Program Lead, EIP, Livelihood Program

Keka Technologies Private Limited; Ranchi; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

The/Nudge seeks a Program Lead (JMMSY) to work inside the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security, Ranchi, advancing a flagship scheme for women’s financial independence. You will drive planning, monitoring and cross-department collaboration to enable sustainable livelihoods for rural women across Jharkhand.

With 10+ years in development and a Master’s/MBA/MSW/MA in relevant fields, you will craft data-informed strategies, build partnerships with academia, and document impact

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in development, public policy, livelihood promotion, or large-scale social welfare programs.
• Direct experience working with or within state governments is highly desirable.
• Master’s/MBA/MSW/MA in Economics, Public Policy, Rural Development, Women’s Studies, or related field.
• Professional fluency in English and Hindi is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Plan, monitor and implement JMMSY with the Department Secretary and senior officers.
• Establish data-driven tracking mechanisms and KPI dashboards for program delivery.
• Lead institutional documentation, process mapping, and progress reporting for state leadership.
• Forge deep linkages with line departments to promote convergence and livelihoods.
• Develop partnerships with academia and research institutions to commission studies and share learnings.

Skills

Government navigation

Self-starter attitude

Analytical mindset

Education

Master’s / MBA / MSW / MA in Economics, Public Policy, Rural Development, Women’s Studies, or related

Job description

Location

Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi.

About The/Nudge

is an action institute building resilient livelihoods to alleviate poverty. We work with women, farmers, tribals, and youth across rural development, agriculture, skilling, and economic inclusion, in partnership with 15+ central and state governments.

Our economic inclusion journey towards serving 25 million Indians spans 10 states and currently reaches over 1.5 million people. Through our incubator, accelerator, and grand challenges, we have supported 200+ social entrepreneurs, includig Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees, Earthshot Prize winners, and nationally recognized changemakers.

Founded

with the support of 130+ eminent philanthropists, 40+ corporates, and 15+ foundations, The/Nudge is working towards a poverty-free India, within our lifetime.

About the role

Economic Inclusion Program (EIP) at The/Nudge is solving for households in an extremely vulnerable state through a targeted, multi-faceted and sequenced model involving cash transfer and care, which has demonstrated that poverty can be conquered. The/Nudge is working in a strategic partnership with the Government of Jharkhand to bring the rural women into the mainstream by providing them alternate means of respectable livelihood.

JMMSY stands for Jharkhand Mukhyamantri Maiya Samman Yojana, a flagship financial assistance scheme launched by the Jharkhand government to empower women and promote their financial independence. It provides critical social and financial security to over 50 lakh women between the ages of 18 and 50 across the state. Under this flagship initiative, financial support is seamlessly transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). While the program initially launched with a ₹1,000 monthly honorarium, the benefit has been significantly revised to ₹2,500 per month (amounting to ₹30,000 annually), delivering impactful financial independence and stability to women across Jharkhand.

The Program Lead (JMMSY) will serve as a high-impact strategic advisor and operational anchor embedded directly within the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security, Government of Jharkhand. Working in close proximity with the Department Secretary, the Program Lead will drive the robust implementation, monitoring, and cross-departmental convergence of the Jharkhand Mukhya Mantri Maya Samman Yojana (JMMSY). This role is pivotal in transforming a flagship social welfare program into a vehicle for sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, and asset creation for rural women across the state.

What will you do ?

1) Strategic Implementation and Monitoring

• Work hand-in-hand with the Secretary and other senior officers at the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security to ensure effective planning, daily monitoring, and end-to-end implementation of JMMSY.
• Establish data-driven tracking mechanisms and KPI dashboards to streamline program delivery and troubleshoot bottlenecks in real-time.
• Lead high-quality institutional documentation, process mapping, and progress reporting for state-level leadership.

2) Inter-Departmental Convergence and Livelihoods

• Forge and manage deep institutional linkages with line departments, with a primary focus on JSLPS (Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, Rural Development Department).
• Design and execute convergence strategies to ensure rural women beneficiaries effectively leverage JMMSY financial support for sustainable livelihoods, enterprise development, and productive asset creation.

3) Research, Partnerships and Knowledge Export

• Establish strategic collaborations with premier academia and research institutions to commission short- and long-term research and evaluation studies.
• Develop high-quality learning modules, policy briefs, and case studies to document insights and export the knowledge generated from JMMSY's convergence model to the wider development ecosystem.

4) Ecosystem and Stakeholder Management

• Navigate complex government systems and manage diverse high-level stakeholders with diplomacy, agility, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Fulfill additional strategic assignments and operational duties as directed by The/Nudge management or designated Program Managers.

Who are we looking for in this role ?

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in the development sector, public policy, livelihood promotion, or large-scale social welfare programs. Direct experience working with or within state governments is highly desirable.
• Education: Master’s degree/MBA/MSW/MA in Economics, Public Policy, Rural Development, Women's Studies, Community Organization & Development Practices, or B.Tech from premier academic institutions (e.g., IIM, ISB, TISS, DSE, IIT, NIT, or equivalent).
• Language: Professional fluency (both written and spoken) in English and Hindi is mandatory.

Desired Competencies

• Government Navigation: Exceptional stakeholder management skills with a proven track record of building trust and driving outcomes within complex public administration frameworks.
• Self-Starter Attitude: High ownership, entrepreneurial drive, and the ability to operate autonomously with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong capability to synthesize data, connect policy to on-ground execution, and translate complex challenges into actionable strategies.

Terms of Engagement

• Type: Fixed-term employment contract role (initial 2-year contract, extendable based on program requirements and performance).
• Location: Sited inside the Department of Social Welfare, Ranchi, Jharkhand. It's a full-time, on-site role.
• Work Dynamics: Must strictly adhere to the official working hours, codes of conduct, and holiday policies of the concerned Government Department.
• Compensation: Competitive and aligned with market standards for premier talent, structured as per The/Nudge’s internal policy based on individual skills and experience.