Job Opportunity for Manager/Senior Manager – Product Strategy and Process Excellence at The Nudge Institute in Bengaluru

What are we solving for in the End Ultra Poverty program?

End Ultra Poverty (EUP) program is solving for households in ultra-poverty through a targeted, multi-faceted and sequenced model called the graduation approach which has demonstrated that ultra-poverty can be conquered. 

At The/Nudge we have been piloting this program for the past 3 years and are in the process of catalyzing propagation of the same. Our purpose is to contribute to ending ultra-poverty in India. EUP will:

• continue to implement on its own to iterate the design for impact at scale
• enable more NGOs to adopt technical and capacity-building support
• enable govt to adopt by providing research, design, and implementation support
• continue to generate data on ultra-poverty and evidence on graduation approach to nudge governments to adopt at scale
• build technology solutions for NGOs and governments to adopt and implement at scale & with quality.

Position Overview: 

We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic professional to join our organization as the Manager/Senior Manager – Product Strategy and Special Projects. This role is instrumental in driving the overall product strategy for our Graduation Approach program, ensuring process excellence, and conceptualizing alternate designs to enhance the program’s impact on households in ultra-poverty. The ideal candidate should have 8-10 years of relevant experience, with a strong background in process optimization, design thinking, and continuous improvement methodologies. Familiarity with lean and six sigma principles would be a plus.

Responsibilities:

• Product Strategy: Lead the development and implementation of the overall product strategy for the Graduation Approach program. Work closely with cross-functional teams to align the product roadmap with program objectives, ensuring a holistic and impactful approach.
• Process Excellence: Drive process excellence throughout the Graduation Approach program by identifying opportunities for improvement, streamlining workflows, and eliminating inefficiencies. Apply lean and six sigma principles to optimize processes and enhance program delivery.
• Alternate Design Conceptualization: Explore and conceptualize alternate designs of the Graduation Approach program to better address the needs of households in ultra-poverty. Conduct research, pilot innovative solutions, and iterate on program design to achieve better outcomes.
• Quality Management: Develop and implement quality management systems and frameworks to ensure the delivery of high-quality program interventions. Define quality standards, monitor performance, and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the organization. Facilitate brainstorming sessions, ideation workshops, and cross-functional collaborations to drive innovation and enhance the effectiveness of the Graduation Approach program.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including program teams, beneficiaries, government agencies, and partner organizations, to gather insights, identify pain points, and incorporate feedback into product strategy and process optimization efforts.
• Project Management: Manage special projects related to the Graduation Approach program, including pilot initiatives, research studies, and strategic partnerships. Define project scope, develop project plans, allocate resources, and ensure timely and successful project delivery.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as supply chain, operations management with certifications in lean/six sigma being a plus
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in product strategy, process excellence, or related roles or experience in developing and designing large-scale programs in the development sector
• Strong command over process excellence methodologies, design thinking principles, and continuous improvement frameworks.
• Experience in designing and optimizing complex processes, with familiarity in lean and six sigma methodologies and continuous improvement like Kaizen, TQM etc.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes, develop data-driven insights, and implement effective solutions.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to plan, execute, and monitor projects from initiation to completion.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess program outcomes.