Programme Associate - Skill Development

Job Title:Programme Associate - Skill Development

Department: Programmes

Reports To: Programme Manager

Location: Mumbai (Goregaon) | On-site

Employment Type: Full-time

About Veruschka Foundation

Veruschka Foundation empowers persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDDs) to become contributing members of society through the power of food. The organisation focuses on awareness to promote inclusion, life and market skills development and sustainable livelihood opportunities through mainstream employment, micro-entrepreneurshipand supported employment.

Website: https://theveruschkafoundation.org

Purpose of the Role

Programme Associate will play a pivotal role in the on-ground implementation of Veruschka Foundation's programmes for PwIDDs. This includes leading community mobilisation, managing the student admissions process, coordinating with external stakeholders and internal teams to ensure effective programme delivery, and supporting the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) for the programme.

Programme Associate will serve as the bridge between strategy and execution, turning plans into action by engaging directly with community stakeholders, tracking participant progress and ensuring that the programme is delivered with quality and sensitivity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Implementation and Coordination

Support the Programme Manager in the effective delivery of programmes, ensuring activities are

carried out in accordance with the established timelines and the Standard Operating Procedures.

Coordinate day-to-day operations of the programme at the field level, liaising with internal teams and

external stakeholders.

Track and document programme progress, challenges, and learnings to support ongoing improvement.

2, Community Mobilisation

Lead outreach efforts to engage potential students and community stakeholders through field visits,

awareness sessions and partnerships with local institutions.

Manage end-to-end admissions for the programmes, including counseling parents and students,

sharing programme details, addressing concerns and ensuring smooth enrollment.

Collaborate with the communications team to execute mobilisation campaigns and community

engagement across offline and digital channels.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

Support the collection, collation, and analysis of programme data using Management Information

Systems (MIS) tools.

Coordinate with the Faculty, Special Educator, Counsellor etc to ensure timely and accurate data

entry for programme outcomes.

Prepare internal daily, weekly and monthly impact reports and external reports for donors, ensuring

compliance with reporting frameworks and grant requirements.

4. Communications

Work with the communications team to provide relevant programme information, photographs,

success stories, and insights for the Annual Report and other materials that highlight impact.

5. Administrative Support

Ensure smooth execution of all operational processes related to student onboarding and ongoing

participation.

Support the Programme Manager and leadership team with documentation, due diligence

requirements, and compliance monitoring.

6, Employability Pathways

Coordinate with Veruschka Foundation's employment initiative (a bite better) and external placement

partners to support students in securing income-generation opportunities post training

Track the employability outcomes and support efforts to improve the income generation and financial

independence among the graduates of the programme.

Key Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Development Studies, Education, Sustainability, Social Work, or related fields.

Experience: 2-3 years of prior work experience (mandatory); Prior experience in programme implementation, community mobilisation, or similar roles is preferred

Skills and Knowledge

Community outreach and stakeholder mobilisation

Programme coordination and implementation

Data collection, analysis, and reporting

Market research and stakeholder engagement

Empathetic and persuasive communication

Familiarity with project management tools and SOP adherence

Ability to conduct Focus Group Discussions and field visits

Comfort with both independent work and team collaboration

Candidate Attitude and Mindset

Passionate about inclusion, equity and disability rights

Deadline-oriented with strong ownership and planning

Creative mindset with a keen eye for innovation in communication

Collaborative and confident in engaging with cross-functional teams and external partners

Self-starter with a proactive approach to content collection and execution.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Interaction

The Programme Associate will closely work with the Programme Manager, Faculty, Special Educator, Counsellors and Communications Associate.

Why Join Veruschka Foundation

At Veruschka Foundation, we empower PwIDDs through a unique culinary-based model that blends disability advocacy, skill-building and livelihood creation. As we grow, we offer our team:

1.Mission-driven Work: Be part of a purpose-led organisation where your work directly contributes to social change

2.Learning & Development: Opportunities to learn, problem-solve and make decisions to excel in your role

3.Diverse Workforce: An inclusive, collaborative team culture with professionals from multiple sectors

4.360 Growth: A positive, supportive work environment with strong mentorship and guidance

5.Downtime & Wellbeing: Thoughtfully planned time off to support rest and maintain a healthy worklife balance

6.People-first Culture: Regular team bonding activities, an open-door policy and an emphasis on personal growth.