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Job Description: Associate Manager, Urban Leadership Program

Position

Associate Manager, Urban Leadership program

Experience

3 to 5 years

Reporting to

Manager, Praja Foundation

Location

Mumbai

 

About Praja

Over the past 25 years, Praja Foundation has worked to enable accountable governance. We partnered with the Mumbai Corporation to develop its first Citizen Charter, revamping their Citizen Complaint Grievances Mechanism (CGM). Complaint number 1916 remains functional with some enhancements.

Praja conducted a study on urban governance reforms Study to assess the implementation of 74th Constitutional Amendment Act. This pioneering study, led to the development of the Urban Governance Index (UGI) with the goal of creating a network of key influencers, thought leaders and, local government bodies to democratize city governments and improve service delivery.

In 2024, Praja launched the Urban Governance Index 2.0, which maps and ranks the status of urban governance across 31 cities from 28 states, 2 Union Territories, and the NCT of Delhi. The data compiled by UGI is regularly used by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), NITI Aayog, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs for their policy work.

Over the years, Praja has established close collaborations with state governments to facilitate policy changes across four key reforms that aim to strengthen urban governance structures. These reforms will promote structured discussion and deliberation in council and committee meetings, enhance the deliberation and leadership skills of elected representatives, ensure adequate financial resources for efficient public service delivery, and empower citizens to participate actively in local decision-making processes.

 

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 Associate Manager, you will play a pivotal supporting role in conceptualizing, implementing, and scaling impactful training and capacity-building initiatives for urban leaders across India. This is an opportunity for early- to mid-career professionals who are passionate about strengthening urban governance and accelerating transformative change in Indian cities. The individual will closely assist and support the Manager  to collaborate  and maintain close relation with a diverse set of stakeholders—including elected representatives, municipal officials, NGOs, and academic institutions—to build the knowledge and leadership capacity required to address complex urban challenges.

 

Main Responsibilities

Program Support & Implementation

  • Assist in the design, development, and contextualization 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.
  • Track participant engagement, 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

  • Facilitate select training sessions or group activities under the guidance of the Manager and subject matter experts.
  • Coordinate with domain experts for session planning and delivery.
  • Assist participants in developing leadership roadmaps and documenting key action items.

Monitoring & Reporting

  • Support development and deployment of monitoring and evaluation tools to capture program outcomes and participant growth.
  • Prepare program reports, case studies, and success stories for internal and external communication.

Team & Financial Support

  • Mentor and supervise 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.
  • 3-5 years of relevant experience in program management, urban development, public policy, governance, or capacity building—preferably with exposure to Indian urban contexts.
  • Strong understanding of urban local governance structures, municipal legislations, municipal finance, urban planning & development, and service delivery mechanisms in India.
  •  Experience coordinating large-scale events, training, or workshops.
  • 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

 

Kindly send your resume to hr@praja.org