Programme Associate – Placements in Mumbai | Veruschka Foundation

aikyam; Mumbai; On-site; INR 334,800 - 558,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning and development opportunities

Inclusive team culture

Thoughtfully planned time off

Job summary

aikyam is looking for a Programme Associate in Mumbai to support the transition of students with intellectual disabilities into sustainable employment in the hospitality industry. You will coordinate the placement process, engage with hospitality employers, and ensure that every placement is a good fit.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 1 to 3 years of experience in placements or disability inclusion. Excellent communication skills are essential as well as a commitment to inclusivity and social impact.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of experience in placements or recruitment coordination.
• Experience with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities is preferred.
• Willingness to travel locally for employer meetings.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the end-to-end placement process for students.
• Identify suitable hospitality roles and coordinate interviews.
• Maintain accurate placement records and prepare reports.

Skills

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Coordination and follow-up skills

Understanding of workplace inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Special Education, or related field

Tools

MS Office

Google Workspace

Excel

Job description

Programme Associate – Placements in Mumbai | Veruschka Foundation

Veruschka Foundation empowers persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become contributing members of society through the power of food. They work on awareness and inclusion, life and market skills training, and sustainable livelihood opportunities through mainstream employment, micro-entrepreneurship, and supported employment. Their culinary-based model blends disability advocacy, skill-building, and real economic opportunity for people who are often left out of the workforce.

Role

Support the transition of students graduating from Veruschka Foundation's S.E.E.D. of the Future programme into meaningful, sustainable employment in the hospitality industry working with students, families, employers, and programme teams to ensure every placement is the right fit.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the end-to-end placement process for graduating students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Identify suitable hospitality roles across hotels, restaurants, cafes, catering companies, QSR chains, and other establishments
• Coordinate interviews, workplace visits, job trials, assessments, documentation, offer letters, and joining formalities
• Build and maintain relationships with hospitality employers reaching out to HR teams, hotel managers, and operations heads to create inclusive hiring opportunities
• Collect job requirements, work timings, salary details, and workplace expectations from employers
• Work with trainers to assess student readiness and match students to appropriate roles based on their strengths, interests, and support needs
• Help students prepare for placements including resume writing, interview practice, workplace etiquette, grooming, and travel readiness
• Coordinate employer sensitisation sessions on disability inclusion, reasonable accommodations, and respectful communication
• Support students and families before, during, and after placement addressing concerns around workplace adjustment, transport, safety, and communication
• Conduct regular follow-ups with placed students, employers, and supervisors to track attendance, performance, and retention
• Maintain accurate placement records, employer databases, and student profiles; prepare weekly and monthly reports
• Document success stories, employer feedback, and student progress

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Special Education, Business Administration, Hospitality, Human Resources, or a related field
• 1 to 3 years of experience in placements, employer engagement, recruitment coordination, skill development, disability inclusion, vocational training, hospitality operations, or programme coordination
• Experience working with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities is preferred
• Experience in hospitality placements or employer partnerships is an advantage
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to engage confidently with hospitality employers and HR teams
• Sensitivity and understanding towards persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Good coordination, follow-up, documentation, and organisational skills
• Basic understanding of workplace inclusion, reasonable accommodations, and supported employment
• Proficiency in MS Office, Google Workspace, Excel, or MIS tools
• Willingness to travel locally for employer meetings, workplace visits, and follow-ups
• Patient, empathetic, ethical, and committed to safeguarding student dignity and confidentiality
• Mission-driven work with direct and visible social impact
• Learning and development opportunities with strong mentorship
• Inclusive, collaborative team culture with professionals from diverse backgrounds
• Thoughtfully planned time off to support rest and work-life balance
• Open-door culture with regular team bonding and emphasis on personal growth

Apply

Interested candidates can apply through the below form