Program Manager – IBM SkillsBuild Project

From Poverty to Dignity

Position Title: Program Manager – IBM SkillsBuild Project

Location: Bengaluru (with travel to Raichur & Kalaburagi)

About Head Held High Foundation

At Head Held High Foundation, we are on a quest to tackle humanity's oldest and most persistent problem – poverty. Since 2011, we have demonstrated scalable solutions that help individuals and communities build capability, resilience, and dignity.

We drive impact through flagship programs such as
Make India Capable
,
Antarprerna
,
Future Ready Guidance
, and
Global Action on Poverty
, all aimed at empowering rural youth and women for sustainable livelihoods.

About the Project: IBM SkillsBuild

This initiative, implemented in partnership with
IBM
and
NASSCOM Foundation
, aims to empower
4,500 undergraduate youth across Karnataka
(with a focus on women and underserved groups) through
digital and employability skills training
.

The program offers access to
IBM's SkillsBuild Platform
for self-paced online learning,
career readiness and life skills sessions
,
domain-based training
in high-demand sectors, and
placement linkages
through NASSCOM's Talent Connect Portal.

Head Held High Foundation serves as the
implementation partner
, responsible for mobilization, training coordination, learner monitoring, and placement facilitation in partnership with local colleges and trainers.

Role Synopsis

The
Program Manager
will lead the overall planning, coordination, and implementation of the IBM SkillsBuild Project across Karnataka. This includes managing field operations, college partnerships, trainer supervision, learner engagement, monitoring and reporting, and ensuring that all deliverables and timelines are met. The Program Manager will play a key liaison role between Head Held High Foundation, NASSCOM Foundation, and IBM representatives.

Key Responsibilities

·       Develop and execute a detailed project implementation plan aligned with Gantt chart timelines.

·       Coordinate partnerships with 10+ colleges and educational institutions for mobilization and outreach.

·       Lead on-ground teams in Raichur and Kalaburagi for mobilization, onboarding, and training facilitation.

·       Oversee deployment and performance of trainers; ensure quality and relevance of sessions.

·       Monitor learner registrations, course completion progress, and platform engagement on IBM SkillsBuild LMS.

·       Conduct review meetings, field visits, and status updates with the project team and NASSCOM Foundation.

·       Facilitate soft skills, domain training, and placement readiness activities.

·       Ensure smooth coordination with internal departments (HR, Finance, Communications, M&E) for project support.

·       Maintain all project MIS, dashboards, and documentation for monthly and quarterly reporting.

·       Identify and address operational risks or challenges, ensuring continuous improvement.

·       Support placement drives and industry linkages through NASSCOM's Talent Connect Portal.

Skills & Experience

·       Graduate or Postgraduate in Social Work, Education, or Management.

· –4 years of experience managing large-scale skill development, employability, or digital literacy programs.

·       Proven experience working with youth, educational institutions, and corporate foundations.

·       Strong project management and coordination skills with an ability to multitask across teams.

·       Familiarity with LMS platforms, data tracking, and online learning ecosystems.

·       Excellent communication, analytical, and documentation skills.

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

·       Willingness to travel to project locations as required.

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Objective:
To lead and ensure successful implementation of the IBM SkillsBuild Project by overseeing mobilization, facilitation, monitoring, and reporting activities in line with project targets and donor commitments.

Duration:
October 2025 – March 2026

Location:
Bengaluru Head Office ,Karnataka

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

· ,000 learners onboarded in Lite Courses ,200 in Deep, (including 4,500 mobilized)

· domain learners trained and 60 minimum placed

· institutional partnerships activated

· % data accuracy and timely reporting

Monthly Deliverables

Month

Key Activities & Deliverables

Target Output

October 2025

Signing of MoU, content/pedagogy finalization, trainer onboarding, 10 college tie-ups

Trainers deployed, 10 colleges onboarded

November 2025

Mobilization and ground setup, learner registration, orientation sessions

550 learners mobilized

December 2025

Facilitation of e-learning and classroom sessions, monitoring and feedback

1,700 learners onboarded, ongoing sessions

January 2026

Continued facilitation and learner support, mid-term review

1,700 learners trained cumulatively

February 2026

Domain training and placement readiness sessions

550 learners mobilized, placement preparation underway

March 2026

Placement linkage, reporting, and project closure

4,200 learners (Lite + Deep), 1,000 placements

Reporting & Review

·       Monthly progress reports to General Manager and NASSCOM Foundation.

·       Weekly internal review calls with training and mobilization teams.

·       End-of-project presentation and documentation of learnings and success stories

Contact Person

Falguni Dilip Khatke