State Project Manager

Child In Need Institute; Ranchi; On-site; INR 4,00,000 - 8,00,000; Full time

Job summary

An established organization is seeking a dedicated professional to lead impactful nutrition programs aimed at improving the health of vulnerable populations. This role involves overseeing project execution, managing multi-stakeholder collaborations, and ensuring effective implementation of nutrition interventions. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in public health and nutrition, particularly in maternal and child health, and will be responsible for building capacity among frontline workers. Join a mission-driven team committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families in underserved communities.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in managing nutrition interventions and programs.
• Postgraduate degree in Nutrition or Public Health required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project activities ensuring alignment with objectives.
• Lead capacity-building efforts for project team and stakeholders.

Skills

Project Management

Nutrition Program Design

Stakeholder Engagement

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Team Leadership

Education

Post Graduate in Nutrition/Public Health

Post Graduate in Social Sciences

Tools

MS Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Child in Need Institute (CINI) has been implementing/facilitating different programs to demonstrate models in improving quality of lives of children, adolescent and women in need. CINI also provides technical support to different State Governments and at National level for strengthening existing services and build up capacities of personnel working at different layers. CINI’s core model is based on CINI method that promotes a rights-based convergence approach which has so far attracted the attention of policy makers and other different actors of development sector, and which has proven to be an effective design to promote local level solutions for improving care and protection of Children.

About the Project:

The project will focus on capacity-building for frontline workers, sustained social behaviour change communication (SBCC) with caregivers, and continuous quality monitoring to strengthen Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) practices. Aiming for sustainable improvements in food and nutrition intake among children under six, pregnant women, and lactating mothers in Simdega, Jharkhand and Bihar, the initiative will emphasize high-risk, underserved populations by improving dietary intake, fortifying the ICDS Supplementary Nutrition Program (SNP), and fostering convergence across community health and social welfare systems.

Aligned with India’s national goals under Poshan 2.0, the project will establish Technical Support Units (TSUs) at the district level in Simdega and at the state level in Jharkhand and Bihar to provide technical guidance, capacity-building, and resource development. The goal is to ensure that children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers achieve sustainable improvements in food and nutrition intake, particularly among vulnerable populations. Specific objectives include improving dietary intake among children under six, strengthening the SNP scheme through Nutri-gardens and dairy supplementation for at-risk children, enhancing the quality and coverage of ICDS services by institutionalizing a convergence matrix leveraging AAAs for screening and managing high-risk women and children, establishing a village health and nutrition monitoring framework for PRIs, and reinforcing state-level systems to provide technical assistance in Bihar for overall ICDS and nutrition service delivery.

Activities to be performed:

• Oversee the execution of all project activities, ensuring alignment with project objectives and timelines.Ensure that all interventions are implemented effectively, efficiently, and in compliance with the project plan.
• Supervise and guide the team to achieve project outcomes and deliverables.
• Lead the development of project plans, including activity schedules, resource allocation, and budget management.
• Monitor and track the progress of activities to ensure they are completed on time and within the allocated budget.
• Conduct periodic reviews of project activities and provide necessary guidance to the team for corrective actions when required.
• Maintain regular communication with key stakeholders, including government representatives, local authorities, and other partners at the state and district levels.
• Represent the project in meetings with government officials, donors, and partner organizations.
• Ensure that all stakeholder expectations are met and that the project benefits from strong government support.
• Provide regular guidance, feedback, and mentorship to the project team to ensure the successful execution of activities.
• Organize team meetings, provide updates on the project progress, and create a collaborative work environment.
• Lead the capacity-building efforts by training the team and stakeholders on technical skills and project processes.
• Lead the development of technical resources, knowledge products, and training modules to support the implementation of nutrition interventions.
• Ensure the creation and dissemination of high-quality resources to enhance project understanding and replication across other areas.
• Liaise with CINI’s Head Office Technical Support Team and Tata Trust to ensure technical expertise is available for the project.
• Collaborate with these teams to identify gaps, provide solutions, and ensure that project interventions are rooted in best practices and up-to-date knowledge.
• Coordinate the development of technical manuals, guidelines, and tools for project execution.
• Ensure that all project reports are prepared accurately and submitted on time to both internal and external stakeholders, including Tata Trust, CINI Head Office, and other donors.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, ensuring that all records are accurate and up-to-date for future reference and evaluation.
• Conduct periodic visits to the project sites in Jharkhand and Bihar to monitor the progress of field activities, ensure quality standards are maintained, and resolve on-ground issues.
• Meet with local stakeholders, community leaders, and beneficiaries to assess the impact and gather feedback for project improvement.
• Work closely with the State Nutrition Specialist in Bihar to ensure that the project’s nutritional interventions are tailored to the local context and are being implemented effectively.
• Facilitate smooth coordination between the project team, Tata Trust, and other key stakeholders involved in the project.
• Assist in the design, development, and refinement of knowledge products and training modules to build capacity across the project team and stakeholders.
• Ensure that training materials are aligned with the goals of the program and enhance the skills of the target groups.

Qualification:

• Post Graduate in Nutrition/Public Health & Nutrition/ Post graduate in Social Sciences/ Rural Development and Management/ Public Health or Related discipline.

Experience:

• Candidate should have 08 to 10 years of working experience at State Level with Government Departments i.e. Health, WCD. Etc.
• Experience in managing nutrition interventions, including the design and delivery of nutrition support programs for vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant women, children, and marginalized communities).
• Knowledge of the Poshan Abhiyaan, the ICDS scheme, and other nutrition-related government initiatives in India.
• Ability to integrate nutrition into broader health and development initiatives, ensuring holistic programming.
• Working experience in Maternal & Child-Health and Nutrition Programme and in budget management will be an added advantage.
• Proven experience in managing multi-stakeholder projects and teams, with exposure to public health or nutrition interventions.
• Demonstrated experience in government liaison, coordination, and managing relationships with donors, partners, and community organizations.
• Experience working in Jharkhand and Bihar is preferred.
• The candidate should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong analytical and problem-solving skills and proficiency in MS Office, Excel and Power point.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and motivate a multidisciplinary team. Strong decision-making skills to manage complex projects effectively.
• Skills in analysing both quantitative and qualitative data to prepare comprehensive reports
• Strong liaison and networking skills to build and maintain relationships with government departments, NGOs, donors, and other stakeholders to facilitate partnerships and drive collaborative initiatives.
• In-depth understanding of public health and nutrition, particularly in areas such as maternal and child health, dietary diversity, and community-based interventions.
• Expertise in developing training strategies and conducting capacity-building sessions for teams and stakeholders and to manage multiple priorities and ensure timely delivery of project activities within allocated resources.

Expected travel: 70 % of total time

How to Apply:

• Interested candidates must also fill the following google form or QR lin by 12th April 2025 :- https://forms.gle/cMckpcbVQkkGvNug8

"CINI is an equal opportunity employer. Eligible female / third gender candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. "

"Child In Need Institute follows the Child Protection Policy, Sexual Harassment at Workplace policy, and all HR-related policies."