Project Director / COO – DDU-GKY Skill Development Operations

Celestix Industries; Ahmedabad District; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Celestix Industries is seeking a Project Director / COO to establish and manage a DDU-GKY skill development project from ground up. The role drives end-to-end operational ownership including regulatory approvals, PAF submission, PRN, and greenfield training-centre setup near Bagodra.

The candidate will mobilize rural youth, oversee training operations, third‑party assessments, formal placements and tranche recovery, while ensuring audit readiness and compliance with DDU-GKY norms.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of overall experience in operations or program management.
• Minimum 5–8 years direct experience in the skill development sector.
• At least 3 years heading a DDU-GKY project or large-scale training-centre.
• Must have previously established a training centre from the ground up.
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of DDU-GKY operations, compliance, placements and funding requirements.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory Approval, PAF & Government Liaisoning: Lead the project application process with the Gujarat State Rural Livelihoods Mission (GSRLM) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). Manage end-to-end preparation, documentation and submission of the Project Application Form (PAF). Coordinate requirements relating to the Permanent Registration Number (PRN). Represent the organisation during state-level project approval meetings.
• Greenfield Training Centre Setup: Identify, lease and establish the physical training facility near the Memer / Bagodra area. Set up the centre in accordance with applicable National Common Norms.
• Training Infrastructure & Centre Compliance: Supervise deployment of mandated infrastructure and ensure audit readiness and SOP compliance.
• Rural Mobilization & Candidate Recruitment: Build outreach teams, mobilize youth 15–35 in target villages, and manage candidate onboarding.
• Centre Operations & Team Management: Recruit and manage the operation team and oversee daily centre functions.
• Biometric, MIS & Government Portal Compliance: Oversee biometric attendance and portal data integrity for audits.
• Assessments & Certification: Coordinate third‑party assessments and certification requirements.
• Placement Management: Build employer ties and ensure formal placements meeting project targets.
• Post-Placement Tracking: Maintain documentation and monitor placement continuity for funding milestones.
• Government Funding & Tranche Recovery: Manage documentation to unlock funding and tranche releases.
• Compliance & Audit Readiness: Maintain DDU-GKY SOP compliance and audit readiness.

Skills

Regulatory approvals

PAF preparation

PRN processes

Centre setup

Rural mobilization

Placements management

Audit readiness

GSRLM coordination

Tools

Biometric attendance systems

MS Excel

Government portals

Job description

About the Role

Celestix Industries is looking for an entrepreneurial, highly experienced and execution-focused Project Director / COO to establish and manage an upcoming Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) skill development project from the ground up. The role carries end-to-end operational ownership, covering regulatory approvals, Project Application Form (PAF) preparation, Permanent Registration Number (PRN) requirements, greenfield training-centre setup near Bagodra, rural candidate mobilization, training operations, third-party assessments, formal placements and government tranche recovery. We are specifically looking for a candidate who has previously launched and managed at least one DDU-GKY project or centre vertical and understands the operational, financial, audit, compliance and placement requirements involved in running a successful DDU-GKY operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Regulatory Approval, PAF & Government Liaisoning: Lead the project application process with the Gujarat State Rural Livelihoods Mission (GSRLM) and Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). Manage end-to-end preparation, documentation and submission of the Project Application Form (PAF). Coordinate requirements relating to the Permanent Registration Number (PRN). Represent the organisation during state-level project approval meetings. Coordinate with relevant government departments and authorities throughout the approval and execution process. Ensure project documentation is maintained in accordance with applicable DDU-GKY requirements.
• Greenfield Training Centre Setup: Identify, lease and establish the physical training facility near the Memer / Bagodra area. Set up the centre in accordance with applicable National Common Norms. Coordinate infrastructure planning and implementation from the ground up. Ensure the training centre is operationally ready before candidate batches commence.
• Training Infrastructure & Centre Compliance: Supervise the deployment and readiness of required infrastructure, including: Theory classrooms Trade-specific practical laboratories IT / computer laboratories Biometric attendance systems 24/7 CCTV surveillance systems. Ensure adherence to official DDU-GKY branding requirements. Maintain required safety and operational standards. Implement applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Prepare the centre for Center Verification (CV) and related compliance audits. Ensure infrastructure and documentation remain audit-ready.
• Rural Mobilization & Candidate Recruitment: Build and deploy rural outreach and mobilization teams. Mobilise eligible youth between 15–35 years of age from targeted villages and Gram Panchayats. Develop an effective candidate sourcing and mobilisation process. Monitor mobilisation performance against project targets. Coordinate candidate onboarding and required documentation.
• Centre Operations & Team Management: Recruit, train and manage the operational team required for the project, including: Center Managers MIS Coordinators SSC-certified Trainers Quality Assurance staff. Oversee daily centre operations. Ensure appropriate operational discipline and coordination between functional teams. Monitor candidate attendance, training progress and administrative requirements. Build a capable operating structure that can consistently deliver project targets.
• Biometric, MIS & Government Portal Compliance: Oversee daily biometric attendance compliance. Ensure candidate information is accurately maintained on applicable government portals. Monitor timely updating of required candidate and training records. Coordinate uniform and allowance distribution. Ensure supporting documentation is properly maintained for audits and tranche claims.
• Assessments & Certification: Coordinate with relevant Sector Skill Councils (SSCs). Ensure timely scheduling of third-party candidate assessments. Coordinate candidate certification requirements. Track assessment completion and resolve operational delays where required.
• Placement Management: Build corporate partnerships and employer tie-ups across Ahmedabad, Sanand, Changodar and other locations in Gujarat. Develop employer relationships capable of supporting formal candidate placements. Ensure a minimum of 70% of trained candidates are formally placed, as required by the project. Coordinate with hiring organisations and internal placement teams to maintain placement performance. Monitor placement outcomes against DDU-GKY requirements.
• Post-Placement Tracking: Establish a robust post-placement tracking process. Collect and maintain required candidate placement documentation. Ensure documentation includes applicable records such as: Appointment letters Three-month salary slips Bank statements. Monitor placement continuity and supporting evidence required for project closure and government funding.
• Government Funding & Tranche Recovery: Manage documentation and operational milestones required to unlock government funding. Track requirements associated with Tranches 2, 3 and 4. Ensure candidate, assessment, placement and post-placement documentation is complete and compliant. Coordinate project closure requirements and funding recovery. Maintain visibility of pending documents or operational gaps that may delay tranche release.
• Compliance & Audit Readiness: Maintain compliance with the official DDU-GKY SOP. Ensure operations follow applicable Standard Operating Guidelines and National Common Norms. Maintain records required for government verification and audits. Identify compliance gaps early and drive corrective action. Ensure the project remains prepared for centre, operational and documentation audits.

Required Experience

5–10 years of overall experience. Minimum 5–8 years of direct experience in the skill development sector. At least 3 years of experience explicitly heading a DDU-GKY project or large-scale training-centre cluster. Must have previously established a training centre from the ground up. Must have managed DDU-GKY batches through operational execution and final Tranche 3 / 4 closure. Strong hands‑on knowledge of DDU-GKY operations, compliance, placements and funding requirements.

Preferred Technical Knowledge

Expert-level knowledge of the official DDU-GKY SOP. Strong understanding of DDU-GKY standard operating guidelines. Strong knowledge of National Common Norms. PAF preparation and submission. PRN-related processes. GSRLM and MoRD coordination. Training-centre setup and compliance. Center Verification audits. Candidate mobilization. Biometric attendance requirements. Government portal data management. Sector Skill Council coordination. Third-party assessments and certifications. Placement and post-placement tracking. Government tranche documentation and recovery.

Candidate Background

The ideal candidate should have already worked in a senior operational role within the skill development sector and personally managed a DDU-GKY project or large training-centre cluster. Relevant current or previous roles may include: Project Director DDU-GKY Project Head COO – Skill Development State Project Head Skill Development Operations Head Training Operations Head Centre Cluster Head Senior Project Manager – DDU-GKY Candidates without direct DDU-GKY execution experience would not meet the core experience requirement for this position.

Network & Stakeholder Management

Pre-existing relationships with any of the following are highly preferred: Gujarat Skill Development Mission (GSDM) Gujarat State Rural Livelihoods Mission (GSRLM) Local industry hiring managers Employers recruiting trained candidates. The candidate should be comfortable working with government personnel, training teams, rural communities, employers and other project stakeholders.

Language Requirements

Professional fluency in Gujarati and Hindi / English is mandatory to effectively manage rural communities, government personnel, employees and external stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who has already built and operated a DDU-GKY centre and understands the complete project lifecycle rather than only one functional area. The person should be capable of independently taking ownership of regulatory approvals, centre setup, staffing, mobilization, training operations, assessments, placements, compliance, documentation and government tranche recovery. This position requires a hands‑on operator who can build the project from scratch, create the required team and systems, resolve execution issues quickly, maintain compliance and deliver measurable project outcomes.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means establishing a fully operational and compliant DDU-GKY training operation, securing the necessary approvals, building an effective rural mobilisation engine, maintaining accurate government and biometric records, completing assessments on time and achieving the required placement outcomes. The Project Director / COO will also be responsible for maintaining the documentation and post-placement tracking needed to successfully progress through government funding milestones and take eligible batches through Tranche 3 / 4 closure.