Project Manager- Dairy

Position: Project Manager

Location: Preferably in Tamil Nadu. Open to all locations in India

Qualification: Bachelor's degree in animal sciences(BVSc & AH)/ environmental sciences / public policy and 10 years of related experience, or a master’s degree and at least 7 years of related experience

Experience: Minimum 5 years’ relevant work experience in the livestock sector and entrepreneurship development.

Travel: The role will involve travel up to 30-50%

Type of Employment: Full-time employment

SDS seeks a Program Manager to support initiatives across livestock, dairy and agriculture sectors in India focused on climate smart dairy and livestock management solutions for rural communities. This role will focus on enhancing collaboration, co-designing, implementing and scaling of climate smart dairy initiatives, scientific, social and technical research, and partner engagement. The ideal candidate will thrive in a cross-functional environment, balancing scientific insights with project management to achieve wins for people and planet.

The Program Manager will be the strategic leader for Climate Smart Dairy development project in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. The incumbent will oversee implementation of key aspects of Kumaraguru’s livestock projects and initiatives, which aims to promote the adoption of climate smart practices in small holder dairy farming system of India to optimize dairy productivity, increase farmers income and nutrition, reduce dairy sector’s impact on climate change and support adoption of adaptation practices.

Employment: Term hire – 2 years

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Cross-functional collaboration

• Co-ordinate multi-disciplinary research and implementation projects across livestock and dairy in India, enhancing technical, research and operational capacity.
• Act as a liaison between SDS and partners, ensuring alignment on strategic priorities.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange between India-based and international teams.

Technical Capacity Building

• Support the development and implementation of livestock and dairy related initiatives, leveraging scientific expertise where applicable.
• Contribute to landscape assessments of livestock and dairy sector challenges in target geographies to support problem and solution identification
• Provide insights and analysis to inform decision-making on collaborative agriculture, water and food projects.

Partner Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with local partners, dairy companies, milk cooperatives, technical and scientific research institutions, stakeholders, and governmental agencies and support on development of strategic vision for agriculture, water, and food programming
• Represent and partners at in-person meetings and events across India.

Project Management

• Track project timelines and outcomes and ensure timely completion of deliverables.
• Document progress and prepare reports to update key stakeholders regularly.

Time Zone Coordination

• Participate in cross-time-zone meetings, including USA-friendly hours.
• Balance real-time and asynchronous communication effectively.

Communications

• Contribute to white papers, blog posts, and other written materials for internal and external audiences
• Support fundraising and grant writing

Equity and inclusion

• We welcome candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any protected characteristics

COMPETENCIES & SOFT SKILLS

Communication:

• The incumbent should be adept at navigating relationships in a cross-cultural context, and a strong capacity for working within a coalition of partners.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong communication skills donor reporting, project tracking, and budget execution
• Fluency in English and knowledge of Tamil language will be beneficial for this position.

Interpersonal skills:

• Strong relationships building and management skills.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Management skills:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work based on evolving requirements and timelines.

Report to- Project Lead, SDS

Why Join Us?

Be part of a passionate team committed to driving social impact through meaningful, well-executed projects. At SDS, your skills and expertise will help create sustainable development at the grassroots level.

How to Apply:

Apply Link:- https://forms.gle/ZJg82v1eraJWhh6NA

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements are encouraged to submit their resume along with a cover letter highlighting their relevant experience and qualifications to aditya.kumar@sdsorg.in

Samvedna Development Society is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.