Program Associate - Apprenticeship

The STEP Foundation; Delhi; On-site; INR 669,600 - 1,339,200; Full time

Job summary

The STEP Foundation in New Delhi invites a short-term consultant to support apprenticeship and experience-based learning initiatives. The role blends research with on-ground implementation across engagements with government, industry partners, and training institutions.

The ideal candidate will contribute to evidence-based policy and programme design in the skilling ecosystem, with travel to project districts as required. 3–4 months, full-time, with potential extension based on performance.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of relevant work experience in consulting, public policy, development, livelihoods, skilling, or programme implementation.
• Master's degree in Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Management, Social Sciences, or a related field (preferred).
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, industry representatives, and implementation partners.
• Willingness to travel for fieldwork as required.
• Demonstrated interest in skilling, apprenticeships, labour markets, or workforce development is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Policy Research & Analysis: Conduct research on apprenticeship reforms, skilling systems, labour markets, and workforce development; prepare policy briefs, presentations, concept notes, and analytical outputs.
• Ecosystem & Stakeholder Mapping: Map government, industry, employer, training provider, and district-level skilling ecosystems; collect and organize information on industry demand, labour market dynamics, and implementation challenges.
• Evidence Generation & Insights: Support field visits, stakeholder consultations, interviews, and labour market assessments; synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into findings and recommendations.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination: Coordinate meetings, workshops, consultations, and stakeholder follow-ups; prepare agendas, briefing notes, presentations, and minutes.
• Monitoring, Documentation & Knowledge Management: Track project timelines, deliverables, pilot progress, and implementation updates; document learnings, case studies, and best practices for reporting and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Policy research

Stakeholder coordination

Data synthesis

Field research

Reporting skills

Education

Master's in Public Policy

Job description

Location: New Delhi (with travel to project districts as required)

Duration: 3–4 months (Full-time opportunity may be offered based on performance.)

About STEP Foundation

STEP Foundation works at the intersection of livelihoods, skilling, and systems strengthening to improve pathways to employment and economic opportunity. Through research, field engagement, and institutional partnerships, STEP supports the design and implementation of grounded, scalable workforce development solutions.

About the Role

The short-term consultant will support STEP Foundation's work on apprenticeship and experience based learning vertical. Working closely with the project team, the consultant will contribute to research, field assessments, stakeholder coordination, and implementation support across engagements with central and state governments, industry partners, and training institutions.

This role is well suited for individuals who enjoy combining research with on-ground implementation and are interested in contributing to evidence-based policy and programme design in the skilling ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Research & Analysis

• Conduct research on apprenticeship reforms, skilling systems, labour markets, and workforce development. Prepare policy briefs, presentations, concept notes, and analytical outputs
• Ecosystem & Stakeholder Mapping
• Map government, industry, employer, training provider, and district-level skilling ecosystems. Collect and organise information on industry demand, labour market dynamics, and implementation challenges

Evidence Generation & Insights

• Support field visits, stakeholder consultations, interviews, and labour market assessments. Synthesise qualitative and quantitative data into findings and recommendations.
• Support the planning and implementation of apprenticeship and labour market pilots. Assist in coordinating with government officials, employers, industry associations, and implementation partners. Prepare implementation trackers, field tools, and operational documentation.

Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination

• Coordinate meetings, workshops, consultations, and stakeholder follow-ups. Prepare agendas, briefing notes, presentations, and minutes.
• Monitoring, Documentation & Knowledge Management
• Track project timelines, deliverables, pilot progress, and implementation updates. Document learnings, case studies, and best practices for reporting and knowledge sharing

Desired Profile

• 1–3 years of relevant work experience in consulting, public policy, development, livelihoods, skilling, or programme implementation.
• Master's degree in Public Policy, Economics, Development Studies, Management, Social Sciences, or a related field (preferred).
• Strong analytical, research, and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear and structured presentations and reports.
• Comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, industry representatives, and implementation partners.
• Willingness to travel for fieldwork as required.
• Demonstrated interest in skilling, apprenticeships, labour markets, or workforce development is an advantage.

Compensation

Competitive as per social sector norms, based on qualifications and experience

Reporting

The consultant will report to the Senior Program Manager, STEP Foundation