Project Manager, Program Development Team

Pratham; Mumbai; On-site; INR 854,000 - 1,155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly salary

Impactful projects

Direct funder exposure

Collaborative work culture

Job summary

Pratham Education Foundation in Mumbai is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead a multi-location initiative within its Youth and Skilling program. You will serve as the main link between the external funder, internal operations, and organisational leadership to ensure goals, budgets, and funder requirements are met.

Regular travel across India is a core part of the role. The role requires strong communication, financial oversight, and data analysis skills, with experience in donor

Qualifications

• Graduate or postgraduate in Management, Development Studies, Social Work, Finance, or related field.
• Proven experience in project management, with multi-location or funder-supported projects preferred.
• Experience preparing donor or funder reports and utilisation certificates is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Act as the main liaison between the external funder, internal operations, and leadership.
• Monitor progress across multiple locations, manage timelines, and budgets.
• Prepare fund utilization reports and track budgets with proper approvals.
• Carry out regular field visits to review delivery quality and support field teams.

Skills

Communication

Financial literacy

Data analysis

Project management

Travel readiness

Education

Management degree

Development studies degree

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

Pratham Education Foundation (Pratham) is one of the largest education NGOs in India with a record of innovative, rigorously evaluated programs that have inspired similar programs across three continents. With a history spanning 30 years, Pratham’s work today extends from programs for early and elementary years to girls and women, and youth skilling. Through programs covering 24 states and union territories, in an average year, Pratham usually reaches over 7 million children and youth. This is achieved through a combination of efforts: directly working with children and youth in communities, as well as through collaborations with state and district-level governments.

Pratham has received notable awards such as the Lui Che Woo Prize, WISE Prize for Innovation, Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, the Henry R Kravis Prize in Leadership and the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year for Public Service. Pratham also received the 2021 Yidan Prize for Education Development and the Yashraj Bharati Samman in 2025.

Pratham’s Youth and Skilling program team is looking for an experienced Project Manager to lead the delivery of a multi-location project in its Program Development Team. You will be the main link between the external funder, the internal operations team, and the organisation’s leadership. You will make sure the project meets its goals, stays within budget, and follows funder requirements. The project runs in several parts of the country, so regular travel to field locations is a core part of the role.

Key Responsibilities

Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as the primary point of contact for the external funder. Manage regular communication, progress updates, review meetings, and reporting deadlines.
• Work closely with the internal operations team to plan, carry out, and track project activities across all locations.
• Keep leadership informed through timely updates on progress, risks, and key decisions, and raise issues early when needed.
• Build strong working relationships with field teams, partners, and local stakeholders at project sites.

Project Monitoring and Performance Management

• Track project performance against all key metrics, including outputs, outcomes, timelines, and budget.
• Build and maintain monitoring frameworks, dashboards, and trackers to measure progress.
• Spot gaps or delays in delivery and work with the relevant teams on corrective action plans.
• Carry out regular field visits to review implementation quality and support on-ground teams.

Financial Oversight and Reporting

• Prepare and review fund utilisation reports in line with funder guidelines and timelines.
• Track project budgets and spending, making sure funds are used as planned.
• Identify financial red flags such as over- or under-spending, unusual expenses, or compliance gaps, and elevate them promptly.
• Work with the finance team on budget revisions, audits, and financial documentation.

Data Analysis and Insights

• Analyse project data to assess performance and impact.
• Turn data into clear insights and recommendations for the funder and leadership.
• Prepare periodic progress reports, presentations, and case studies.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with funders, senior leadership, and field teams.
• Strong financial understanding, including budgeting, utilisation reporting, and the ability to spot financial risks and red flags.
• Good data analysis skills, with working knowledge of Excel or Google Sheets. Familiarity with data visualisation tools is a plus.
• Strong organisational and multitasking skills, with the ability to manage several locations and priorities at once.
• A problem-solving mindset and the ability to work independently while travelling.

Qualifications and Experience

• A graduate or postgraduate degree in Management, Development Studies, Social Work, Finance, or a related field.
• Proven prior experience in project management roles. Experience managing funder-supported or multi-location projects is highly preferred.
• Hands-on experience in preparing donor or funder reports and utilisation certificates is an advantage.

Travel Requirements

The role involves frequent travel across India to project locations. Candidates should be comfortable with regular field visits, sometimes at short notice.

Location

Mumbai (with frequent travel across India)

What We Offer

• A monthly remuneration of ₹90,000
• The chance to lead a high-impact project across multiple regions
• Direct exposure to funders and organisational leadership
• A collaborative and purpose-driven work environment

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for subsequent rounds: telephonic/online interview, written assignments, field round and a final interview.

Note : Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to provide individual responses to every applicant and will reach out only to shortlisted candidates. We appreciate your understanding and patience.