Project Coordinator

Smile Foundation; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 426,870 - 577,530; Full time

Job summary

Smile Foundation in Bangalore is seeking a Project Coordinator to implement and manage the STEM program across assigned centres, coordinating with government officials, educators and ground teams.

The role involves building field operations, supervising STEM facilitators, tracking progress, and ensuring timely reporting, with travel to Yadgir and other regions as needed.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree preferred in science, social work or development studies.
• Proven experience in managing and delivering field projects.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and field-level implementation of the STEM project.
• Coordinate with government education officials and school authorities.
• Supervise STEM facilitators and manage day-to-day field operations.
• Maintain project MIS and monthly reporting.
• Foster donor engagements and timely communication of project outcomes.

Education

Postgraduate degree preferred

Background in Science/Social Work/Development Studies

Job description

Position: Project Coordinator

Experience: 3-5 years

Function: Programme

Location: Bangalore, Karnataka with travel to Yadgir fortnightly

Reporting To: Regional Manager, South Region

Position Type: Full-time Fixed Term

Position: 1 nos.

Salary (CTC): Rs.45,000

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation works for the welfare of underprivileged children and their families through intensive programs focused on education, healthcare, skilling and women empowerment and Empowering Grassroots. Started in 2002 by a group of young corporate professionals, today Smile has evolved into a national level development organization impacting lives of over 2 million under privileged children and their families with project presence in 27 states across India,10 offices in strategic locations and over 650 employees, besides countless volunteers, well- wishers and supporters.

The organization also holds Special Consultative Status with United Nation’s Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC), accredited with global organizations like GuideStar, United Way, CAF America, Give2Asia and many more. Furthermore, continuously for past six years Smile is a Great Place to Work Certified organization and is considered ‘Gold Standard’ in identifying and recognizing Great Workplace Cultures.

Currently SF has been implementing projects worth Rs 120 Crore across India directly or with the help of grassroot organizations, primarily CSR funded projects of varied scale both in urban slums and rural areas including aspirational districts in thematic areas mentioned above. The wealth of knowledge emanated from the same is immense, however the same is grouped in systematic manner which can be used for pitching for large projects of long term in nature leading to data driven knowledge products which can be further used in creating large scale impact. Visit our website to know more about us and our latest development: www.smilefoundationindia.org

Job Purpose

The Project Coordinator implements and manages the STEM program & Block Resources System Strengthening activities at the assigned Mission Education Centre/Schools.

The Project Coordinator will lead the on-ground implementation of the STEM project in the Wadagera Block. This includes building linkages with government education officials, supervising the STEM Facilitators, overseeing day-to-day field operations in both Wadagera Block and Bangalore, and serving as the primary point of contact for all project-related activities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Implementation & Management

• Lead planning and field-level implementation of the STEM project.
• Ensure timely achievement of project objectives and outcomes.
• Maintain alignment with the implementation plan, reporting schedule, and documentation standards.
• Comply with organizational policies and procedures.

Functional Duties

• Coordinate closely with the Reporting line to align strategies with mission goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including education officials and school authorities.
• Supervise daily field activities and manage operational challenges along with vendor management.
• Maintain and update project MIS regularly.
• Manage monthly reporting, data collection, drafting, and submission.
• Support communication efforts through regular submission of reports, blogs, case studies, photos, videos, and testimonials.
• Organize and coordinate events, employee engagement, media visits, and donor engagements.
• Stay updated on current trends and developments in the education sector.
• Plan and facilitate teacher training sessions in collaboration with the Education Department.
• Organize and facilitate exposure visits/workshops for students by coordinating with institutions, corporates, or organizations and obtaining necessary permissions.
• Ensure effective delivery of training content and methodologies in block-level schools.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Build capacity of STEM Facilitator and regularly monitor his/her work.
• Promote strong collaboration across functions and geographies.
• Maintain consistent and effective communication across teams.
• Liaise with government departments, SMC, local leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth project delivery.

Finance & Resource Management

• Manage local project activities within approved budgets.
• Forecast and report expenditures in coordination with the Regional Officer and Finance team.
• Ensure efficient use of project resources in line with Smile Foundation’s financial guidelines.

Organizational Contributions

• Work collaboratively with other teams and external partners to achieve organizational goals.
• Uphold brand integrity and contribute to visibility, engagement, and outreach efforts.
• Support continuous improvements in systems, reporting, and compliance.
• Fulfil any additional responsibilities assigned by the Regional Manager.
• Be willing to travel as required for project and organizational needs.

Educational Qualification & Experience

• Postgraduate degree preferred. Background in Science, Social Work or Development Studies (e.g., ME – BTech with MSW, MSc) is desirable.
• Proven experience in managing and delivering field projects effectively.
• Background or strong interest in science and social development
• Experience introducing scientific thinking in educational settings is desirable.
• Strong team management, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience in handling budgets and financial reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Understanding of educational challenges, especially in STEM and digital learning.
• Awareness of regional and global issues affecting education.
• Knowledge of civil infrastructure and IT-based learning tools.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with rural communities.
• Facilitation and community mobilization skills.
• Basic documentation and reporting abilities.
• Ability to work independently in the field.
• Teamwork and coordination skills.
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities.