Senior Manager/ Manager, Program Management

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on road safety Do you thrive in a collaborative team environment built on mutual respect and integrity Are you experienced in managing projects and eager to improve the safety scenario in the country If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team at SaveLIFE Foundation.

About SaveLIFE Foundation

SaveLIFE Foundation (SLF) is on a mission to save lives on roads across India. Since 2012, over 1.5 million people have been killed in road crashes in India and close to 5 million have been left seriously injured or permanently disabled. Besides the insurmountable emotional trauma that thousands of families must suffer each year, road crashes deal a crushing economic blow to many families.

SLF is a fast-growing, specialised organisation with a proven track record of delivering large-scale impact. We are best known for getting India its Good Samaritan Law and developing the Zero-Fatality Corridor solution to transform dangerous highways into safe ways. We are registered as a not-for-profit organisation to ensure complete mission alignment.

Our teams work in a creative environment to build novel solutions and thrive on problem-solving. Over the last 15 years, we have built unique strengths in areas such as forensic investigation of crashes, data analytics and predictive modelling, safety design and engineering, public policy formulation, and strategic communication and training. We strive for excellence in everything we do and build leaders through opportunity and mentorship.

SLF is seeking a Senior Manager / Manager — Program Management to lead the strategic design, implementation, and institutionalisation of the Zero-Fatality Solutions model across critical corridors and districts at the national scale.

Role and Responsibilities

The Senior Manager/ Manager - Program Management at SaveLIFE Foundation will serve as a principal organisational representative in high-stakes government engagements, drive program strategy, and contribute to shaping SLF's institutional positioning. This is a senior leadership role that demands the capacity to independently manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs, exercise sound policy and strategic judgement, and deliver measurable road safety outcomes in partnership with Central and State government counterparts.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Leadership and Delivery

1.1. Provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple concurrent programs under the Zero-Fatality Solutions model.

1.2. Ensure program are designed, executed, and delivered to the highest quality standards, on schedule and within budget, with demonstrable impact on road fatality reduction.

1.3. Lead program design exercises, translating policy frameworks and field evidence into actionable, government-ready implementation plans.

1.4. Establish and enforce robust quality assurance systems, ensuring all program outputs are data-driven, technically rigorous, and institutionally credible.

2. Government and Stakeholder Engagement

2.1. Serve as SLF's senior representative in engagements with Government departments and district administrations.

2.2. Build and sustain high-trust relationships with government officials, ensuring consistent alignment between SLF's program objectives and government priorities.

2.3. Lead and facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations, technical workshops, and inter-agency coordination meetings, ensuring productive outcomes and documented follow-through.

2.4. Represent SLF in external forums, including donor reviews, partner convenings, and national road safety events, as required.

3. Strategic Planning and Institutional Positioning

3.1. Contribute substantively to SLF's annual and multi-year program strategy, bringing insights from field implementation and government engagement to inform organisational direction.

3.2. Identify opportunities for program scale-up, replication, and institutionalisation within government frameworks, and develop actionable proposals for leadership consideration.

3.3. Support the integration of road safety systems into broader governance and infrastructure frameworks at the state and national levels.

4. Team Leadership and Capacity Building

4.1. Provide direct line management, mentorship, and professional development support to team members within the vertical.

4.2. Foster a high-performance team culture anchored in intellectual rigour, accountability, and commitment to mission.

4.3. Build the capacity of team members in program management, government communication, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

5.1. Design and oversee robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track program progress, measure impact, and generate evidence for institutional learning and external accountability.

5.2. Prepare and present high-quality progress reports, briefing notes, and strategic updates for senior leadership, donors, and government counterparts.

5.3. Ensure that all program data and learnings are systematically documented and made available across SLF's verticals for cross-functional utilisation.

6. Problem-Solving and Innovation

6.1. Anticipate and proactively resolve complex operational, institutional, or stakeholder challenges that may impede program delivery.

6.2. Champion a culture of evidence-based innovation, encouraging the adoption of new approaches, technologies, and tools to advance program outcomes.

Professional Experience

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Business Administration, Development Studies, Urban or Transportation Planning, Engineering, or a closely related discipline. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree and exceptional professional experience may also be considered.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in program management, with at least three (3) years in a leadership role within the development sector, public sector, or a government-adjacent organisation.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex, multi-geography program involving Central and/or State Government stakeholders in India.
• Proven ability to engage confidently and effectively with senior government officials, including in formal negotiation and consultation settings.
• Strong command of project management disciplines, including work planning, scheduling, risk management, and reporting.
• Excellent analytical capabilities, with the ability to synthesise data and evidence into policy-relevant insights and recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience in team leadership, including performance management and capacity building.
• Prior experience in road safety, transport, public health, or infrastructure program is desirable.

Personal Characteristics

• A purpose-driven leader with deep commitment to SLF's mission and values.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to operate effectively across diverse institutional and cultural contexts.
• Strategic thinker with strong situational judgement and the capacity to navigate complex, ambiguous environments.
• Highly organised, results-oriented, and capable of managing competing priorities without compromising quality.
• Collaborative in approach, with a demonstrated ability to lead and inspire multi-disciplinary teams.

How to apply: Interested candidates can apply for this position by clicking on the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhko3YP498XyEZjXkPzAZhz_1WNbITwvzQXgOrecRymBARfQ/viewformusp=sharing&ouid=117901529720607981511