State Program Manager - Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra

Ground Zero; Maharashtra; On-site; INR 2,700,000 - 3,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ground Zero in India seeks a State Program Manager to lead on-ground execution across multiple states including Maharashtra. You will manage field operations, partnerships with FIAs and government bodies, and drive livelihood initiatives aligned with rural development goals.

The role demands 10–15 years of proven leadership in multi-stakeholder programs, strong governance, and robust MIS/reporting skills. A postgraduate degree and fluency in local languages are essential.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Social Work, Rural Management, Development Studies, Agriculture, Sciences, or a related field.
• Experience: 10–15 years in the development sector with multi-stakeholder rural projects.
• Hands-on operational experience with rural livelihoods or agribusiness is valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead state-level planning, execution, and monitoring across districts and blocks.
• Supervise FIAs and implementation partners, providing technical support and capacity building.
• Collaborate with SRLMs, district administrations, and state government for smooth implementation.
• Drive enterprise development and value-chain initiatives in rural communities.
• Oversee MIS data quality, reporting, and financial controls.
• Build internal team capabilities and foster evidence-based decision making.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

MIS reporting

Communication

Education

Postgraduate degree in Social Work / Rural Development

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Role: State Program Manager
Locations: Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
Experience: 10 to 15 years
Salary: upto 30 LPA
Reporting To:Program Lead / Team Lead

The project is a flagship women's empowerment initiative designed to enable rural women entrepreneurs—both individual business owners and members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) / SHG Federations to participate actively in local economic development. Aligned with the Ministry of Rural Development's goal to enable rural SHG women to earn an annual income of at least ₹1 Lakh, this initiative drives women-led enterprise development in selected districts over a three-year period.

The State Program Manager leads on-ground execution within their assigned state. This role ensures that project strategies, field operations, partner management, and government alignments adhere strictly to established protocols while actively solving operational challenges.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Program Execution & Planning: Lead state-level planning, execution, and monitoring across districts and blocks in close coordination with the Central Project Management Unit (PMU). Accountable for delivering results aligned with state targets.
• Partner & Field Management: Supervise and manage Field Implementation Agencies (FIAs) and implementation partners. Provide continuous technical support, quality assurance, capacity building, and process handholding.
• Stakeholder Convergence: Collaborate closely with State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), district administrations, and state government entities to ensure smooth program implementation and resource convergence.
• Livelihood & Economic Initiatives: Drive enterprise development, Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) / value-chain initiatives, and resource mobilization across rural communities.
• Governance, MIS & Financial Controls: Oversee data management, data validation, periodic reporting, and MIS integrity. Ensure strict financial controls, monitoring, evaluation, and operational compliance.
• Team Leadership & Innovation: Build internal team capabilities, promote innovative solutions, and foster evidence-based decision-making to optimize outcomes.

Success Metrics

• Timely and successful achievement of state-level program goals and outcomes.
• High quality of implementation and adherence to protocols by Field Implementation Agencies (FIAs).
• Robust engagement and convergence with SRLMs, government officials, and local partners.
• Accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of MIS data, documentation, and reporting.
• Strong financial governance, compliance, and team capability enhancement.

Qualifications & Competencies

Education & Experience

• Postgraduate degree in Social Work, Rural Management, Development Studies, Agriculture, Sciences, or a related field.
• Experience:Must Have10–15 years of experience in the development sector. Proven experience working on multi-stakeholder rural development projects. Demonstrated prior leadership experience managing rural development programs at scale. Deep understanding of government programs and rural livelihoods.
• Sector Background: Hands‑on operational experience is strongly valued (e.g., running a poultry business, dal mill, garment manufacturing/stitching center, or agribusiness). Proven design sense or functional expertise in specific product categories is a major advantage.

Technical &Functional Competencies

• Expertise in multi-stakeholder partnership management and rural livelihood systems.
• Strong understanding of FPOs, SHG networks, and value-chain development.
• Experience interfacing with state and district government bodies.
• Fluency in local state languages (Assamese, Telugu, or Marathi based on location) is mandatory.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite and analytical report writing.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong state-level leadership and relationship-building capabilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem‑solving skills.