful models and best practices across the portfolio.

Strategic Program Development and Innovation

• Support the design and development of high-quality agriculture and livelihoods programs from concept through implementation.


• Contribute to scoping studies, landscape assessments, value chain analyses, baseline assessments, and feasibility studies.


• Work closely with Program Development and Business Development teams to develop competitive technical proposals, project strategies, budgets, and implementation frameworks.


• Contribute technical inputs to theories of change, results frameworks, logframes, work plans, and monitoring systems.


• Identify emerging trends, innovations, and opportunities in agriculture, food systems, regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and rural development to strengthen TechnoServe’s program portfolio.

New Program Start-up and Transition Management

• Serve as the technical lead during the start-up phase of new agriculture and allied sector projects.


• Develop comprehensive project inception and start-up plans, ensuring readiness across staffing, systems, partnerships, and operational requirements.


• Coordinate closely with HR, Finance, Procurement, MEL, and Operations teams to support timely project mobilization.


• Facilitate smooth transition of newly established projects to implementation teams while maintaining quality and compliance standards.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government departments, agricultural universities, research institutions, private sector companies, FPOs, industry bodies, donor agencies, and development organizations.


• Support engagement with key public sector stakeholders including Agriculture Departments, Horticulture Departments, Rural Development Departments, Watershed Missions, NRLM, NABARD, and related institutions.


• Collaborate with agribusinesses, food companies, input suppliers, market actors, and technology providers to strengthen market-driven development models.


• Represent TechnoServe in technical forums, working groups, conferences, and stakeholder consultations.

Knowledge Management and Impact

• Work closely with MEL and Global Impact teams to strengthen program quality, evidence generation, and learning systems.


• Support development of technical guidance notes, case studies, implementation toolkits, and knowledge products.


• Facilitate documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, innovations, and successful program models.


• Promote data-driven decision making and adaptive management across projects.

Cross-functional Coordination and Organizational Support

• Collaborate effectively with Project Leads, Practice Leads, MEL, HR, Finance, Procurement, Operations, and Global Technical Teams.


• Support capacity building of project teams through mentoring, technical guidance, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.


• Contribute to strategic planning, portfolio reviews, and organizational initiatives aimed at strengthening TechnoServe India's agriculture and livelihoods practice.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Rural Management, Natural Resource Management, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Forestry, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.


• Demonstrated expertise of best practices and current innovations within Rural Development, agriculture, and allied sectors.


• Experience in project design, project monitoring, stakeholder management, and partnerships.

Required Languages

• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills, including fluency in English, Hindi, and other regional languages.

Travel: Travel up to 50%

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proven analytical skills


• Outstanding written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated track record of producing high-quality, well written program deliverables.


• A demonstrated ability to effectively multi-task and manage projects, including staffing, work plans, deliverables, timelines, and budgets.


• A demonstrated ability to coordinate and communicate effectively and diplomatically with a range of external and internal stakeholders, including donors, partners, and project team members across diverse cultures.


• An ability to value and respect TechnoServe’s ethos, both with internal colleagues and external partners.

With our commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

TechnoServe is an Equal Opportunity Employer