Project Lead – ITI Transformation

Job Description

Lend A Hand India is hiring a Project Lead to own the day-to-day leadership of ITI transformation operations across Lend A Hand India's assigned ITI clusters in Maharashtra. This is a state-level leadership role at the heart of the State PMU, coordinating with the state skills department, managing cluster teams and delivery of the 10-pillar playbook, coordinating ecosystem and technology partners, tracking outcomes against milestones, and representing Lend A Hand India in engagements with the Central PMU.

The role suits someone who can operate comfortably across strategy, field execution, government liaison, and data-driven program management.

Key Responsibilities

State & Cluster Program Leadership

• Lead the overall planning, rollout, and day-to-day management of ITI transformation operations across Lend A Hand India's clusters in Maharashtra.
• Own delivery at the cluster level, from student mobilization and aspiration-building through to post-placement mentorship and tracking.
• Manage and mentor Cluster Project Coordinators and field teams, setting clear targets, reviewing progress, and unblocking implementation issues.
• Drive the baseline data assessment process for target ITIs and ensure findings feed into cluster-level planning and prioritization.

Government & Ecosystem Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of coordination with the Maharashtra state skills department and relevant government stakeholders on ITI transformation matters.
• Coordinate with the Central PMU on strategy alignment, reporting requirements, and cross-state learning.
• Build and maintain relationships with ecosystem and implementation partners, including industry bodies, NGOs, and technology partners.
• Support ITI principals, faculty, and administration in strengthening institutional processes under the Admin Strengthening and Faculty Development pillars.

Industry Engagement & Placements

• Lead local industry engagement efforts, particularly with employers in Maharashtra's manufacturing and industrial corridors.
• Strengthen demand-supply mapping and Dual System of Training (DST)-style partnerships.
• Oversee placement support and apprenticeship pipelines, working with industry to convert exposure and training into quality job or apprenticeship outcomes.
• Support the design and delivery of post-placement mentorship, monitoring, and retention efforts.

Data, Technology & Monitoring

• Ensure timely and accurate data reporting from cluster to State and Central PMU levels.
• Use data to identify anomalies, delays, and areas requiring intervention.
• Track progress against the program roadmap and milestones, including baseline assessment, pilot rollout, and scale-up phases.
• Flag risks early and support timely corrective action.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing state team, including hiring, coaching, and performance management of cluster staff.
• Represent Lend A Hand India and the state program in reviews with the Central PMU, donors, and government counterparts.
• Contribute to the continuous refinement of the ITI playbook and operating model based on on-ground learning.

Requirements

Minimum Experience

• 8–10+ years of experience in program/project management, with significant exposure to skilling, vocational training, education, or livelihoods programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder programs involving government departments, NGOs/implementation partners, and industry.
• Prior experience working with or within the ITI/vocational training ecosystem, including DGT, MSDE, or State Skill Development Missions, is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing field teams and driving delivery across multiple sites/districts simultaneously.

Educational Background

• Graduate/Postgraduate degree in any discipline.
• Background in social work, development studies, education, engineering, or management is an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong stakeholder management and government liaison skills.
• Comfortable engaging with state department officials, ITI administration, and corporate partners.
• Data-driven program management, including working with dashboards/MIS tools and interpreting outcome data.
• Strong people leadership skills, including hiring, coaching, and managing distributed field teams.
• Structured problem-solving and the ability to operate in an evolving, build-as-you-go program environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Marathi/Hindi.
• Willingness to travel extensively within Maharashtra to ITI clusters and district offices.

Personal Attributes

• Relationship-oriented.
• Proactive and self-driven.
• Adaptable and resilient.
• Strong ownership and accountability.

About Lend A Hand India

Lend A Hand India (LAHI) is a leading national Think Tank/NGO with over 20 years of experience in strengthening India's skill and vocational education ecosystem. LAHI works closely with 20+ State and UT governments through long-term partnerships, providing technical advisory and Project Management Unit (PMU) support to drive systemic reforms.

Our Mission

Equip School Students to Maximise Their Potential Through Skill Education.

Our Approach

• Direct implementation in schools.
• Partnership with central-state governments to define and scale policy.
• Building Centres of Excellence that act as lighthouses for innovation.
• Resource organisation for the skilling ecosystem.

Our Reach

• 20+ States and UTs.
• 15,000+ Schools.
• 15 Lakh+ Students.
• 250+ Team Members.