Program Associate - Youth Program

About Role

QUEST Alliance is looking for a proactive andcommitted Program Associate – Sagar Zone to lead Youth Programinterventions across Government ITIs of the Sagar zone in Madhya Pradesh.

As a Program Associate, you are more than azonal implementation lead — you are a key driver of change within your zone.You will help shape how learners, trainers, and institutes experience QUESTAlliance programs by bringing local insights, contextual understanding, andfield realities into implementation planning, facilitation approaches, andstakeholder engagement.

The Program Associate will work closely withGovernment ITIs, zonal directorates, district stakeholders, trainers,principals, and ecosystem partners to ensure effective implementation ofprogram interventions and MoU commitments across the Sagar zonal ITIs of MadhyaPradesh State. The role will focus on strengthening interventions related toMeaningful Career Transitions & Industry Engagement, Trainer Developmentand Capacity Building, Employability Skills and Future Skills Integration, DigitalLearning Adoption through My Quest App, Institutional Mainstreaming andOwnership, Principal Leadership Program, and Change Projects within the ITIecosystem.

This role requires strong facilitationskills, government liaisoning abilities, stakeholder management, politecommunication, negotiation skills, planning abilities, and a solution-orientedapproach to work effectively within the Government ITI ecosystem. The ProgramAssociate will work closely with zonal directorates, institute stakeholders,thematic teams, and the reporting manager to ensure high-qualityimplementation, monitoring, documentation, and sustainability of interventionsacross the zone.

Program Implementation and Quality

â Ensure effective rollout of the Youth Programacross assigned model, nodal, and Government ITIs in the Sagar zone with asystemic mainstreaming lens in coordination with zonal directorates andinstitute stakeholders.

â Develop operational plans and implementationroadmaps aligned with program timelines, quality standards, deliverables, andtargets.

â Conduct regular visits to allocated ITIs tomonitor implementation progress, provide handholding support, facilitate demosessions, and strengthen institute ownership of interventions.

â Anchor and support implementation of QUESTinterventions across the Sagar zonal ITIs of Madhya Pradesh State.

â Collaborate with the Reporting Manager toreview implementation processes, track progress, identify challenges, and adaptimplementation strategies based on field realities.

â Identify implementation risks proactively andensure timely mitigation strategies to maintain continuity and quality ofprogram delivery.

â Support institutes in gradually becomingindependent and self-sufficient in implementing Employability Skills and QUESTinterventions.

â Ensure effective implementation andmonitoring of Principal Leadership Programs and institutional Change Projectswithin identified ITIs.

â Facilitate Student Hub formation andstrengthen institute ownership to promote learner leadership, participation,and peer engagement.

â Support meaningful career transitioninitiatives through industry engagement, placement readiness, exposureopportunities, and learner-centered interventions.

â Collaborate with placement teams to supportplacement targets, especially in nodal and women ITIs.

â Hold and manage day-to-day implementationoperations with reliability, responsiveness, accountability, and alignment toQUEST Alliance values and priorities.

EmployabilitySkills Delivery and Facilitation

â Plan and facilitate structured demo sessionsfor learners and facilitators focused on employability skills, life skills,career readiness, AI awareness, green skills, and future skills.

â Ensure 100% onboarding of facilitators andlearners on the MyQuest App and ensure regular access to QUEST digital content.& Support learner engagement and completion targets by ensuring at least70% learner completion on the My Quest App.

â Organize monthly Kaushal Samwad meetings withMaster Trainers and provide handholding support for conducting district-levelKaushal Sammad activities.

â Lead trainer development and engagementactivities to strengthen the capacity of ITI trainers for effectiveimplementation of Employability Skills curriculum and related interventions.

â Guide trainers and institute teams towardsself-sufficiency in delivering Employability Skills curriculum, careerreadiness modules, and digital learning practices.

â Lead or co-facilitate Training of Trainers(ToTs), workshops, orientation sessions, and other capacity-building programsensuring high-quality facilitation and learner-centered approaches.

â Support trainers in planning and conductingsessions related to employability skills, career readiness, life skills, AIawareness, green skills, and future skills.

â Provide continuous mentoring, feedback, andimplementation support to trainers and institute stakeholders.

â Support contextualization of content, sessionplanning, TOTs, and institute engagement strategies based on zonal geographicalneeds and field realities.

â Facilitate career readiness interventionsunder Meaningful transition and industry engagement such as resume buildingsessions, mock interviews, guest lectures, exposure visits, market scans, OJTcoordination, pre-placement, placement, and post-placement engagementactivities.

â Improve and promote inclusive environmentswithin ITIs and support implementation of gender-related and inclusion-focusedactivities across the zone.

PartnershipBuilding, Management and Capacity Building

â Build and sustain strong workingrelationships with Government ITIs, trainers, principals, district officials,zonal directorates, industries, and ecosystem stakeholders in the sagar zone.

â Act as the key point of contact forinstitutes in the allocated zone.

â Ensure effective communication, coordination,and collaboration with thematic teams including placement, training,documentation, data, and technology teams.

â Support donor visits, stakeholder visits,review meetings, and government engagements with relevant field insights andimplementation data.

â Strengthen institute-level ownership andengagement for long-term sustainability of interventions.

â Facilitate collaborative planning and reviewdiscussions with institute leadership teams and stakeholders.

â Support industry engagement initiatives tostrengthen meaningful career transitions and learner opportunities.

â Maintain professional, polite, andsolution-oriented communication with all stakeholders.

Communicationand Documentation

â Ensure timely and accurate submission ofreports, implementation updates, and communication records.

â Maintain documentation of program activitiesincluding session reports, case studies, success stories, photographs, andlearner/trainer engagement records.

â Submit comprehensive monthly and quarterlyimplementation reports highlighting progress, achievements, challenges, risks,and impact stories.

â Ensure institutes and stakeholders areregularly informed about program progress, activities, and implementationupdates.

â Support documentation requirements duringdonor visits, reviews, and stakeholder engagements.

DataManagement, Monitoring and Evaluation

â Ensure student engagement, progression,completion, and outcome data are regularly updated in the central database.

â Support monitoring and evaluation activitiesincluding baseline, endline, assessments, and review processes.

â Use appropriate monitoring and reportingtools effectively and ensure data quality standards are maintained.

â Ensure all relevant data, reports, andmonitoring formats are submitted within agreed timelines.

â Analyze implementation data and supportreview discussions for continuous program improvement.

â Ensure documentation and evidence of programimpact are maintained through structured monitoring systems.

Self-Learning,Team Collaboration and Organizational Contribution

â Invest in continuous self-learning andunderstanding of the skilling ecosystem, vocational education, employability,future skills, AI, green skills, and organizational priorities.

â Work collaboratively with zonal and stateteams to strengthen implementation quality and innovation in program delivery.

â Demonstrate openness to QUEST Alliance’simplementation model, values, and ways of working.

â Contribute creative ideas, new strategies,and innovative approaches for learner engagement, institute strengthening, andintervention planning.

â Participate actively in team meetings,reviews, training programs, and organizational learning spaces.

â Adhere to all HR, finance, safeguarding, andorganizational policies of QUEST Alliance.

RequiredSkills and Competencies

â 1-2 years of experience in programimplementation, skilling initiatives, or youth development, preferably in thevocational training or government ecosystem.

â Strong facilitation and training skills

â Government stakeholder management and liaising

â Communication and negotiation skills

â Relationship building and networkingabilities

â Planning and organizational skills

â Problem-solving and decision-making abilities

â Documentation and reporting skills

â Ability to work independently andcollaboratively

â Adaptability and solution-oriented thinking

â Understanding of vocational education andskilling ecosystem

â Basic proficiency in MS Office and digitalplatforms

â Willingness to travel extensively within the Sagarzone and outside when needed