Program Officer, Innovation & Playful Futures

Program Officer, Innovation & Playful Futures

Location : Bangalore, Karnataka

Quest Alliance prepares young learners in India with the skills, mindsets, and support systems they need to thrive in life, learning, and work.

Maker’s Garage is Quest Alliance’s signature initiative focused on "learning-by-doing." It provides a space for young learners to tinker, build, and innovate using both low-tech and high-tech tools (Robotics, 3D printing, electronics). The project aims to foster a "Maker Culture" that builds problem-solving skills and creative confidence.

Playful Futures is a strategic expansion into the museum and science center ecosystem. The project focuses on transforming traditional institutions into interactive hubs of inquiry. By partnering with leading museums and planetariums, we aim to embed playful artifacts and co-curate experiences that bridge the gap between formal education and hands-on exploration.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Maker’s Garage

• Lead the design and delivery of learning sessions and ticketed experiences at the Maker's Garage.
  
• Travel to various Quest Alliance project locations to implement and oversee Maker sessions.
  
• Develop instructional materials, tinkering guides, and project templates.
  
• Maintain infrastructure, including 3D printers, robotics kits, and inventory.
  

2. Playful Future - Experience Design

• Conceptualise and execute hackathons, ideathons, and community challenge platforms.
  

• Support 100+ learners prototype their ideas and play with the tools for making
  

• Create rubrics, mentoring frameworks, and prototype documentation systems.
  

• Build pathways for learners to continue their projects through bootcamps, exhibitions, or community pilots.
  

• Foster youth agency by enabling students to identify and respond to real challenges in their local ecosystems.
  

3. P&L Accountability:

• Work closely with the Outreach team to plan, budget, execute, and reflect iteratively on developing productised experiences.
  

• Analyse implementation and learner feedback to generate actionable insights for product refinement and strategic decisions.
  

• Ensure timely availability of data and narrative-related inputs for donor reports, reviews, and internal planning.
  

4. Systems, Processes, & Self-Learning 

• Ensure adherence to Quest Alliance systems, policies, and processes (HR, Finance, IT, etc.). 
  

• Undertake regular field visits to stay connected with on-ground realities and emerging needs. 
  

• Identify personal learning goals and practice continuous learning, individually, within the team, and cross-functional.
  

• Strong working knowledge of hardware-software integration (IoT, sensors, microcontrollers preferred).
  

• Intermediate proficiency in programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, Blockly, or Scratch.
  

• Hands-on problem-solving and troubleshooting ability.
  

• Strong documentation, communication, and facilitation skills.
  

• Ability to coordinate effectively across multiple teams with ownership and clarity.
  

• Self-driven, proactive, and open to feedback with a growth mindset.
  

Mindset and Practice:

• Strong belief in learner agency and play-based approaches.
  

• Makers’ mindset and eagerness to create / help create.
  

• High ownership, adaptability, and reflective practice.
  

Salary:

The pay band for the position starts at Rs. 40,000/- per month (cost to company) (The salary offered will be commensurate with the experience and expertise of the candidate)

Benefits: 

In addition to your compensation, you are also eligible for a suite of benefits designed to support your well-being and growth:

- Comprehensive Personal Accident Insurance covering up to ₹10,00,000 annually

- Mediclaim Insurance covering up to ₹3,00,000 annually, supported through our insurance partner, Loop, which also offers additional wellness benefits

- Reach for the Stars (RFS) amount of up to ₹5,000 to support your self-learning and knowledge-building efforts

- Internet allowance of up to ₹750/month, reimbursable based on actual usage to support flexible and hybrid working arrangements

- For employees with children under the age of 6 years, Quest offers childcare or day care fee support through a monthly matching contribution of up to ₹3,000, helping you create a supportive work-life balance

- Access to emotional health and wellbeing programs such as:

* Group sessions worth ₹7,500 per session fully covered by the organisation

* 1:1 counselling sessions (worth ₹1,800 per session), fully covered by the organisation

To Apply:

Interested candidates are requested to apply for the role by filling up the application form given here.

At Quest Alliance, we pride ourselves on being an Equal Opportunities employer, embracing applications from all segments of the community. We are committed to ensuring that every applicant and employee is treated with fairness and respect, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, caste, religious belief, age, or any other factor that is irrelevant to performance. Your individuality is valued and respected within our organization.

Know About Quest

Website :http://www.questalliance.net/