Program Manager - Varanasi

Involve-Learning-Solutions-Foundation; Varanasi; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Involve invites applications for a district-level Program Manager to lead end-to-end implementation of the Peer-based program, engaging DIET, BEOs, BRPs, BRCs, and CRPS to ensure school-level outcomes. You will drive stakeholder collaboration, capacity building, and robust reporting to funders and government partners.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 4–7 years in the social sector, with strong Hindi and district-level experience in Varansi (Varanasi).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• 4–7 years of experience in the social sector, with 2–3 years of direct engagement at the state level.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end implementation of the Peer-based program with DIET and block-level stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with state and district officials to secure buy-in and sustainable impact.
• Document progress, report insights, and adapt tools to improve program effectiveness.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team and foster ownership and growth.
• Track program outcomes and ensure timely approvals, MoUs, and permissions.

Skills

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Training module development

Education

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Job description

At Involve , we’re on a mission to bring students to the center of their own learning journeys. We believe that when students are trusted, supported, and given space to lead, they don’t just learn better they thrive.

We started back in 2018 when our founders, Divanshu and Samyak , both fresh out of IIT Madras, chose to skip placements and instead build something that mattered. They envisioned classrooms where students weren’t just passive listeners, but active participants—teaching, mentoring, leading, and growing together.

Today, that vision is alive and growing. We’ve worked with almost 1 million students across government schools in six Indian states. Our core program, Peer Teaching, trains senior students to mentor their juniors in foundational skills like reading and math. But it’s about more than academics—it’s about building confidence, communication, problem-solving, and agency. Because we believe agency is the key to breaking cycles of inequality and helping young people truly own their futures. Over the next 5 years we look forward to creating impact for 10 million children across the length and breadth of India!

We work hand-in-hand with state and district governments in places like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka. We’ve been lucky to be backed by incredible partners like the Agency Fund, Acumen, Central Square Foundation, and Wells Fargo. And along the way, we’ve been recognized by platforms like HundrED and Reimagine Education for doing things differently—and effectively.

But honestly, what keeps us going is our students. The girl who ran her first peer‑led session with shaky hands and a steady voice. The boy who found his voice helping his classmates. The thousands of stories that remind us every day why this work matters.

Overview of the Role:

You will manage end-to-end implementation of our Program towards Student Agency in the district, starting with implementing the Peer based program in a district through working with DIET, BEOs, BRPs, BRCs and CRPS to ensure successful program implementation in all schools by the teachers and outcomes for all the students. You will be a part of the team which lays the foundation for the scale of Involve. This will include the following:

1. Implementation

Creating an action plan to implement out Peer-based program via DIET and Block -level stakeholders

Enabling DIET and block-level stakeholders to effectively drive high-quality program implementation across schools

Setting up robust processes that enable smooth onboarding districts and blocks

Understanding existing structures for different aspects of the program for ease of implementation

Regular interaction with all the stakeholders, visiting schools with stakeholders to ensure the quality of the program on the ground and understanding the implementation gaps

Identifying the needs on the ground and designing/creating programs aligning to Involve’s vision with the support of Program Design team

2. Manage relationships:

Fostering positive relationships with State officials, district officials, other stakeholders to get buy-in on the vision to build a strong idea of Student Leadership and agency in them for sustainable effort

Engaging DIET, DDPI and other govt. Officials by regularly reporting, initiating formal/informal conversations and co-creating action plans with them.

Identifying and forging partnerships with other CSOs aimed at addressing pressing needs at the school site

Enabling team members to achieve strong performance outcomes through clear goals, accountability, and coaching

Aligning to the values of involve, creating a fantastic culture for the team

3. Documenting and reporting

Using data to make informed decisions, identify implementation gaps and improve program effectiveness continuously

Ensuring clear visibility on program progress, challenges, and key insights for stakeholders

Adapting tools or surveys to evaluate, collect data and document stakeholder (DIET, DDPI, BEO, BRP, CRPs, teachers, students) response to intervention

Analysing feedback from BRPs, CRPs, and Teachers to improve the effectiveness of program and implementation continually

Creating monthly report for funders (some part of the report) and govt stakeholders

4. Team management

Building a high-performing team by mentoring, and enabling ownership within team members

Driving a strong outcomes-focused culture by regularly reviewing program goals, and implementation quality, and team performance

Building your team into strong people managers and high performers who can gradually take up your responsibilities and become capable replacements for your role, enabling you to take on larger responsibilities, lead more districts, and grow within the organisation

Why you should join us:

1) The 15% at Involve

15% of your work time (~1 hr/day) at Involve will be allotted for collaborative learning in the initial months. This will later evolve into an opportunity, as an individual, to investigate a new idea - to innovate, to create. There are primary focus areas you could explore that can directly contribute to the project:

Personal Development and Entrepreneurial Thinking

Student leadership & future-ready skills

Engaging Teachers to create more opportunities for student‑driven learning.

This will help identify your area of interest and explore learning opportunities, something that will contribute towards your self‑development and career growth in the long run.

3) High Impact work; Strong ownership for your work and No hierarchy!

5) We are fun. Like crazy fun! & we love memes! Ask anyone around :)

6) We are crazy about Food, so you get brownie points for being a foodie!

People we are looking for

We always hire for attitude first, smarts next and then your skills. We are looking for individuals who align with our Vision & Values and who have what it takes to solve the most complex of problems to build the next big education organisation!

We promise to give you a steep growth and a great learning culture that we have built here (Read about one such experience here).

You should have the following:

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• 4–7 years of experience in the social sector, with 2–3 years of direct engagement at the state level.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills to work effectively with top bureaucrats.
• Proven ability to navigate government processes, ensuring timely approvals, MoUs, and permissions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Program Managers and Design teams, to enable cross‑learning and scalable models.
• Experience in developing training modules and capacity‑building programs
• Location: Varanasi. (Fluency in Hindi is Mandatory)

Compensation: INR 09 - 11 LPA CTC (Negotiable based on experience & fit)