Program Head – Community Mental Health (CMHP)

The Association of People with Disability (APD, India); Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

The Association of People with Disability (APD) in India seeks an experienced programme leader to drive its Community Mental Health Programme. You will lead planning, delivery, and expansion, mentor multidisciplinary teams, manage donor relationships and budgets, and ensure high-quality impact across locations.

Ideal candidates bring 12+ years in community mental health, strong people leadership and proven donor-facing experience.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive professional experience.
• Mandatory hands-on experience in community mental health.
• Demonstrated people management capability with sizable teams.
• Proven experience managing programme budgets.
• Direct, donor-facing experience with reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, problem-solving and execution skills.
• Postgraduate qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Mental Health, Development Studies or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, implementation and expansion of community mental health programmes.
• Mentor and develop multidisciplinary teams across locations.
• Own programme budgets and financial monitoring.
• Manage donor relationships, reporting and funding commitments.
• Build partnerships with government agencies, institutions and NGOs.
• Strengthen monitoring, reporting, compliance and programme impact.

Skills

Programme leadership

People management

Budget & financial management

Donor management

Partnerships & stakeholder engagement

Programme quality & impact

Stakeholder communication

Problem solving

Execution skills

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Mental Health, Development Studies or related discipline

Job description

Organisation: The Association of People with Disability (APD)

About APD

The Association of People with Disability (APD) is a leading not-for-profit organisation with over six decades of experience empowering persons with disabilities. Through programmes in rehabilitation, education, livelihoods, community mental health and advocacy, APD works to create an inclusive society where everyone can live with dignity and independence.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced programme leader to drive APD's Community Mental Health Programme. The role requires strong community mental health expertise, proven people leadership, sound financial management and the ability to engage directly with donors and external stakeholders.

• Programme Leadership: Lead the planning, implementation and expansion of community-based mental health programmes, ensuring quality delivery and measurable impact.
• People Management: Lead, mentor and develop multidisciplinary teams across locations, building accountability, capability and a high-performance culture.
• Budget & Financial Management: Own programme budgets, resource allocation, financial monitoring and effective utilisation of donor funds.
• Donor Management: Serve as a primary point of contact for donors, managing relationships, programme reviews, reporting and funding commitments.
• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with government agencies, mental health institutions, community organisations and implementation partners.
• Programme Quality & Impact: Strengthen monitoring, reporting, compliance and continuous improvement to achieve sustainable programme outcomes.

Essential Qualifications & Experience – Must Have

• 12+ years of progressive professional experience, including significant programme leadership responsibilities.
• Mandatory hands-on experience in community mental health, particularly in designing, implementing or managing community-based mental health interventions.
• Demonstrated people management capability, with experience leading sizable, multidisciplinary or geographically dispersed teams. Strong people leadership is essential.
• Proven experience managing programme budgets, including financial planning, monitoring, utilisation and accountability.
• Direct, donor-facing experience, including managing donor relationships, presenting programme progress and ensuring timely reporting.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, problem-solving and execution skills.
• Postgraduate qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, Mental Health, Development Studies or a related discipline.

The Ideal Candidate

A mature, hands-on programme leader who combines deep community mental health experience with strong people management, financial discipline and donor relationship skills. Someone who can lead teams, deliver measurable outcomes and scale programmes while maintaining quality and accountability.

Important: Prior experience in community mental health, people management, budget ownership and direct donor engagement are essential requirements for consideration