Senior Manager, AI Program Management , Pragati AI for Impact

The/Nudge; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

L&D wallet

Individual development plan

Internal role change opportunities

Inclusive policies

Job summary

The/Nudge in Bengaluru is seeking a dynamic Program Manager to lead Pragati AI for Impact, guiding design, execution, monitoring, and learning across the full grant lifecycle. You will connect cohort, partners, mentors, and advisors to ensure successful delivery.

This role blends product thinking, program execution, and stakeholder management, ideal for an experienced manager from a startup or innovation-focused team who stays updated on AI and tech, and is eager to apply skills to social impact.

Qualifications

• 10–12 years of program management experience in technology and AI domains.
• Proven experience leading programs in engineering/product functions.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML systems and digital platforms.
• Curious and up-to-date on emerging AI and technology trends.
• Able to engage at a conceptual level to support problem-solving.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on problem-solving ability.
• Skilled at managing multiple projects and coordinating diverse stakeholders.
• Effective collaborator across technical and mission-driven teams.
• Experience in social impact or nonprofit space is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the Pragati AI for Impact program.
• Manage the full grant lifecycle—from call for proposals, selection, disbursement, monitoring and evaluation, through to close-out and learning dissemination.
• Coordinate with cohort members, mentors, ecosystem partners, and advisors to ensure successful delivery.
• Ensure timely execution by connecting stakeholders, managing timelines, budgets and quality standards.
• Monitor milestones and proactively address challenges to maintain progress year over year.
• Build partnerships with cohort members, AI/tech partners, funders, and ecosystem actors.
• Organize orientation sessions, workshops, and peer-learning to enhance capabilities.
• Map and connect stakeholders and resources across the AI-for-impact landscape for aligned outcomes.
• Represent the program at external events and forums to showcase impact and foster partnerships.
• Coordinate with Monitoring & Evaluation and technical/academic partners for guidance and insights.
• Analyze data to generate insights and inform program strategies and improvements.
• Document learnings through reports, case studies, and presentations for stakeholders.

Skills

Program management

AI/ML understanding

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Job description

About The/Nudge

The/Nudge is an action institute building resilient livelihoods to alleviate poverty. We work with women, farmers, tribals, and youth across rural development, agriculture, skilling, and economic inclusion, in partnership with 15+ central and state governments.

Our economic inclusion journey towards serving 25 million Indians spans 10 states and currently reaches over 1.5 million people. Through our incubator, accelerator, and grand challenges, we have supported 200+ social entrepreneurs, including Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees, Earthshot Prize winners, and nationally recognized changemakers.

Founded with the support of 130+ eminent philanthropists, 40+ corporates, and 15+ foundations, The/Nudge is working towards a poverty-free India, within our lifetime.

Pragati: AI and Tech for Impact

The Pragati AI for Impact initiative, backed by Meta, supports nonprofits in leveraging AI to address critical social challenges in areas such as employability and skilling, education, climate change and health. We fund pilot projects and scaling initiatives, seek measurable outcomes, and emphasise financial sustainability, ethical AI practices and inclusive design.

Over the next few years, we aim to enable development of scalable, ethical, and inclusive AI and tech solutions that deliver measurable impact, empowering underserved communities and contributing to sustainable development across the nation.

Read about Pragati AI for impact here

Role Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and technically fluent Program Manager to lead the design, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of the program. You will manage the full grant lifecycle—from call for proposals, selection, disbursement, monitoring & evaluation, through to close-out, feedback, program improvement and learning dissemination. You will act as the bridge between the cohort, program partners, mentors and advisors to ensure successful delivery of the program.

In this role, you will serve as the operational backbone of the program, ensuring seamless execution by connecting various stakeholders, managing timelines, and facilitating communication. Your ability to navigate and connect different players and initiatives within the ecosystem will be crucial to driving the program’s success.

This role blends product thinking, program execution, technical problem‑solving and stakeholder management, and is ideal for an experienced program manager from a start up or innovation‑focused team who is curious, keeps abreast of the latest developments in AI and technology, and is eager to apply their skills to driving social impact.

What will you do?

• Program Owner, Coordination & Execution


• Outreach & Selection: Lead outreach and manage the selection process, including eligibility criteria and selection frameworks, ensuring a fair, transparent, and impact-focused cohort.


• Program management: Oversee the coordination of AI and technology initiatives within the cohort and delivery of program components ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards


• Facilitate Communication: Act as the central point of contact between cohort members, mentors, ecosystem partners, technical teams, funders, and other stakeholders.


• Monitor Progress and drive continuous improvement: Track milestones and deliverables, proactively identifying and addressing potential challenges to keep the program on track and enhancing the program year on year.


• Stakeholder Management & Partnerships


• Build Partnerships: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with cohort members, AI/tech partners, funders, and ecosystem actors.


• Coordinate Capacity‑Building: Organize orientation sessions, workshops, and peer‑learning platforms to enhance cohort members’ capabilities.


• Understand the Ecosystem: Map and connect stakeholders, initiatives, and resources across the AI‑for‑impact landscape to ensure aligned, impactful outcomes.


• Amplify the Program: Become a SME and advocate for the program at external events, conferences, and forums, showcasing its impact and fostering new partnerships.


• M&E & Academic Partner Coordination


• Oversee M&E Partner: Ensure the Monitoring & Evaluation partner is effectively executing their oversight role, maintaining accountability, and providing accurate, timely insights on pilot performance and impact.


• Coordinate with Technical/Academic Partner: Ensure the technical/academic partner is available to provide guidance, insights, and recommendations to cohort members as needed, supporting them when they seek expert input.


• Learning, Impact & Communication


• Analyze Data & Generate Insights: Collect and review project data to inform program strategies and continuous improvement.


• Document Learnings: Prepare reports, case studies, and presentations for internal teams, funders, and the broader ecosystem.


• Ensure Ethical Practices: Promote ethical AI practices, data governance, and inclusive design across cohort projects

Who are we looking for in this role?

• 10-12 years of program management experience in Technology and AI product domain, ideally in startups or innovation-driven teams.


• Proven experience leading programs in engineering/product functions.


• Strong understanding of AI/ML systems, digital platforms, and building in complex, real‑world environments.


• Curious and up-to-date on emerging AI and technology trends.


• Able to engage at a conceptual level to support problem‑solving and technical discussions.


• Strategic thinker with hands‑on problem‑solving ability.


• Skilled at managing multiple projects and coordinating diverse stakeholders.


• Effective collaborator and communicator across technical and mission-driven teams.


• Strong analytical skills and commitment to ethical, inclusive technology.


• Experience in the social impact or nonprofit space is an advantage, though not essential for candidates who are mission-aligned and eager to engage deeply.

What’s in it for you?

Own your growth: An impact‑led learning environment encourages Nudgesters to invest in their learning and capacity building needs through initiatives and policies, including L&D wallet, individual development plan and internal role change opportunities.

Find your tribe: Our hiring philosophy emphasises intent, attitude, smarts and skills, in that order, to build a cohesive environment for Nudgesters. The organisation is committed to curating people‑centric policies, enhancing how employees experience life at The/Nudge.

Take big bets: Organisational initiatives are intended to facilitate Nudgesters with a view to the big picture, illustrated by our impact across 50000+ households, 15+ governments, 200+ social enterprises and Charcha: India’s largest social sector convening forum.

Make it happen: A product‑based approach in an action‑biased environment empowers Nudgesters to implement audacious plans. Driven to fail fast, we endeavour to optimise resources in favour of programs that align with our scale ambition.

We aspire to be an inclusive and diverse organization and encourage qualified individuals irrespective of their religion, caste, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or any other dimension of identity, to apply