Program Manager (PWD) Urban employment

This role is for one of the Weekday's clients

Salary range: Rs 1200000 - Rs 1800000 (ie INR 12-18 LPA)

Min Experience: 8 years

Location: Mumbai

JobType: full-time

We are seeking a highly committed and experienced Program Manager – Urban Employment (PWD Inclusion) to lead, design, and scale initiatives focused on improving employment outcomes for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in urban areas. This leadership role requires a strong understanding of disability inclusion, livelihoods, policy frameworks, and partnerships across government, corporates, NGOs, and training ecosystems. The ideal candidate will be passionate about creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, removing systemic barriers, and enabling equal access to dignified employment for people with disabilities in urban settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Program Strategy & Execution
• Develop, implement, and monitor strategic programs that enhance employment pathways for Persons with Disabilities in urban regions.
• Lead end-to-end program planning including budgeting, resource planning, evaluation frameworks, risk assessment, and stakeholder communications.
• Establish measurable goals and KPIs aligned to employment, skilling, and inclusion success metrics.
• Partnership & Stakeholder Management
• Build and manage partnerships with government bodies, urban local authorities, employer networks, industry associations, disability organizations, training partners, and community stakeholders.
• Work closely with corporate partners to create accessible job roles, diversity hiring pipelines, and inclusive workplace practices.
• Represent the program in consultations, advocacy forums, public platforms, and industry working groups focused on disability inclusion and urban employment.
• Policy & Compliance
• Ensure program compliance with disability and labour policies including the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), equal opportunities policies, accessibility standards, and state-level disability employment schemes.
• Contribute to advocacy efforts for improved policy implementation, accessibility infrastructure, and inclusive labour market reforms.
• People & Team Leadership
• Manage cross-functional program teams, field staff, trainers, and NGO partners with a culture of inclusion, accountability, empathy, and high performance.
• Provide guidance, training, and capacity building for internal teams and partner organizations on disability inclusion standards, models, and best practices.
• Research, Reporting & Impact Measurement
• Conduct research and market assessments on urban employment trends, skill needs, and disability barriers.
• Track program impact including job placements, retention outcomes, employer satisfaction, and beneficiary success stories.
• Prepare high-quality proposals, MIS documentation, periodic reports, program presentations, and donor reporting.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8–15 years of experience in program management, social impact, disability inclusion, livelihood development, or related ecosystem roles.
• Proven track record of working with Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and implementing employment or livelihood programs at scale.
• Strong understanding of urban labour markets, government schemes, disability rights, accessibility frameworks, inclusive employer practices, and vocational training models.
• Demonstrated success engaging with government officials, corporate CSR/HR teams, NGOs, donor agencies, and community networks.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead diverse teams and work in dynamic, multicultural environments.
• Compassionate, purpose-driven mindset with strong commitment to social equity and inclusion.

Preferred

• Experience working in large government or multi-state programs.
• Exposure to global disability standards or inclusive employment frameworks.