Program Officer, Urban Leadership program

About Praja Foundation

Praja is a non-partisan organisation enabling accountable governance. Praja empowers citizens to participate in governance by providing knowledge and perspective so that they can become politically active and involved beyond the ballot box. It undertakes extensive research and highlights civic issues to build the awareness of, and mobilise action by the government and elected representatives. Praja believes that uninformed and disengaged elected representatives and administration, rather than existing systems or policies, are responsible for the lack of good governance. Additionally, there is a paucity of tools to facilitate effective interaction between citizens and the local government. Praja conducts data driven research and provides information on civic issues to citizens, media, and government administration and works with elected representatives to identify and address inefficiencies in their work processes, bridge the information gaps, and aid them in taking corrective measures.

The Role

As a Program Officer, you will support the conceptualization, implementation, and coordination of training and capacity-building initiatives for urban leaders across India. Reporting to the Manager, you will work closely with the programme team to ensure effective execution of programme activities, including stakeholder coordination, research, content development, event and session management, and participant engagement.  The role will also involve working with a diverse range of stakeholders -including elected representatives, municipal officials, NGOs, academic institutions, and subject experts - to support programmes that strengthen leadership capacity and contribute to addressing complex urban governance challenges.

Main Responsibilities

Program Support & Implementation

• Assist in the design of program modules and curricula on topics such as urban governance, civic engagement, and municipal finance.
• Coordinate logistics and end-to-end operations for training programs, workshops, exposure visits, and consultations, ensuring seamless delivery with high participant satisfaction. Collate feedback, and facilitate communication with stakeholders throughout the program lifecycle.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the Manager in organizing roundtables, needs-assessment meetings, and ongoing consultations with civic and political leaders.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, civil society partners, and academic collaborators.

Capacity Building

• Support in facilitate training sessions or group activities under the guidance of the Manager and subject matter experts.
• Assist participants in developing leadership roadmaps and documenting key action items.

Monitoring & Reporting

• Support in monitoring and evaluation. Prepare program reports, case studies, and success stories for internal and external communication.

Team & Financial Support

• Mentor and supervise fellows, interns and administrative support, as delegated by the Manager.
• Assist with procurement, basic budgeting, and documentation required for smooth program execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Policy, Urban Planning, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or equivalent disciplines.
• 2 - 3 years of relevant experience in program management, urban development, public policy, governance, or capacity building—preferably with exposure to Indian urban contexts.
• Understanding of urban local governance structures, municipal legislations, municipal finance, urban planning & development, and service delivery mechanisms in India.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, with attention to detail and deadlines.
• Prior experience of working with elected representatives, administration in the government would be an added advantage.
• Should be proficient in English and Hindi language in both written and oral communication.

Competencies

• Passion for working in urban development and driving change at the political leadership level.
• Strong interpersonal and team collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, and a learning mind-set.
• High emotional intelligence, adaptability, and resilience.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively across India at short notice

Compensation

• The annual compensation will range from 6 lakhs to 6.5 lakhs, depending on qualification and experience.

For more information, please check the link: Program Officer, Urban Leadership program

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