Program Manager in chennai
ALERT, a Chennai-based NGO, is hiring a Program Manager in chennai (5–7 years' experience) to lead its Rest & Refresh (Ashray) Centers for delivery executives across South India. The role covers center setup, multi-location operations, inventory management, and reporting. Strong in Excel, leadership, and stakeholder management?
9/17/20262 min read
ALERT is Hiring a Program Manager in Chennai: Lead Operations for India's Rest & Refresh Centers
If you thrive on building systems, leading distributed teams, and solving problems on the ground, this could be the role for you. Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT), a volunteer-driven NGO working to make the "Right to Life" a reality across India, is hiring an experienced Program Manager to lead the operations of its Rest & Refresh (Ashray) Centers for delivery executives across South India — with scope to expand nationwide.
About ALERT
Founded in 2006, ALERT has spent nearly two decades training everyday citizens in emergency response and Golden Hour Care, with a mission inspired by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's call to "train one in every family in emergency response." With offices in Chennai, Coimbatore, Puducherry, and Bengaluru, the organization has already worked across 23 states, pioneering community-driven emergency-response training at scale.
Its latest initiative, the Ashray Centers, gives gig-economy delivery executives a place to rest and recharge — a small but meaningful intervention for a workforce that spends long hours on the road with little support infrastructure.
About the Role: Program Manager
Location: Chennai (with regular travel to project locations across India) Employment Type: Full-Time Experience Required: 5–7 years Reports To: Program Manager, ALERT
The Program Manager will take end-to-end ownership of the Ashray Centers network, from launching new sites to keeping existing ones running smoothly. It's a hands-on operational leadership role that blends strategic planning with day-to-day field execution.
Key Responsibilities
Center Setup & Expansion
Identify and evaluate suitable locations for new centers
Lead end-to-end setup — location finalization, facility readiness, asset deployment, and coordinator onboarding
Assess local geography, community needs, and logistics to guide expansion decisions
Liaise with building owners, government contacts, and local stakeholders
Align center activities with ALERT's programme and communications teams
Multi-Center Operations & Monitoring
Oversee day-to-day functioning, upkeep, and service standards across all Ashray Centers
Ensure timely onboarding of center and city coordinators
Monitor coordinators for adherence to operational processes and service standards
Conduct regular reviews and field visits to assess quality and compliance
Identify operational gaps and drive timely resolution
Inventory & Facility Management
Maintain center-wise inventory of consumables, equipment, and resources
Conduct periodic stock checks to ensure critical supplies are available
Coordinate with vendors on facility maintenance
Maintain operational checklists, records, and documentation
Reporting, Compliance & Process Improvement
Track key operational metrics and recurring issues
Prepare periodic status, inventory, expense, and issue-tracking reports
Ensure compliance with SOPs and safety standards
Identify and implement improvements that boost consistency and efficiency
Who ALERT is Looking For
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in any discipline
5–7 years of experience in facilities management, operations, administration, field operations, or project operations; client-facing experience preferred
Skills & Competencies:
Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management abilities
Proven ability to lead and coordinate distributed teams across multiple locations
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to operational excellence
Strong problem-solving and independent decision-making skills, especially in the field
Excellent written and verbal English; working knowledge of Hindi preferred
Proficiency in MS Office — particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint — for tracking, reporting, and operational monitoring
Why This Role Matters
This isn't a desk job. It's an opportunity to build and scale a support system for one of India's fastest-growing and most under-supported workforces — delivery executives who keep e-commerce and quick-commerce running. For someone who wants their operational and leadership skills to translate directly into social impact, this role offers a rare mix of ownership, autonomy, and purpose.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can send their CV to karthik@alert.ngo. For more information, ALERT can also be reached at 9944011115 or through info@alert.ngo.
ALERT (Amenity Lifeline Emergency Response Team) is a volunteer-driven NGO headquartered in Chennai, working to empower citizens with emergency-response skills and expand access to Golden Hour Care across India.
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