Program Head

Social Synthesis; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Social Synthesis in Bengaluru is seeking a Head of Programs to lead and enhance its Rural and Corporate Programs. This role demands a strategic leader with over 15 years of experience in non-profit program leadership, particularly in mental health or social development. The successful candidate will define program vision, ensure measurable impact, and lead partnerships effectively while working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees. Interested candidates can apply at [e-mail].

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in non-profit program leadership, preferably in public health, mental health, or social development.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and scaling large-scale programs.
• Proven track record of managing multi-stakeholder partnerships across geographies.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overall strategy and vision for the Programs vertical.
• Develop and execute plans for scaling programs across regions and populations.
• Ensure all programs are outcome-driven, cost-effective, and sustainable.

Skills

Leadership and team management

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Program management

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Development Studies

Job description

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview

The organization is seeking a strategic and experienced leader to head its Rural and Corporate Programs. The Head of Programs will be responsible for setting the overall program vision, driving execution excellence, ensuring measurable impact, and scaling programs across geographies.

This role requires a strong balance of strategy and execution, with the ability to lead teams, build partnerships, and ensure that all programs are aligned with the Foundation’s mission of improving mental health outcomes in India.

The individual will work closely with the Board of Trustees, advisory committees, CEO and cross-functional teams to strengthen program effectiveness, sustainability, and growth.

Reporting to: CEO

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overall strategy and vision for the Programs vertical
• Develop and execute plans for scaling programs across regions and populations
• Ensure all programs are outcome-driven, cost-effective, and sustainable
• Establish robust frameworks for impact measurement and learning
• Present program strategy, progress, and impact to the Board of Trustees and advisory committees
• Identify and drive innovative approaches to enhance program effectiveness and impact
• Program Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Prepare and execute partner MoUs, agreements, and amendments in alignment with program requirements and compliance requirements
• Ensure all contracts comply with organizational policies and donor requirements
• Maintain accurate records of program activities, budgets, and reports
• Provide strategic oversight of all programs (Community Mental Health Program and Corporate Program), ensuring high-quality implementation
• Monitor program performance, evaluate outcomes, and drive continuous improvement for all programs
• Conduct periodic meetings and field visits to ensure on-ground alignment and quality
• Ensure strong systems and SOP’s for effective program delivery
• Partnerships & Stakeholder Management
• Build and nurture strong relationships with partners, donors, and key stakeholders
• Identify and onboard strategic partners to strengthen program delivery and scale
• Collaborate with external experts and institutions to enhance program quality
• Lead key partner engagement platforms (e.g., annual partner meets, corporate convenings etc)
• Lead, mentor, and strengthen the Programs team to deliver high performance
• Ensure clarity of roles, accountability, and a strong performance culture
• Build team capacity across program design, implementation, and evaluation
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Decision Making
• Oversee the development and implementation of strong M&E systems
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality reporting on program outputs and outcomes
• Ensure compliance with internal and donor reporting requirements
• Work closely with the CEO and fundraising team on proposals, donor engagement, and reporting
• Closely work with the Finance team to be aligned on program budgets and to ensure cost effectiveness of the program.
• Provide programmatic inputs for budgets, fundraising pitches, and donor presentations
• Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, fund utilization, and financial planning
• Support Digital & Communications teams with program insights, stories, and impact narratives

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Development Studies, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience in non-profit program leadership, preferably in public health, mental health, or social development. Having experience in mental health or other relevant fields will be advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and scaling large-scale programs
• Proven track record of managing multi-stakeholder partnerships across geographies
• Strong understanding of monitoring & evaluation frameworks and impact measurement
• Experience working in corporate or rural and community-based settings
• Deep commitment to mental health and the Foundation’s mission
• Strong strategic thinking with execution focus
• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication abilities
• Strong program and project management capabilities
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into insights
• High ownership, initiative, and ability to work in dynamic environments
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work across teams

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel as required especially to rural locations
• Familiarity with funding ecosystems and grant management is an advantage
• Fluency in regional languages is a plus

Interested candidates can apply to: [e-mail]