Program Manager

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS); Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) invites a Program Manager - SAM to lead regional reform in Karnataka, translating Capex Stack vision into capital budgeting improvements. The role blends analytical work with hands-on implementation alongside senior government counterparts.

The ideal candidate has a systems-thinking mindset, research-to-practice orientation, and experience navigating ambiguity in public sector reforms.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, public policy, management, engineering, social science, or related fields from a reputed institution.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in Government Advisory, Social Impact Sector, including research, basic quantitative analysis, client management (government clients) and team management.

Responsibilities

• Supports the State Government in implementing and strengthening process systems and digital tools across project planning, procurement, and contract management, contextualising the Capex Stack to the development board's needs.
• Tailors procurement, regulatory, and policy design and implementation protocols to the local context, working closely with senior academics and government stakeholders.
• Translates diagnosed gaps across the capital-spending lifecycle into practical, implementable interventions that improve value for money.
• Frames and researches problem statements identified with the State Government, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative evidence.
• Facilitates access to administrative data and conducts the analysis needed to inform reform decisions.
• Gather insights from subject-matter experts and industry specialists to strengthen solution design.
• Plans and allocates resources, develops and revises work plans and project goals, and ensures timely course correction to keep delivery on track.
• Coordinates with relevant Government officials to ensure smooth implementation of the interventions CEGIS supports.
• Guides and manages Associates in the execution of assignments, and reviews the quality of their work and deliverables.
• Identifies and mitigates project conflicts and risks.
• Manages Government relationships with bureaucratic leadership at the highest level.
• Leads the development of knowledge outputs for SAM and CEGIS.
• Creates internal reports and project documentation for training and reporting purposes, and to build institutional memory on projects.
• Reviews documentation for accuracy and reusability.
• Coordinates with key stakeholders for transparent communication, anticipating their needs and negotiating expectations.
• Prepares detailed presentations and documents for stakeholders.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships internally and with external partners.
• Collaborates with academics and stakeholders to adapt research to the local context.

Skills

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Written communication

Planning & organization

Learning agility

Collaboration

Stakeholder management

Public procurement knowledge

Ownership & initiative

Education

Master's degree

Job description

The Program Manager - SAM will lead CEGIS's engagement with a regional development board in Karnataka, translating the CEGIS Capex Stack vision into a contextualised reform of the region's capital budgeting and spending processes so as to strengthen the value for money of its public investments. As part of a long-term, multi-engagement partnership with the board, the role carries substantial ownership over the design and delivery of the frameworks, analytical tools, and process reforms that anchor this work. It is a blend of analytical, design, and stakeholder-facing work, requiring the ability to move fluidly between diagnosis, solution design, and hands-on implementation alongside senior government counterparts. The Program Manager will work closely with SAM colleagues based in other states, the Karnataka State team, and collaborating teams across CEGIS. The ideal candidate is a systems thinker with a research-to-practice orientation, comfortable navigating ambiguity to drive reform in a complex government setting.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Solution Design & Technical Delivery

Supports the State Government in implementing and strengthening process systems and digital tools across project planning, procurement, and contract management, contextualising the Capex Stack to the development board's needs.

Tailors procurement, regulatory, and policy design and implementation protocols to the local context, working closely with senior academics and government stakeholders.

Translates diagnosed gaps across the capital-spending lifecycle into practical, implementable interventions that improve value for money.

Research & Analysis

Frames and researches problem statements identified with the State Government, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Facilitates access to administrative data and conducts the analysis needed to inform reform decisions.

Gather insights from subject-matter experts and industry specialists to strengthen solution design.

Project & Delivery Management

Plans and allocates resources, develops and revises work plans and project goals, and ensures timely course correction to keep delivery on track.

Coordinates with relevant Government officials to ensure smooth implementation of the interventions CEGIS supports.

Guides and manages Associates in the execution of assignments, and reviews the quality of their work and deliverables.

Identifies and mitigates project conflicts and risks.

Manages Government relationships with bureaucratic leadership at the highest level.

Knowledge & Documentation

Leads the development of knowledge outputs for SAM and CEGIS.

Creates internal reports and project documentation for training and reporting purposes, and to build institutional memory on projects.

Reviews documentation for accuracy and reusability.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

Coordinates with key stakeholders for transparent communication, anticipating their needs and negotiating expectations.

Prepares detailed presentations and documents for stakeholders.

Builds and maintains strong relationships internally and with external partners.

Collaborates with academics and stakeholders to adapt research to the local context.

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, public policy, management, engineering, social science, or related fields from a reputed institution
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in Government Advisory, Social Impact Sector, including research, basic quantitative analysis, client management ( government clients) and team management
• Experience in at least one of the areas of public procurement or Capital Expenditure planning is highly desirable
• Sectoral exposure to one or more of the following - Infrastructure and local government is must.
• Knowledge of public procurement processes, and experience using or advising public-sector entities on e-procurement platform(s).
• An understanding of the policy and governance context in which public capital spending and procurement operate.
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage high-level relationships with partner organisations, ideally grounded in experience working with Indian state governments.
• Excellent problem-solving and strategic-thinking skills, with strong research aptitude and the ability to analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data and formulate solutions.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas meaningfully across different audiences, both within and outside the organisation.
• Strong planning and organisational skills - able to set priorities, plan timelines, manage competing priorities under pressure, and deliver high-quality outputs with attention to detail.
• Understanding of experimental and non-experimental research methods, including the design and implementation of field sample surveys, is an added advantage.
• Passion for improving the effectiveness of Indian States, and alignment with CEGIS's theory of change and intended impact.
• Ownership and initiative - willing to think creatively, take considered risks to experiment with new ideas, and turn ideas into action.
• Learning agility and versatility - comfortable taking on diverse projects and quickly getting up to speed in new sectors.
• A strong collaborator who actively listens to others and values differing views, including across teams from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to manage and work closely with Government (Department) stakeholders to ensure smooth project delivery.
• An operating style suited to working independently in a small-organisation setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued.

Role Logistics:

CEGIS is looking for suitable candidates for this role in Bengaluru/Kalaburagi, Karnataka.

The Program Manager will be required to undertake frequent travel on a fortnightly basis between Bengaluru and Kalaburagi and may also be required to travel to partner states to support project delivery.

Fluency in English is essential; basic to intermediate proficiency in Kannada is an added benefit, given the government-facing nature of the role.