Program Manager - Operations

RippleWorks Inc.; Shillong; On-site; INR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent development organization is seeking a Program Manager – Operations in Shillong, Meghalaya. This role involves implementing Early Childhood Care and Education initiatives, coordinating with various stakeholders, and managing program delivery across districts. Candidates should have 1–3 years in the development sector, proficiency in local languages such as Khasi or Garo, and a relevant degree. This position requires strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to work in remote areas.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years in the development sector.
• Proficiency in at least one indigenous language (Khasi, Garo, or Jaintia).
• Experience working with government systems in Meghalaya preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage with government and community stakeholders.
• Implement ECCE program initiatives across districts.
• Support field teams with operational guidance.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Community development

Proficiency in Khasi

Proficiency in Garo

Data analysis in Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Master’s degree in relevant field

Job description

Role: Program Manager – Operations

Location: Shillong, Meghalaya (with travel across districts)

Experience: 1–3 years in the development sector

Role Overview

The Program Manager – Operations will work directly with the Program Lead and rest of the Meghalaya team to implement ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) initiatives across Meghalaya. The role will involve close engagement with key government departments including the Social Welfare Department, Directorate of Elementary Education (DEE), and the Meghalaya Early Childhood Education Mission, as well as community-level stakeholders in tribal regions. Given Meghalaya’s unique socio‑cultural landscape—spanning Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia communities—the role requires a deep appreciation for indigenous community engagement, a working knowledge of local languages, and an ability to navigate tribal governance structures. The Program Manager will translate program strategies into actionable field plans, drive day‑to‑day coordination, monitor progress, and support field teams to deliver timely and high‑quality execution of program activities.

Key Results

• Establish and maintain strong connections with district‑level stakeholders across Meghalaya’s diverse regions
• Position Rocket Learning as a trusted partner on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) with government and community bodies
• Achieve key programmatic metrics and early identification of implementation challenges
• Regularly share relevant and actionable field insights—including community feedback from Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia regions—to inform program decisions
• Ensure smooth and timely district‑wide implementation of program activities

Key Responsibilities

1. Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with state and district government officials, Autonomous District Councils, village councils (Dorbar Shnong in Khasi areas, nokma‑led structures in Garo areas), and other community stakeholders
• Facilitate meetings, field visits, and program review discussions as required
• Share regular updates and monthly progress reports with relevant government departments

2. Program Implementation

• Support the execution of ECCE program initiatives across districts in alignment with implementation plans
• Coordinate with field teams to ensure smooth rollout of activities, trainings, and interventions, with sensitivity to local community calendars and traditions
• Take full ownership of assigned projects/work‑streams end‑to‑end, ensuring adherence to program timelines, processes, and implementation guidelines

3. Community & Field Team Support

• Work closely with Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), community mobilizers, and field teams to provide operational guidance and ensure effective program delivery
• Use language skills in Khasi/Garo/Jaintia to bridge communication between field staff, communities, and program teams
• Support capacity‑building efforts for field teams, including orienting them on culturally appropriate engagement practices

4. Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Work with teams across functions (policy, content, M&E, tech) to implement programs in Meghalaya and launch new initiatives
• Facilitate smooth communication and information flow across teams to support effective program delivery
• Support contextualization of program content and materials into local languages where required

5. Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare regular progress updates, implementation reports, and documentation of program activities
• Capture field insights, community feedback, lessons learned, and implementation challenges to inform program improvements
• Document context‑specific learnings from tribal and indigenous community engagement for internal knowledge building

Requirements

Language Requirements

• Proficiency in at least one of the following is required: Khasi, Garo, or Jaintia
• Proficiency in both Khasi and Garo is strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of English for official correspondence and reporting and coordination with other team members

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Education, Management, or a related field with 2–3 years of relevant experience in program implementation, operations, government programs, or development sector initiatives; or
• Master’s degree in the above fields with at least 2 years of relevant experience
• Prior experience working with government systems in Meghalaya, or with tribal governance bodies (Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council), is strongly preferred
• Experience working at the district or block level in Meghalaya’s hill districts will be an added advantage

Critical Factors for Success

• Ability to communicate and build trust with government officials, community leaders, and field staff in Khasi, Garo, and/or Jaintia
• Ability to liaise with government systems and tribal governance structures on a regular basis
• Ability to take leadership in ambiguous situations, even when unsupervised, especially in remote areas
• Ability to interpret data and conduct basic data analysis in Excel, and comfort with technology
• Comfort with working on multiple different initiatives across geographically dispersed districts
• Seamless communication with managers and team members across language and cultural contexts
• Close alignment with Rocket Learning’s core values and principles

Mission‑driven, action‑biased, problem‑solver, enthusiastic and optimistic – committed to transformation.