Senior Program Manager - IDRR

The Association of People with Disability; Bengaluru Urban; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

The Association of People with Disability (APD) is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead the Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR). This role drives academic excellence, regulatory compliance, partnerships and research initiatives to strengthen disability services across India.

Based in Bengaluru, the role requires travel across India (roughly 40%) to support field activities, partnerships, training and capacity-building with APD centres, institutions and government

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement the long-term strategic roadmap for IDRR aligned with APD's vision and priorities.
• Academic Leadership: Ensure high standards in curriculum planning, delivery and governance; oversee admissions, examinations and governance.
• Research & Knowledge Development: Promote interdisciplinary research, collaborations and dissemination.
• Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance and lead accreditation/quality assurance.
• Partnerships & External Engagement: Build collaborations with universities, hospitals, NGOs and CSR partners; represent APD/IDRR.
• Student Success: Ensure high-quality student learning experience, welfare and placements.

Job description

The Association of People with Disability | Full time

Bangalore North, India | Posted on 07/21/2026

Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR)

Reporting to: The Senior Program Manager will report to the Executive Director – Programmes on an interim basis. Following the appointment of the Director – Academics & Skills, the role will transition to report directly to that position.

Travel Requirement

This position requires travel of approximately 40% of the work time across India, with a
primary focus on district and rural locations. The incumbent should be willing to undertake
regular field visits to APD centres, partner institutions, universities, hospitals, government
agencies and community programmes to support academic, research, partnership and
capacity-building initiatives.

About APD

About The Association of People with Disability (APD)

The Association of People with Disability (APD) is one of India's leading not-for-profit
organizations working towards creating an inclusive society where persons with disabilities
have equal opportunities to participate with dignity and independence. Established in 1959,
APD has over six decades of experience in delivering high-quality rehabilitation, inclusive
education, livelihood, healthcare, community-based rehabilitation, advocacy, research and
capacity-building programmes.

Operating across Karnataka and beyond, APD impacts thousands of individuals and families
every year through integrated disability services that span prevention, early intervention,
education, skilling, employment, rehabilitation, assistive technology, policy advocacy and
community inclusion. APD works closely with government agencies, educational institutions,
healthcare providers, corporate partners and development organisations to build
sustainable and scalable disability-inclusive solutions.

Driven by the values of dignity, equity, inclusion and excellence, APD continues to be a
pioneer in advancing disability rights while creating innovative models that influence
practice, policy and systems across India.

About the Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR)

The Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR) is APD's academic, research and
professional capacity-building arm dedicated to developing the next generation of
rehabilitation professionals and strengthening disability services across India.

IDRR delivers professional education, clinical training, research, and continuing education
programmes across multiple rehabilitation disciplines. The Institute collaborates with
universities, regulatory bodies, healthcare institutions, NGOs and government agencies to
advance evidence-based rehabilitation practice, interdisciplinary learning and innovation.

The Institute is committed to producing competent rehabilitation professionals while
fostering research, knowledge creation and community engagement that contribute to
improving the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of disability rehabilitation services.

Position Summary

The Senior Program Manager will provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for
the Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR). The role is responsible for
strengthening academic excellence, expanding institutional partnerships, ensuring
regulatory compliance, driving research initiatives and building a sustainable growth
strategy for the Institute.

Working closely with APD leadership, faculty, students, regulatory bodies and external
partners, the incumbent will lead the Institute's academic operations while promoting
innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous institutional improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the long-term strategic roadmap for IDRR aligned with APD's
  vision and organisational priorities.
• Drive institutional growth through new academic programmes, strategic
  partnerships and innovation.
• Lead organisational change initiatives that enhance academic quality, research and
  institutional effectiveness.

Academic Leadership

• Ensure high standards in curriculum planning, delivery and continuous improvement.
• Oversee academic planning, student admissions, examinations and academic
  governance.
• Strengthen faculty capability through mentoring, professional development and
  performance management.
• Foster a culture of excellence in teaching, learning and student engagement.

Research & Knowledge Development

• Promote interdisciplinary research and evidence-based practice.
• Build collaborations with universities, research institutions and healthcare
  organisations.
• Encourage publications, research grants, conferences and academic dissemination.
• Develop institutional knowledge repositories and digital learning resources.
• Lead day-to-day academic and administrative operations of the Institute.
• Ensure effective utilisation of financial, human and infrastructure resources.
• Monitor institutional performance through defined KPIs and continuous
  improvement mechanisms.
• Prepare annual plans, budgets, progress reports and institutional reviews.

Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with RCI, University and other applicable regulatory
  requirements.
• Lead accreditation, inspections and quality assurance initiatives.
• Maintain institutional policies, academic records and governance documentation.

Partnerships & External Engagement

• Build strategic collaborations with universities, hospitals, NGOs, CSR partners and
  Represent APD and IDRR at national and international forums.
• Strengthen industry-academia linkages and professional networks.

Student Success

• Ensure a high-quality student learning experience.
• Oversee student welfare, hostel administration (where applicable) and academic
  support systems.
• Promote student placements, internships and professional development
• Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary academic and administrative teams.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture aligned with APD's
  values.
• Drive employee engagement, accountability and continuous learning.