Manager / Sr. Manager – Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

ROLE PURPOSE
RightWalk's work in Maharashtra depends on how well we are trusted by the government system, industry, donors, NGOs and communities on the ground. This role owns that trust. The Manager – Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships is the person who ensures RightWalk's PMU is seen by government counterparts, establishments, industry and civil society as a credible, dependable, high-integrity partner — not just a project vendor.
This is a high-ownership role, not a coordination or liaison function. The person is fully accountable for the stakeholder ecosystem that determines whether RightWalk's programs in Maharashtra land with government buy-in, industry participation, and community trust — expected to originate strategy, make independent judgment calls on engagement, and drive outcomes rather than simply execute instructions. Reporting to the PMU Head – Maharashtra, this role owns the connective layer between the PMU's program delivery and the external ecosystem it depends on.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Stakeholder Relationship Ownership
Own and build strong working relationships with government departments, establishments & industry, donors, NGOs, and community groups across Maharashtra.
Own all external stakeholder communication on behalf of the PMU — timely, professional, and consistent, without needing to be directed.
Represent RightWalk at government meetings, industry forums, and community events, building and personally standing behind the organisation's credibility.
Independently identify, pursue and close opportunities for collaboration and strategic partnerships that strengthen program impact.
2. Engagement Strategy, Planning & Execution
Own the design, implementation and monitoring of the Maharashtra stakeholder engagement strategy, aligned with the PMU's program priorities.
Own and maintain a live stakeholder map and engagement tracker — who matters, why, and what the relationship status is — as a single source of truth for the PMU.
Take end-to-end ownership of workshops, roundtables and forums — agenda setting, logistics, and follow-through — ensuring each engagement delivers a clear outcome.
Ensure engagement is inclusive and sustained, not transactional — built for long-term trust rather than one-off wins.
3. Advisory & Internal Collaboration
Advise the PMU Head – Maharashtra, Project Managers, and the Steering Committee on engagement strategy, and take the lead on flagging stakeholder risks early.
Own the briefing of internal teams ahead of stakeholder meetings, translating stakeholder context into actionable guidance.
Anticipate stakeholder concerns and potential friction points, and take the initiative to resolve them before they become the PMU's problem.
4. Reporting & Documentation
Own the inputs for weekly and monthly reports to the Project Board, government counterparts, establishments/industry, and donors.
Maintain a clear, auditable record of all stakeholder interactions, and be personally accountable for its accuracy.
Define and own engagement effectiveness metrics, and use them to sharpen the approach over time.
Own the preparation of reports, decks and briefing material for stakeholders and leadership.
5. Partnership Development & Resource Mobilisation
Own the identification and cultivation of new partnerships with donors, industry, NGOs and government programs in Maharashtra, driving them from first conversation to agreement.
Take the lead on resource mobilisation efforts that strengthen the PMU's delivery capacity, working the relationship rather than waiting to be asked.
Co-create programs and initiatives with partners in line with RightWalk's organisational goals.
Continuously and independently scout for opportunities that expand RightWalk's visibility and credibility in the state.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE — YEAR 1
A live, accurate stakeholder map exists for Maharashtra, covering government, industry, donor and NGO relationships, with clear ownership and engagement status.
RightWalk is a known, trusted name among key government counterparts and industry stakeholders relevant to the PMU's mandate.
At least one new partnership or resource-mobilisation opportunity is identified and progressed with a donor, industry or government body.
Stakeholder engagement plans are running on a predictable cadence — not ad hoc — with documented outcomes from each major forum or workshop.
WHAT THIS ROLE DOES NOT DO
Program design or delivery — this role enables delivery through relationships, it does not run the program itself.
Strategic communications, media relations or public narrative — that sits with the Strategic Communications function.
Overall donor strategy or fundraising targets — this role owns partnership cultivation and resource-mobilisation opportunities in Maharashtra, not the organisation's fundraising strategy.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Experience: 4–7 years in stakeholder engagement, partnerships, or institutional relations within the development sector.
Results-driven and proactive, comfortable managing multiple stakeholders and workstreams simultaneously.
Strong interpersonal, networking and people-management skills, with the ability to engage credibly across government, industry and community groups.
Confident working independently, able to anticipate challenges, and deliver quality work under tight timelines.
Professional or working proficiency in Marathi is required for effective engagement with state-level stakeholders and communities.
Motivated by social justice, equity and systemic change, and energised by fast-paced, impact-driven environments.
Core Values We Expect You to Embody
Integrity & Ethics: Do what's right, always.
Ownership & Excellence: Take full charge, no excuses.
Resilience & Audacity: Be fearless, even when it's hard.
Empathy & End-User First: Listen, understand, and design what matters most.
Helicopter Mindset: Zoom out to think big, zoom in to deliver relentlessly.

Work arrangement
No