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Job Description: Program Officer, Urban Leadership Program

Position

Program Officer, Urban Leadership program

Experience

2 -3 years

Reporting to

Manager, Praja Foundation

Location

Mumbai

 

About Praja

Over the past 25 years, Praja Foundation has worked to enable accountable urban governance in India. We partnered with the Mumbai Corporation to develop its first Citizen Charter and revamp the citizen grievance mechanism, including Complaint 1916. Praja’s pioneering study on urban governance reforms led to the creation of the Urban Governance Index (UGI), a tool used by MoHUA, NITI Aayog, and NIUA to inform policy. In 2024, UGI 2.0 mapped governance across 31 cities, strengthening transparency and service delivery. Praja also collaborates with state and city governments to drive reforms and build capacity that improve council deliberations, leadership skills of elected representatives, financial management, and citizen participation in local decision-making.

About Praja’s Urban Leadership (UL) Program

As cities continue to expand and urban challenges become increasingly complex, the need for skilled and visionary leadership at the local level has never been greater. Praja’s Urban Leadership (UL) is a capacity-building initiative designed to enhance the knowledge, capabilities, and leadership skills of key urban stakeholders. These include elected representatives (mayors, deputy mayors, standing committee chairpersons, Mayor-In-Council members), municipal administrators, MLAs, and civic leaders from NGOs, academia, and the business sector.

UL focuses on developing a comprehensive understanding of municipal laws, finance, urban planning, governance mechanisms, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Through immersive training, peer learning, and practical engagement, the program aims to empower leaders to drive innovative solutions and foster inclusive governance strategies for a better urban future.

The Role

As a Program Officer, you will support the conceptualization, implementation, and coordination of training and capacity-building initiatives for urban leaders across India. Reporting to the Manager, you will work closely with the programme team to ensure effective execution of programme activities, including stakeholder coordination, research, content development, event and session management, and participant engagement.  The role will also involve working with a diverse range of stakeholders -including elected representatives, municipal officials, NGOs, academic institutions, and subject experts - to support programmes that strengthen leadership capacity and contribute to addressing complex urban governance challenges.

 

Main Responsibilities

Program Support & Implementation

  • Assist in the design of program modules and curricula on topics such as urban governance, civic engagement, and municipal finance.
  • Coordinate logistics and end-to-end operations for training programs, workshops, exposure visits, and consultations, ensuring seamless delivery with high participant satisfaction. Collate feedback, and facilitate communication with stakeholders throughout the program lifecycle.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Support the Manager in organizing roundtables, needs-assessment meetings, and ongoing consultations with civic and political leaders.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, civil society partners, and academic collaborators.

Capacity Building

  • Support in facilitate training sessions or group activities under the guidance of the Manager and subject matter experts.
  • Assist participants in developing leadership roadmaps and documenting key action items.

Monitoring & Reporting

  • Support in monitoring and evaluation. Prepare program reports, case studies, and success stories for internal and external communication.

Team & Financial Support

  • Mentor and supervise fellows, interns and administrative support, as delegated by the Manager.
  • Assist with procurement, basic budgeting, and documentation required for smooth program execution.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Policy, Urban Planning, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or equivalent disciplines.
  • 2 - 3 years of relevant experience in program management, urban development, public policy, governance, or capacity building—preferably with exposure to Indian urban contexts.
  • Understanding of urban local governance structures, municipal legislations, municipal finance, urban planning & development, and service delivery mechanisms in India.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment, with attention to detail and deadlines.
  • Prior experience of working with elected representatives, administration in the government would be an added advantage.
  • Should be proficient in English and Hindi language in both written and oral communication.

Competencies

  • Passion for working in urban development and driving change at the political leadership level.
  • Strong interpersonal and team collaboration skills.
  • Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, and a learning mind-set.
  • High emotional intelligence, adaptability, and resilience.
  • Willingness and ability to travel extensively across India at short notice

 

Location

Mumbai

Compensation

The annual compensation will range from 6 lakhs to 6.5 lakhs, depending on qualification and experience.

 

Please send your resume to hr@praja.org

When applying for the position, kindly mention “Applying Program Officer - Urban Leadership” in the email subject.