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The Role
Provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for IDRR. Responsibilities include developing institutional strategy, managing academic programs and operations, strengthening faculty and student support, promoting research, ensuring RCI and university regulatory compliance, leading accreditation and quality assurance, building partnerships, managing resources and budgets, monitoring KPIs, and developing multidisciplinary teams. The role requires extensive travel across India, particularly to district and rural locations, for field visits and stakeholder engagement.
Summary Generated by Built In
Senior Program Manager
Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR)
Location: Bengaluru
Reporting to: The Senior Program Manager will report to the Executive Director –
Programmes on an interim basis. Following the appointment of the Director – Academics &
Skills, the role will transition to report directly to that position.
Travel Requirement
This position requires travel of approximately 40% of the work time across India, with a
primary focus on district and rural locations. The incumbent should be willing to undertake
regular field visits to APD centres, partner institutions, universities, hospitals, government
agencies and community programmes to support academic, research, partnership and
capacity-building initiatives.
About APD
About The Association of People with Disability (APD)
The Association of People with Disability (APD) is one of India's leading not-for-profit
organizations working towards creating an inclusive society where persons with disabilities
have equal opportunities to participate with dignity and independence. Established in 1959,
APD has over six decades of experience in delivering high-quality rehabilitation, inclusive
education, livelihood, healthcare, community-based rehabilitation, advocacy, research and
capacity-building programmes.
Operating across Karnataka and beyond, APD impacts thousands of individuals and families
every year through integrated disability services that span prevention, early intervention,
education, skilling, employment, rehabilitation, assistive technology, policy advocacy and
community inclusion. APD works closely with government agencies, educational institutions,
healthcare providers, corporate partners and development organisations to build
sustainable and scalable disability-inclusive solutions.
Driven by the values of dignity, equity, inclusion and excellence, APD continues to be a
pioneer in advancing disability rights while creating innovative models that influence
practice, policy and systems across India.
About the Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR)
The Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR) is APD's academic, research and
professional capacity-building arm dedicated to developing the next generation of
rehabilitation professionals and strengthening disability services across India.
IDRR delivers professional education, clinical training, research, and continuing education
programmes across multiple rehabilitation disciplines. The Institute collaborates with
universities, regulatory bodies, healthcare institutions, NGOs and government agencies to
advance evidence-based rehabilitation practice, interdisciplinary learning and innovation.
The Institute is committed to producing competent rehabilitation professionals while
fostering research, knowledge creation and community engagement that contribute to
improving the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of disability rehabilitation services.
Position Summary
The Senior Program Manager will provide strategic, academic and operational leadership for
the Institute of Disability, Rehabilitation & Research (IDRR). The role is responsible for
strengthening academic excellence, expanding institutional partnerships, ensuring
regulatory compliance, driving research initiatives and building a sustainable growth
strategy for the Institute.
Working closely with APD leadership, faculty, students, regulatory bodies and external
partners, the incumbent will lead the Institute's academic operations while promoting
innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and continuous institutional improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Develop and implement the long-term strategic roadmap for IDRR aligned with APD's
vision and organisational priorities.
Drive institutional growth through new academic programmes, strategic
partnerships and innovation.
Lead organisational change initiatives that enhance academic quality, research and
institutional effectiveness.
Academic Leadership
Ensure high standards in curriculum planning, delivery and continuous improvement.
Oversee academic planning, student admissions, examinations and academic
governance.
Strengthen faculty capability through mentoring, professional development and
performance management.
Foster a culture of excellence in teaching, learning and student engagement.
Research & Knowledge Development
Promote interdisciplinary research and evidence-based practice.
Build collaborations with universities, research institutions and healthcare
organisations.
Encourage publications, research grants, conferences and academic dissemination.
Develop institutional knowledge repositories and digital learning resources.
Programme & Operational Management
Lead day-to-day academic and administrative operations of the Institute.
Ensure effective utilisation of financial, human and infrastructure resources.
Monitor institutional performance through defined KPIs and continuous
improvement mechanisms.
Prepare annual plans, budgets, progress reports and institutional reviews.
Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance
Ensure compliance with RCI, University and other applicable regulatory
requirements.
Lead accreditation, inspections and quality assurance initiatives.
Maintain institutional policies, academic records and governance documentation.
Partnerships & External Engagement
Build strategic collaborations with universities, hospitals, NGOs, CSR partners and
government agencies.
Represent APD and IDRR at national and international forums.
Strengthen industry-academia linkages and professional networks.
Student Success
Ensure a high-quality student learning experience.
Oversee student welfare, hostel administration (where applicable) and academic
support systems.
Promote student placements, internships and professional development
opportunities.
Team Leadership
Lead, coach and develop multidisciplinary academic and administrative teams.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture aligned with APD's
values.
Drive employee engagement, accountability and continuous learning.
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The Company
What We Do
The Association of People with Disability (APD), India is a Bengaluru-based nonprofit that has worked since 1959 to transform the lives of children and adults with disabilities across urban and rural Karnataka. It delivers early intervention, inclusive education, livelihood training, rehabilitation, capacity building, and access-to-entitlements programs, while partnering with NGOs, government, and other organizations and advocating for policies that advance inclusion, justice, and equity.
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