Senior Program Manager

VIRINCHI DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED; Patna; On-site; INR 540,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Virinchi Development Services Pvt. Ltd. invites a Senior Programme Manager to lead end-to-end, multi-state research, evaluation and advisory work within the Program Development & Knowledge Management department.

You will direct field operations, ensure methodological rigor, and manage stakeholder engagement across government bodies, donors, and partners. The ideal candidate has 5–10 years in development consulting with leadership exposure, strong M&E design skills, and fluency in English and

Qualifications

• PhD/MPhil/MBA/MSW or related field required.
• 5–10 years in development consulting or donor-funded projects; 3+ in leadership.
• Proven ability to design and manage M&E systems and research studies.
• Strong proposal writing and business development experience.
• Excellent English and Hindi language skills; willingness to travel across India.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end multi-state research and advisory assignments.
• Develop project work plans, field strategies, and risk mitigation.
• Ensure quality, ethics, and timely delivery across studies and reports.
• Lead client relations, government coordination, and donor reporting.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

M&E Design

Stakeholder Engagement

Proposal Writing

Budget Management

Team Leadership

Education

PhD / MPhil / MBA / Master’s degree in Social Work or related fields

Job description

Virinchi Development Services Pvt. Ltd.

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Programme Manager

Department: Program Development & Knowledge Management

About the Company:

Established in 2011 and ISO 9001:2015 certified, Virinchi Development Services Pvt. Ltd. is a national-level consultancy agency specializing in social development. Founded by a multidisciplinary team of experts—including doctors, sociologists, economists, public sector specialists, scientists, and IT professionals—the organization partners with governments, international agencies, CSOs, and academic institutions to deliver sustainable solutions to complex socio-economic challenges.

We have completed 100+ large-scale, multi-sector, and multi-locational assignments including NFHS-6 covering education, health, livelihoods, gender, and life-skills development. We have expertise in designing robust MEL systems, impact evaluations, quantitative/qualitative indicators, and adaptive programme management. We have strong presence across 19 states of India.

Key purpose of the role

A strategic research and consulting leadership role responsible for managing end-to-end, multi-state research, evaluation, baseline/endline studies, and advisory assignments; ensuring methodological rigour, quality, ethical compliance, timely delivery, and effective stakeholder engagement. The role also leads client relationships, government coordination, business development, proposal and bid development, and institutional positioning, while managing multidisciplinary teams, budgets, field operations, and capacity-building initiatives.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Programme Management

• Oversee the end-to-end execution of multi-state development research, baseline/endline studies, and advisory assignments across VDSPL practice areas.
• Establish project work plans, field implementation strategies, resource allocations, and risk mitigation frameworks in alignment with client Terms of Reference (ToR).
• Ensure strict quality assurance, field ethical standards, and methodological rigor across all research, baseline surveys, and policy reports.

Stakeholder Engagement & Client Relations

• Serve as the primary operational liaison for client representatives across government bodies, multilateral agencies, corporate CSR divisions, and non-profits.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality reporting for existing and new partnerships, aligned with agreed donor requirements and commitments.
• Manage government relations and district/block-level administrative approvals for large-scale field studies and technical advisory programs.
• Represent VDSPL at national/state consultations, advocacy forums, client reviews, and sector dissemination workshops.

Business Development & Strategic Growth

• Lead technical bid preparation, Expression of Interest (EoI) submissions, RFP responses, and financial proposal development for prospective tenders.
• Identify emerging consulting opportunities across state health missions, rural development departments, and international donor-funded initiatives.
• Author strategic white papers, thematic briefs, and program notes to enhance VDSPL's institutional positioning.
• Research and identify new corporate, institutional, foundation, and other funding opportunities and develop a strong year-round pipeline of prospective supporters.

Other Responsibilities

• Manage multi-tier project teams, including research officers, field coordinators, data analysts, and domain consultants.
• Monitor project budgets, field expenditure approvals, deliverable milestones, and financial reporting in coordination with the finance team.
• Lead institutional capacity-building initiatives, training modules, and skill-upgrading programs for internal teams and field enumerators.
• Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the reporting manager or senior management.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

Education

• PhD / MPhil / MBA / Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Development Studies, Public Health, Economics, Public Policy, Rural Management, or related fields.

Experience

• 5-10 years of progressive management experience in development consulting, social sector research, or donor-funded project management (with at least 3 years in a leadership role).

Domain Expertise

• Proven background in developing project proposals, designing and executing monitoring & evaluation (M&E) systems, research studies, and governance/public health/livelihoods/education or other social development programs/CSR projects.

Technical Skills

• Advanced knowledge of quantitative/qualitative research methodologies, project management frameworks, documentation, budget oversight, and donor reporting formats.

Language & Mobility

• Native/fluent proficiency in English and Hindi (both written and spoken). Willingness to travel extensively to project field sites across India.

Compensation

• Annual remuneration ranging from INR 5.40 LPA to INR 7.20 LPA, inclusive of applicable taxes, and other staff benefits, commensurate with qualifications and experience (negotiable).