Project Lead - ITI Transformation

Position Overview: 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 that sits at the heart of the State PMU: the Project Lead will coordinate with the state skills department, manage cluster teams and their delivery of the 10-pillar playbook, coordinate ecosystem and technology partners, track outcomes against milestones, and represent Lend A Hand India in entagements 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:

1. 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 (e.g., Pimpri and other assigned districts).
• 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/field teams (approx. 15 ITIs per cluster), 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.

2. 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 — industry bodies, other NGOs and technology partners — to ensure coordinated delivery across pillars.
• Support ITI piprincipals, faculty and administration in strengthening institutional processes under the Admin Strengthening and Faculty Development pillars.

3. Industry Engagement & Placements

• Lead local industry engagement efforts, particularly with employers in Maharashtra's manufacturing and industrial corridors, to 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 design and delivery of post-placement mentorship, monitoring and retention efforts, given known drop-off risk in the first year after placement.

4. Data, Technology & Monitoring

• Ensure timely, accurate data reporting from cluster to State and Central PMU levels, and use data to identify anomalies, delays and areas needing intervention.
• Track progress against the program roadmap and milestones (baseline assessment, pilot rollout, scale-up phases) and flag risks early.

5. 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.

• Travel: As per the project need
• Comfortable operating across strategy, field execution, government liaison and data-driven program management