JOB - REGIONAL PROGRAM MANAGER
Organization : Vijayavahini Charitable Foundation (VCF) An associate organization Tata Trusts
Location : Srikalahasti or Venkatagiri, Tirupati
Employment Types : Full Time
Reporting : Craft Lead, Antaran
Experience : A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in crafts promotion, livelihood programs, or related fields.
Education : MBA or Master’s degree in Rural Development, Social Work, Design, or related disciplines.
Compensation : Commensurate with Experience and qualifications
How to Apply : Interested candidates can send their resumes and a cover letter to hr@vijayavahini.org with the subject “Application for Regional Program Manager – Antaran Project.
Vijayavahini Charitable Foundation (VCF)
Vijayavahini Charitable Foundation (VCF) is a Section 8 Company established in 2017, with its registered office in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. VCF was set up by Tata Trusts to implement Trusts’ programs in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and elsewhere in the country. It is a non-profit organization working for the poor, especially the deprived and marginalized sections of society. From its inception, VCF has focused on multiple thematic areas to improve the lives and livelihoods of communities. Programs include ensuring safe drinking water, skill development, improving primary healthcare and geriatric care, improving nutritional levels of vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant and lactating women, promotion of crafts, and environmental preservation.
Project Profile:
Antaran, a craft-based livelihood program, aims to revolutionize India’s crafts sector. Interventions in the crafts sector have traditionally treated artisans solely as a production base, with market connect resting with an external central enterprise. This model becomes limiting due to heavy reliance on the central entity. Antaran, instead, chose to unleash grassroots entrepreneurship as the path to development of craft clusters. The program works across 10 lesser-known clusters in 5 states Assam, Nagaland, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan covering 7,500 artisans, of whom 750 will be groomed to become Artisan Entrepreneurs (AEs).
Job Profile:
The Program Manager Crafts will drive VCF’s mission by managing large scale craft programs in the region. Working on strategies to develop artisan business in the region. The role encompasses designing and overseeing implementation, monitoring and evaluation strategies, budgetary planning and compliances, grant management, and reporting. The position also requires building strategic partnerships and regional connections with government and non-government institutions. The Program Manager will provide strategic leadership, strengthen institutional relationships, and deliver measurable outcomes across implementation regions.
Key Responsibilities:
Artisan Business Development:
• Conduct in-depth market research to identify buyer trends and evolving consumer preferences.
• Collaborate with the design team to ensure new collections and products meet market expectations.
• Provide actionable insights to guide product diversification and pricing strategies.
• Organize artisan participation in exhibitions, pop-ups, and trade events.
• Plan and execute trunk shows and curated showcases to increase market access and generate sales opportunities for artisan clusters.
• Build and maintain relationships with buyers, retail partners, and institutional stakeholders.
Antaran Program Implementation and Management in AP:
• Design and implement programs to enhance livelihoods through crafts.
• Develop region-specific operational plans to promote traditional crafts and artisan
• communities aligning with the program design team.
• Utilize data-driven insights to refine program effectiveness.
• Mobilize artisan communities to participate actively in livelihood programs.
• Strengthen community capacity through training and awareness campaigns.
Monitoring & Evaluation, Compliance and Reporting:
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
• Establish and oversee robust MEL frameworks to track progress.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on program impact and share insights with stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to donor guidelines and organizational policies.
• Submit timely reports on program progress and financial accountability.