Program Manager

Job Description: Program Manager – BRIDGE Project

Position Title: Program Manager

Project: Building Resilient Inclusive Digital Growth & Employment (BRIDGE) Organization: Karkhana Samuha

Report to: Program Director

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal (with frequent travel within the Madhesh Province) Duration: Full-time, 24 months (with possibility of extension)

Pay Range: NPR 1,20,000 - 1,30,000 Basic

Application Deadline: 30th November, 2025

About Karkhana Samuha

Karkhana Samuha is an NGO that focuses on making innovation in education inclusive and accessible to people, especially those on the margins, to achieve an equitable society.

At Karkhana Samuha, we practice participatory decision-making and co-creation by bringing partners, collaborators, and end users into every stage of our work. Our approach is guided by Human-Centered Design, helping us design with empathy and purpose. We use our Think, Make, Play, Improve (TMPI) Cycle as the foundation for how we design, create, and learn. We start by thinking creatively to shape ideas, then make quick prototypes to test and explore them. Through play, we reflect, gather feedback, and refine what works. These operational models are proven by academic literature and experience to lead to more innovative ideas and provide a meaningful voice to the intended end-users.

To make our process sustainable, we build Communities of Practice (CoP), spaces where educators, innovators, and partners learn together. We design learning resources that scaffold the growth of these communities and digital platforms that keep the learning ongoing, with the goal of gaining, sharing, and implementing knowledge to innovate locally and make a global impact.

Karkhana Samuha is part of the network of social enterprises, which comprises Karkhana Private Limited, a for-profit focused on designing STEAM learning kits, and Karkhana Global, a US-based non-profit focused on connecting innovative organizations in the global south with resources, expertise, and peers in

high-income countries. All three partner organizations remain committed to a shared vision “to nurture a spirit of innovating locally to make a global impact,” but with varied missions and independent governance structures.

Project Summary

The BRIDGE Project is a 24-month initiative funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom aimed at ensuring marginalized youth, especially young women, gender minorities, and youth with disabilities in Madhesh Province, can equitably participate in Nepal’s digital transformation. As Nepal’s digital economy rapidly expands, these groups remain underrepresented due to socio-economic, infrastructural, and educational barriers.

The project, BRIDGE, will equip 40 fellows with intensive software development training through coding bootcamps, establish an accessible Digital Innovation Lab, and deliver inclusive workshops to over 200 youths on AI fluency, ethical tech use, and digital safety. Additionally, a nationwide digital awareness campaign will engage over 200,000 young people.

Utilizing KS’s human-centered methodology, the initiative emphasizes co-design with youths, local governments, CSOs, and tech companies to ensure local relevance and sustainability. The project boosts digital employability, builds ethical AI awareness, and empowers communities to own and run innovation spaces. This will also align to the national and global goals on digital inclusion, gender equality, and youth empowerment.

Job Purpose

The Program Manager (PM) will be the lead figure responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, coordination, and successful delivery of the BRIDGE project. The PM will ensure the project is implemented on time, within budget, and achieves its intended outcomes, while fostering strong partnerships with government, civil society, and the private sector. The PM will directly report to the Program Director.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Program Management and Implementation

• Provide overall leadership and management for the planning, execution, and monitoring of all project activities as outlined in the concept note.
• Oversee the delivery of key outputs: coding workshops & bootcamps, Digital Innovation Lab establishment, and digital awareness campaigns.
• Ensure the project’s methodology and principles of co-design are central to all interventions.
• Develop detailed monthly, quarterly and annual work plans, budgets, and implementation strategies.

2. Partnership and Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary liaison for the project donor, preparing timely and high-quality reports.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including:
  • Provincial and Local Governments in Madhesh for co-financing and policy support.
  • Implementation partners
  • Sub-grantees
  • Local CSOs for community outreach and lab sustainability.
  • Tech companies, Private industry associations and NAS-IT for job placements and curriculum alignment.
• Lead the due diligence and performance management of sub-grantees and partners, ensuring compliance with donor and Karkhana Samuha policies.
• Ensure active participation in multi-stakeholder forums, policy dialogues, and Digital Madhesh Conclave events to position the project as a model for inclusive digital transformation.
• Represent Karkhana Samuha and the BRIDGE project in relevant forums, conferences, and working groups.

3. Team Management and Capacity Building

• Recruit, onboard, and mentor a multidisciplinary project team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Facilitate regular staff performance reviews and provide professional development opportunities aligned with project needs for Karkhana Samuha team, sub grantees and project partners.
• Ensure clear internal communication channels between Karkhana Samuha, partners, sub-grantees, local CSOs, and provincial partners.
• Identify capacity building needs for the team and partners and facilitate relevant training.
• Supervise the performance of the sub-grantees

4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

• Oversee the development and implementation of the project’s MEL framework, ensuring accurate data collection and analysis.
• Conduct baseline, midline, and endline studies in coordination with the MEL team to measure outcomes such as digital skills acquisition, employability, and inclusion.
• Lead quarterly learning reviews to adapt and improve project strategies based on data and feedback.
• Ensure all documentation and reporting meet organizational and donor requirements.
• Maintain a real-time digital dashboard for tracking key indicators, including youth participation, employment placement, and campaign reach.

5. Financial Management and Compliance

• Ensure efficient and transparent utilization of project funds in alignment with FCDO’s value-for-money principles.
• Oversee preparation of monthly financial forecasts and expenditure reports in coordination with the Finance Lead.
• Support the finance lead to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to the donors, hence ensuring timely reimbursement of funds
• Ensure timely fund disbursement to sub-grantees and partners with proper documentation and compliance checks.
• Monitor budget performance and support in reprogramming or cost adjustments when required.

6. Risk Management

• Maintain and regularly update the project risk register covering political, operational, financial, gender, and partner risks as identified in the concept note.
• Implement proactive risk mitigation measures, including community and parental engagement for women participants in residential bootcamps.
• Enforce Karkhana Samuha’s safeguarding policy across all project sites.
• Ensure all partners and staff undergo safeguarding and ethical digital conduct training before implementation.

7. Reporting and Communication

• Submit high-quality donor narrative and financial reports in accordance with donor and Karkhana Samuha reporting templates and timelines.
• Prepare success stories, media briefs, and case studies that highlight project achievements, particularly in promoting digital inclusion and employability in collaboration with the communication and outreach team.
• Represent the project in external communications, media engagements, and conferences to enhance visibility and strategic partnerships.

Qualification and Experience

Qualification and Experience:

• Project Management, along with Computer science or IT engineering background preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in managing complex development projects, preferably in the areas of digital literacy and skills, and youth employment.
• Demonstrated experience in project cycle management, including budgeting, work planning, monitoring, and reporting for international donors.
• Strong understanding of the digital landscape in Nepal, including the challenges and opportunities for marginalized groups.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, including communities, local governments, private sector actors, and partner organizations.

Highly Desirable Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in Madhesh Province or with communities in the region.
• Technical understanding of software development, or digital fabrication.
• Knowledge of inclusive programming and safeguarding principles for women, gender minorities, and persons with disabilities.
• Familiarity with Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Human-Centered Design (HCD) approaches.
• Strong analytical and communication skills for policy advocacy, learning documentation, and representation in high-level forums.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships with government, private sector, civil society, and community actors.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and representation at local, provincial, and national levels.
• Ability to manage complex programs, multitask, and adapt to changing needs.
• Fluency in English and Nepali; knowledge of Maithili or Bhojpuri is an advantage.

Attitude / Behavior:

• Commitment to inclusion, equity, and the empowerment of marginalized groups.
• Proactive, collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable working with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Openness to learning, self-reflection, and continuous improvement.

Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to fill in this Google Form along with uploading their recent CV and a Cover Letter by 30th November, 2025.

Karkhana Samuha is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. We strongly encourage applications from women, gender minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals from Madhesh Province.