Program Manager (India) – Precision Development (PxD)

Application deadline: August 31, 2022; 5pm IST (applications may be reviewed as they are submitted)

Precision Development (PxD) is a rapidly scaling global non-profit that harnesses the power of technology, data science and behavioral economics to provide targeted information to farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Providing the right information to the right people, in the right way and at the right time, increases incomes, protects the environment and improves well-being. We are evidence-based: we test our interventions with randomized controlled trials to prove our impact and cost effectiveness, to simultaneously learn from and improve our service, and to demonstrate our value to funders and partners. There are few programmes in international development that are as demonstrably cost effective as ours. We currently work in ten countries in Africa, Asia and South America, and are expanding as more governments and organizations look for innovative ways to use new technologies to empower people across the developing world.

PxD’s activities in India are implemented in partnership with Behaviour Change Advisory Services (BCAS) LLP

We’re seeking a Program Manager based in India to lead a key strategic program focused on delivering customized advisory to coffee growers in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India, with a focus on sustainability, market linkages and gender inclusion.

This program aims to provide coffee farmers with timely and accessible digital advice, customized to their needs.  Currently, the service reaches 75,000 farmers across three states: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but our goal is to expand the service to reach all coffee growers in the country. We are also piloting a model for advisory bundled with market linkages for farmer groups. Effective service provision will build market linkages for farmer collectives, improve their knowledge, promote behavior change, facilitate access to new markets, and improve yields, net incomes, and environmental outcomes. We hope that this bundled product becomes a model for the coffee industry, and other commodity cash crops, particularly where there are opportunities that promote more sustainable practices (such as intercropping with spices) that increase income opportunities, and open the value chain for greater involvement on the part of women and indigenous communities.

Work authorisation: Preference for candidates with existing work authorisation in India
Salary: Commensurate with experience

As Program Manager, you will:

• Build strong institutional relationships with partners including at every level of government, private sector, non-profit and research partners.
• Assess program performance and aim to maximize benefit:cost of programs.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement to programs with input from research, agronomy and technology teams.
• Refine program vision and strategy with senior leadership and implement the same.
• Develop and manage projects’ work plans, stakeholder communications and implementation of monitoring systems.
• Manage contracts, grants and sub-partner monitoring functions at the state level.
• Directly supervise and mentor project staff.
• Contribute to PxD institutional knowledge management and internal learning efforts.
• Contribute to general management tasks important for the organization’s functioning and success.

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Proven experience at manager-level leading large programs and bringing individual projects to scale.
• The ability to drive and lead large programs independently – including developing strategy, setting and refining goals, measuring success.
• Proven experience with incorporating evidence gathered via research into user-centric program delivery; driving a culture of continuous innovation
• Proven experience with partnership development and management at all levels with the energy, patience and proactive problem-solving needed to co-create solutions, particularly with Government.
• Proven experience hiring, motivating and growing a high-performing team of varied backgrounds
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong time management, organization and planning skills
• Strong negotiation and decision-making skills
• A Bachelor’s degree or an industry-relevant equivalent qualification

This position may have opportunities to travel.

To apply, please visit the PxD website and use the online application form to submit a CV, cover letter, and brief responses to the screening questions. The job position will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the application deadline of August 31, 2022;  5pm IST.

PxD is committed to building an inclusive and diverse organization. We don’t make decisions based on gender, gender identity, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other personal characteristics that are unrelated to the role. We understand that everyone has different lifestyles and we accommodate flexible working to make sure you are as productive and happy as you can be. We will use any personal data you provide for recruitment purposes only.