JOB DESCRIPTION: PROGRAMME SPECIALIST SKILL & ENTERPRISE
Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSP India) is a non-denominational, non-political, non-government organization.
AKRSP India was established in 1983 and it seeks to contribute to rural poverty reduction through community involvement and empowerment that leads to efficient management and an improved environment. For more details please visit:
https://www.akrspindia.org.in
Job location: Muzaffarpur, Bihar
Position Summary: The Programme Specialist – Work & Enterprise / Skill Development will be responsible for providing strategic and technical leadership for the planning, implementation, quality assurance and monitoring of skill development, employability, placement, entrepreneurship and enterprise promotion initiatives. The position will work closely with field teams, youth, women, training institutions, employers, industry partners, government departments, financial institutions and other stakeholders to create sustainable pathways for skills, employment, self-employment and enterprise development.The Programme Specialist will ensure that programme interventions are demand-driven, outcome-oriented, scalable and aligned with organizational objectives and emerging market opportunities
Key responsibilities:
- Lead the planning and development of Work & Enterprise and Skill Development programmes in consultation with senior management and field teams.
- Develop annual plans, programme strategies, targets and implementation frameworks.
- Identify emerging employment, skill and enterprise opportunities based on local market demand.
- Support development of new projects, proposals, concept notes, budgets and donor submissions.
- Ensure alignment of programme activities with organizational strategy, donor requirements and government skill-development priorities.
- Identify opportunities for programme innovation, scale-up and replication.
- Provide technical guidance for designing and implementing skill development programmes for youth and other target groups.
- Support identification of appropriate trades/courses based on market demand, local opportunities and employment potential.
- Develop and strengthen training models, curriculum, training methodology and learning approaches.
- Ensure quality delivery of training through regular review of training centres, trainers, curriculum and learning outcomes.
- Support trainers and field teams through capacity building, mentoring and technical guidance.
- Promote life skills, digital literacy, financial literacy, communication, workplace readiness and entrepreneurial skills along with technical training.
- Develop and strengthen employer engagement and placement systems.
- Establish linkages with companies, industries, local employers and recruitment agencies.
- Facilitate campus placement, job fairs, employer interactions and recruitment drives.
- Develop systems for tracking placement, retention and career progression of trained candidates.
- Analyse employment outcomes and identify gaps affecting placement and retention.
- Strengthen post-placement support and employer feedback mechanisms.
- Build institutional partnerships to improve employment opportunities for trained youth.
- Identify potential entrepreneurs and support them through enterprise selection, business planning and start-up processes.
- Facilitate access to financial institutions, government schemes, credit, grants and other enterprise-support mechanisms.
- Promote entrepreneurship as a viable pathway for livelihood and income generation.
- Monitor enterprise performance, sustainability and business growth.
- Conduct periodic field visits to assess programme quality and beneficiary outcomes.
- Document best practices, innovations, case studies, success stories and lessons learned.
- Use programme evidence and data to recommend improvements in implementation.
- Prepare periodic programme reports, presentations, dashboards and management updates.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in management, Social Sciences, Rural Development, Development Studies, Social Work, Economics, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship or a related field.
- Candidates with relevant professional qualifications in skill development,
- Livelihoods, entrepreneurship or programme management will be preferred.
- Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience in skill development, youth development, employment, placement, entrepreneurship, livelihoods or enterprise development.
- Experience in managing development programmes and field teams.
Preferred Attributes:
- Strong understanding of entrepreneurship development, micro-enterprise models, and livelihood promotion.
- Knowledge of market assessment, value chains, and small business operations.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to mentor and motivate first-generation entrepreneurs.
- Experience in training, capacity building, and community mobilization.
- Strong analytical, documentation, and reporting skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office and digital tools for programme tracking.
- Willingness to travel extensively within project areas.
- Strong organizational, coordination, and problem-solving abilities.
- Self-driven professional with ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Key Benefits:
- Opportunity to work with a renowned NGO.
- On-site and off-site training opportunities.
- 5-day work week.
- Comprehensive medical insurance for employees, spouse, and children.
- Maternity and paternity leave as per organizational policy.
- 15 General Leaves and 16.5 earned leaves annually (earned leaves can be encased if not utilized).
- 10 declared public holidays and 3 optional holidays.
- Diwali breaks for 5 days every year.
We strongly encourage women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and especially abled candidates to apply
Please note that we will begin the search immediately, and if a suitable candidate is found, we will close the application process!
