Project Coordinator at SMILE FOUNDATION in Telangana, IN

Job Title : Project Coordinator

Project Name : ‘Activating Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs): Unlocking Innovation in Every School’

Duration : October 2026 – March 2027 (6 months)

Location : Hyderabad / neighbouring districts (Telangana); Chennai/ neighbouring districts (Tamil Nadu); Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

Department : Project Incharge – Mission Education

Reports To : Regional Heads, Project Teams, Government Departments, Donor and Knowledge Partners

About Smile Foundation:

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization working for the welfare of underserved children and their families through intensive programmes focused on education, healthcare, skilling and women empowerment. We work as a catalyst in the cycle of change, complementing and supplementing government efforts, in alignment with the SDGs and ESG. We sensitize and partner with like-minded institutions and individuals to implement high-impact programmes that enable access, enhance quality and help bring long term behavioral change at the grassroots.

Started in 2002 by a group of young corporate professionals, today Smile Foundation has evolved into a national level development organization impacting the lives of over 2 million underserved children and families every year. With a project presence in 27 states across India, 10 offices in strategic locations, and a team of 1000+ employees including more than 150 programme officers, 4000+ onground facilitators from over 250 community-based organizations, besides countless volunteers, wellwishers, and supporters.

Visit our website to know more about us and our latest development: www.smilefoundationindia.org

What’s our vision?

Over the next few years, we are envisioning to scale our impact to reach more vulnerable children and families across India, by inspiring greater social action through a multi-stakeholder approach, involving individuals, businesses, schools, government stakeholders and more. People, technology and data would be at the centre stage of every endeavor of Smile – we wish to establish as a unique organization in the social development space.

We are aiming at deeper and more diverse partnerships and collaborations with the business world in areas including CSR investment, ESG spending, shared value, impact investment, philanthropic partnerships and social stock investment. We will also be working to develop a loyal individual supporter base to strengthen the sustainability of the organization.

Project Overview

Smile Foundation’s Mission Education initiative aims to strengthen STEM learning and innovation mindsets among students in government and government-aided schools through experiential and hands-on learning facilitated via Tinker Labs / STEM Labs for Grades 6–10. This particular project focuses on ‘Activating Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) and will support students to develop 21st-century competencies such as problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork. Please visit our website www.smilefoundationindia.org/ for more information

Role Purpose

The Project Coordinator will play a central role in coordinating and supporting the overall implementation of the ‘Activating Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs): Unlocking Innovation in Every School’ Initiative. The incumbent will ensure effective communication and coordination between the Head Office, regional project teams, schools, vendors and relevant stakeholders. The position involves program planning, monitoring, documentation, and reporting to ensure timely and quality execution across all project locations.

Key Responsibilities

Program Coordination & Implementation

 Coordinate with Regional Heads and field teams to ensure effective implementation of ATL and STEM components across all 36 schools.

 Support project planning, activity scheduling, and timeline adherence to ensure smooth delivery.

 Facilitate communication between HO, regional teams, and partner organizations for alignment on objectives, deliverables, and reporting.

 Track progress against project milestones and ensure timely completion of planned interventions.

 Coordinate logistics for ATL setup/activation, STEM activities, teacher trainings, student engagement, and community engagement activities.

Monitoring & Reporting

 Develop and maintain program dashboards, trackers, and progress reports in coordination with M&E and Regional teams.

 Review periodic reports from regional offices and consolidate them for submission to the Senior Manager, STEM Manager and the donor.

 Assist in data collection, documentation of success stories, case studies, student innovations, and best practices.

 Support periodic field visits to monitor progress, identify challenges, and recommend corrective actions.

Stakeholder Engagement

 Coordinate with government education departments, SCERTs, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), and other institutional stakeholders for program alignment and permissions.

 Liaise with donors for progress updates, presentations, and communication materials.

 Facilitate workshops, review meetings, and cross-learning sessions among regional teams and schools.

Capacity Building & Knowledge Management

 Support the organization of teacher training, orientation programs, STEM/innovation workshops, and exposure visits.

 Coordinate with content development and training teams to ensure contextual and quality learning materials.

 Maintain comprehensive documentation of training sessions, workshops, and field activities.

Financial & Administrative Support

 Work closely with the finance team to track project budgets, expenses, and utilization certificates.

 Support procurement and vendor coordination.

Qualifications & Experience

 Postgraduate/Graduate degree in Education, Social Work, Engineering, Management, or related field.

 4–8 years of relevant experience in education project management, preferably in STEM, ATL, innovation, or digital learning programs.

 Strong understanding of school education systems, government structures, and teacher development programs.

 Experience in donor coordination, report writing, and project documentation.

 Excellent communication (written and verbal), organizational, and coordination skills.

 Proficiency in MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and data management tools.

 Willingness to travel periodically to project locations.

Key Competencies

 Strong program management and analytical skills.

 Ability to coordinate across multiple teams and geographies.

 Result-oriented with attention to detail and quality.

 Collaborative mindset and ability to manage stakeholder relationships.

How to Apply:

Share your CV/Profile with a brief note (cover letter) telling why you find yourself a right fit for the role, on the link-https://smilefoundation.keka.com/careers/jobdetails/89686

Smile Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer however women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Please Note: Only shortlisted candidates would be contacted by the Human Resources Team