Senior Programme Advisor – Urban Governance & Digital Transformation

Arthan; Khordha; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Arthan is seeking a Senior Advisor for a secondment with the Government of Odisha to help drive urban governance reforms. The role demands extensive experience in programme management and a commitment to social impact, overseeing critical initiatives aimed at enhancing citizen-centric governance.

You will work alongside the Additional Chief Secretary to develop strategies, manage stakeholders, and implement innovative digital solutions to transform urban services in Odisha.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes.
• Familiarity with urban governance, public service delivery, and digital transformation.
• Strong communication skills to engage senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist in translating departmental priorities into structured programmes.
• Function as the principal programme coordination point for H&UDD.
• Support revenue augmentation strategies through data use.

Skills

Programme Management Experience

Domain Understanding in Urban Governance

Strong Communication Skills

Coordination Mindset

Education

10+ years of experience in programme management

Job description

Engagement: Secondment (12 months, extendable by a second year by mutual consent)

Functional Reporting: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha. dministrative Reporting will be to our Client Organization.

Do you want to help a State translate an ambitious vision for urban India into time-bound programmes that change how cities are governed and serviced? We are seeking an experienced Senior Advisor to provide dedicated programme management and advisory support to the Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, in furtherance of the State's vision for Viksit Odisha 2036. If this is you, we'd love for you to join us – your work will directly shape citizen‑centric, data‑driven urban governance for millions.

The Challenge and the Mission

Urban governance reform is one of the hardest delivery challenges in the public sector. Departments hold ambitious visions, but translating them into time‑bound programmes – with clear ownership, governance structures, technology adoption, and revenue outcomes – requires sustained coordination across many wings, agencies, partners, and vendors. Digital platforms have improved service delivery and internal effi ciency, but their full potential is unlocked only when adoption, change management, governance, and analytics come together around a clear roadmap.

The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD), Government of Odisha is driving a portfolio of urban governance reforms and digital initiatives – including SUJOG, SUJOG Works, MSBY, Digital Door Numbering (DDN), SanMan, SWM and FSSM reforms, AI‑driven governance through the HUDD–ARF AI Innovation Hub, and the Citizen‑Centric Urban Governance (CCUG) programme – in furtherance of the State's vision for Viksit Odisha 2036. This role exists to give the Office of the ACS dedicated capacity to steer this agenda.

The Role

As Senior Programme Advisor (Urban Governance & Digital Transformation), you will be seconded by the partner organization to H&UDD and positioned in the Office of the Additional Chief Secretary, functioning as part of the Digital Urban Governance Acceleration Unit. You will serve as a senior advisor to the ACS, placing considered recommendations on programme, governance, and technical issues before the Department for examination and action by the competent authority. Your role spans the full programme lifecycle – from translating departmental priorities into a structured portfolio, through governance design and adoption, to monitoring outcomes – while reducing the coordination burden on the ACS and serving as a central point for programme management, governance, and technology follow‑up. An Annual Outcomes Plan and Quarterly Work Plans will anchor your work, reviewed quarterly against agreed KPIs.

What You’ll Do

Drive Strategic Programme Management:

• Assist the ACS in translating departmental priorities into a structured portfolio of programmes and projects with clear objectives, milestones, and timelines.
• Maintain a consolidated view of major urban governance and digital transformation initiatives, including those under the proposed Centre for Public Service Excellence (CPSE), and prepare periodic briefs, decision memos, and presentations for the ACS, the Chief Secretary, Finance Department, SFC, and development partners.

Lead Coordination and Follow‑up:

• Function as the principal programme coordination point in the Office of the ACS for internal wings of H&UDD, TASU, eGov Foundation, ARF, development partners, consulting firms, and IT vendors.
• Track decisions from key review meetings chaired by the ACS, ensure follow‑up on action points with concerned officers and agencies, and elevate cases requiring intervention.

Build Governance Frameworks for Digital Platforms:

• Assist in designing and operationalising governance mechanisms for SUJOG and other key platforms – including steering committees and working groups, prioritisation support on change‑request and enhancement processes, ULB‑level support mechanisms, and data‑quality and grievance‑redressal arrangements.
• Support extension of governance arrangements to strategic initiatives such as the Unified Administrator Dashboard, AI Innovation Hub, and CCUG.

Champion Digital Adoption, Change Management and Capacity Building:

• Prepare a consolidated SUJOG Adoption and Governance Roadmap for approval of the ACS, based on field assessments and partner consultations, and coordinate its implementation with DMA, SUDA, TASU, and ULBs.
• Facilitate change‑management, capacity‑building, and IEC activities linked to SUJOG and other digital initiatives.

Enable Revenue Augmentation and Decision Support:

• Assist H&UDD in formulating and driving a digitally‑enabled revenue augmentation strategy, with emphasis on tax and non‑tax revenue streams and better use of data to improve ULB revenues.
• Support the ACS in obtaining executive dashboards and analytics (including an AI‑enabled Administrator Dashboard) for improved visibility over revenue, service delivery, and project execution.

Support the AI Innovation Hub, CCUG and Emerging Institutions:

• Coordinate with the Airawat Research Foundation, eGov Foundation, and H&UDD officials to align AI Innovation Hub activities with departmental priorities and identified use cases.
• Provide programme management support for the design and rollout of CCUG initiatives, including convening workshops and pilots as approved by the ACS.
• Provide strategic coordination to develop institutional mechanisms such as the proposed Centre for Public Service Excellence (CPSE), anchored in the Odisha Urban Academy.

Represent the Department Externally:

• Represent H&UDD, alongside department officials, in regional, national, and international forums to showcase Odisha's work on citizen‑centric, data‑driven urban governance and to bring back ideas, partnerships, and recognition that strengthen the reforms agenda

You’re a Great Fit If You Have

• Passion for Social Impact: You are committed to using technology and sound programme management for social good.
• Programme Management Experience: A proven track record of managing complex, multi‑stakeholder programmes – from planning and coordination to delivery, monitoring, and issue resolution – ideally in or with the government. 10+ years of experience is preferred.
• Domain Understanding: Familiarity with urban governance, public service delivery, and digital transformation in the public sector; exposure to municipal/ULB systems is an advantage.
• Governance and Technical Acumen: An understanding of how digital platforms (DPI), data standards, dashboards, and analytics support better governance and revenue outcomes.
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to prepare crisp briefs and decision memos and to engage senior government and partner stakeholders.
• Coordination Mindset: You thrive in fast‑paced environments, work closely with cross‑functional teams, and bring discipline to follow‑up and execution