Social Expert
Institute Of Rural Development And Management Studies (IRDMS) seeks a Social Expert to drive rural development in Balangir, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Mayurbhanj, Odisha. Requires a Post-Graduate degree and 5+ years in community mobilization and livelihoods. Duties include extensive fieldwork, capacity building, and integrating SHGs/women into agriculture value chains. Apply by October 20, 2025.
9/28/20252 min read
Seize the Impact: Become a Social Expert Driving Rural Change in Odisha
Are you a visionary rural development professional ready to lead high-impact projects across Odisha? The Institute Of Rural Development And Management Studies (IRDMS) is seeking a seasoned Social Expert to spearhead community mobilization, livelihood enhancement, and gender-focused interventions in the districts of Balangir, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Mayurbhand. This pivotal role is your chance to directly influence sustainable change, linking grassroots initiatives to large-scale development goals.
The Mission: Transformative Rural Development
This position is at the heart of IRDMS's work, focusing on critical development pillars: Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural, and Urban-Rural Linkages. You won't just manage projects; you will be the engine for strengthening local institutions, promoting climate resilience, and ensuring inclusive growth for vulnerable groups.
Key Deliverables: Action-Oriented Duties
The role requires a dynamic professional committed to extensive fieldwork (19 days a month), ensuring hands-on guidance and support to Partner Organizations (PPs) and the community. Your specific contributions will include:
Empowering Women: Designing and implementing women-specific interventions, with a mandate to ensure women's participation in 50% of all project activities.
Capacity Building Leadership: Serving as the key mentor for the Community Facilitation Team (CFT) (Social, Gender Facilitators, and Community Mobilizers), equipping them for effective grassroots engagement.
Livelihood Integration: Mobilizing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their Federations, and seamlessly integrating them into the value chain and supply chain of agriculture and aquaculture.
Climate Resilience Promotion: Leading efforts to motivate and educate communities on adopting climate-resilient agriculture practices.
Institutional Strengthening: Driving the organizational and institutional development of PPs, ensuring adherence to the PP Acts and Rules (2002), and conducting necessary Social Audits.
Strategic Reporting: Providing essential inputs for the Team Leader's preparation of all statutory progress reports (MPR, QPR), ensuring project success is accurately documented for World Bank/Donor agencies.
Your Profile: Expertise and Vision
The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with a solid academic foundation and a passion for working on the ground.
Essential Qualifications:
CategoryRequirementEducationPost-Graduation in Rural Management or core social disciplines (Sociology, Anthropology, Economics).ExperienceMinimum 5 years of post-qualification experience in rural development, community mobilization, and institutional strengthening.Preferred ExposureAt least 1 year of experience in projects funded by major donor/bi-lateral/multi-lateral agencies (e.g., World Bank).Core SkillsStrong command of training and documentation methods, coupled with functional Computer Skills (MS Office).
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Apply to Lead the Change
If you are driven by the opportunity to deliver measurable, sustainable impact across the underserved regions of Odisha, we invite you to apply.
Location: Balangir, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Odisha
Application Deadline: 20 October 2025
Email Your CV and Cover Letter to: irdms.bbsr.hr(at)gmail.com
Don't just witness rural transformation—be the expert who drives it.
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