Deputy Director - Human Resources

Job Description

Program Director — Muktipath Programme

Position	Program Director
Programme	Muktipath — District De-addiction & Tobacco/Alcohol Control Programme
Organisation	SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health)
Location	Gadchiroli, Maharashtra (Vidarbha region), with regular district-wide travel
Reporting To	Director, SEARCH
Team Size	Leads a 30-member district programme team
Employment Type	Full-time; 1-year probation period as per SEARCH policy

ABOUT SEARCH

SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health), Gadchiroli, is a not-for-profit organisation working for over three decades on community health, tribal welfare, and grassroots social development in one of Maharashtra's most remote and underserved districts. SEARCH's field-tested models have shaped health and social policy at the national and global level.

ABOUT THE MUKTIPATH PROGRAMME

Muktipath is SEARCH's flagship district-wide programme, operational across 1,400 villages in all 12 blocks of Gadchiroli district. The programme works to reduce the availability, illegal sale, and consumption of alcohol and tobacco across the district, and to build Gadchiroli into a ‘model’ district — demonstrating evidence-based, replicable practices for tobacco and alcohol addiction management that can be scaled across India.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Program Director will provide strategic and operational leadership to the Muktipath programme, heading a 30-member district team and working closely with Block Coordinators, Counselors, government departments, and community stakeholders. The role calls for a hands-on leader who can combine programme strategy, field-level execution, data-driven decision-making, and multi-stakeholder engagement to drive district-wide behavioural change.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning & Programme Leadership

1. Develop annual and monthly work plans for the district programme and lead their implementation.
2. Lead the programme team in the overall implementation of the tobacco and alcohol control programme, ensuring quality and consistency across all 12 blocks.
3. Provide technical and administrative support to Block Coordinators and Counselors, and closely supervise programme implementation in the field.

Financial & Administrative Management

1. Exercise administrative and financial control over the programme, including budgeting, expenditure tracking, and compliance.
2. Prepare the documentation and materials required to facilitate programme review and donor/board approval processes.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

1. Provide technical and operational support for the monitoring and evaluation of programme activities and outcomes.
2. Collate cluster-level data and prepare periodic reports, including overseeing the MIS and programme documentation.
3. Undertake periodic quality checks on data gathering and documentation, supported by regular field visits.
4. Generate quarterly and yearly reports, and integrate performance data into monthly and annual work plans.

Communication, Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement

1. Work in close coordination with the external communication agency to design and roll out behaviour-change communication for the target population.

2. Represent the Muktipath programme at the district level, acting as its principal spokesperson and point of contact.

3. Engage and build relationships with district-level stakeholders, including the Collectorate; officials from the Education, Police, Health, Rural Development, Tribal Development, Social Welfare, Food & Drugs, Forest, and Transport Departments; Zilla Parishad Members; Pharmacy and Medical Associations; SHG Federations and NRLM; local media; Alcoholics Anonymous; and technical institutes and research bodies.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Qualifications

MBA, Master's in Public Policy, or Master's in Public Health / Global Health (or an equivalent postgraduate qualification in a relevant field).

Experience

• Minimum seven years of relevant professional experience, including at least three years in a leadership role.
• Experience in public health, rural development, social work, or programme management is essential.
• Candidates with grassroots leadership experience will be preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Shares the values of SEARCH and has a strong desire to contribute to its mission.
• Experience leading a large-scale social organisation with an extensive network across states.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven experience and capacity to work constructively in teams under considerable pressure.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills, with the ability to motivate and manage large, geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong analytical and data-orientation, with the ability to translate field data into actionable programme decisions.
• Willingness to be based in Gadchiroli and work in the district for the long term.
• Strong written and verbal command over English; working knowledge of Marathi is an added advantage.
• Proven ability to undertake responsibilities with a considerable degree of autonomy.
• Proficiency in MS Office and other relevant software.

Preference: Candidates hailing from, or with significant prior work experience in, the Vidarbha region will be preferred, given the strong contextual understanding of local language, culture, and field realities this brings to district-level programme leadership.

COMPENSATION OFFERED

Gross annual compensation for the position shall be commensurate with the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, and salary history.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Send your updated CV/Resume along with your latest Salary Slip / Contract to hr@searchforhealth.ngo, mentioning “Application for Program Director – Muktipath” in the subject line of the email.
2. Candidates from the Vidarbha region are especially encouraged to apply.
3. Visit us at http://searchforhealth.ngo to learn more about SEARCH and its programmes.

Tags Gadchiroli Maharashtra