Job ID: 306133

Programme Manager - CSR Projects

Save the Quest

Location: New Delhi (Kalkaji), Delhi

Apply by: 17 Nov 2026

Relevant Sectors

Administration, HR, Management, Accounting/Finance

Private Sector, Corporate Social Responsibility

Social, Gender, Education, Youth, Child

ABOUT SAVE THE QUEST
Save The Quest (STQ) is a New Delhi-based non-profit working since 2013 to make education and examinations accessible for visually impaired students. Our flagship initiative, The Scribe Bank, is India's first platform connecting visually impaired students with trained volunteer scribes, so that no student misses an exam for want of a writer.

We have supported 5,000+ students and have been featured in The Hindu, YourStory and Edex Live. With The Scribe Bank app now live and scribe approvals paperless at partner universities, we are taking the model pan-India with leading PSUs and corporates under their CSR programmes.

THE ROLE
The Programme Manager is accountable for on-ground delivery of every CSR project in STQ's portfolio, including The Scribe Bank: on scope, on schedule, within budget and fully audit-ready. The role converts signed MoUs and DIPs into monthly work plans, runs the field and operations team, and produces the evidence donors use to release funds. The role is also the Head – Programmes & CSR's right hand on proposals and the primary contact for CSR/PSU partners on running projects.

Reports to: Head – Programmes & CSR
Direct reports: State Coordinators, Programme/Field Associates, MIS & Documentation staff
Location: New Delhi (Kalkaji office), with travel to project states, partner institutions and exam centres
Employment type: Full-time
Compensation: Negotiable, based on experience and suitability

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Planning & execution: Translate MoUs/DIPs into activity plans; maintain a single master tracker of milestones, tranches and reporting deadlines; run weekly reviews and escalate slippage with a recovery plan.
- Proposals & donor engagement: Write CSR proposals, concept notes, budgets, logframes and DIPs in PSU/corporate formats; handle calls for proposals, empanelment and due-diligence requests; build partner relationships that lead to renewals and scale-up.
- Donor reporting & fund release: Prepare quarterly, annual and milestone reports; compile tranche documentation including Fund Utilisation Certificates with Accounts and the CA.
- Budget & financial discipline: Track budget vs actual by head every month; zero cross-project or cross-head use of restricted CSR funds; flag under-utilisation and over-runs early.
- Procurement & vendors: Run transparent tender/RFP processes and maintain complete procurement files; certify vendor deliverables before payment.
- Field operations: Lead State Coordinators on scribe/volunteer recruitment, screening, training and deployment, and beneficiary onboarding; build partnerships with universities, exam centres, NSS/NCC units and NGOs.
- Technology: Programme-side owner of The Scribe Bank platform: define requirements, coordinate UAT, ensure accessibility is tested with visually impaired users.
- M&E: Run the M&E framework, keep data DPDP Act 2023-compliant, run grievance redressal and capture impact stories.
- Team, risk & compliance: Set targets for field staff, maintain a project risk register, ensure safeguarding, and keep every project audit-ready within 24 hours.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Postgraduate degree in Social Work, Development Studies, Management, Public Policy or related field
- 6–10 years in CSR / development-sector programme management, including 3+ years on a multi-state or multi-location project
- Has independently managed at least one CSR project of Rs 5–10 Cr or more, end-to-end from proposal to closure
- Mandatory: experience working with PSUs on CSR projects, including tranche-based fund releases, utilisation certificates and quarterly donor reporting
- Proven record of funded CSR proposals (samples on request)
- Comfortable presenting to CSR heads and PSU committees
- Working knowledge of Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, CSR Rules and NGO financial compliance
- Experience managing field teams and volunteer programmes
- Strong report writing in English; working proficiency in Hindi; advanced Excel / Google Sheets

DESIRABLE
- Experience in disability inclusion, education or volunteer-led programmes
- Familiarity with the RPwD Act 2016, scribe guidelines for examinations and screen readers
- Exposure to technology-enabled programmes (UAT, user feedback cycles, dashboards)
- Experience with universities, examination bodies or state education departments
- PMP / PRINCE2 or equivalent certification

HOW TO APPLY
Share your updated CV at saf@savethequest.org and hr@savethequest.org (please mark both) with the subject line "Application – Programme Manager (CSR Projects)". Highlight CSR projects managed (with project value), PSU partnerships, proposals written and funded, donor reporting and utilisation experience, team size handled and geographies covered.

Learn more: https://savethequest.org

Save The Quest is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Job Email ID:

hr(at)savethequest.org