Project Manager

Position Summary:
ACCESS is seeking a results-oriented Project Manager with strong experience in project implementation, and marketing-led growth. The role will lead end-to-end execution of a community kitchen project—from planning and operational setup to branding, partnerships, compliance, and performance monitoring. The Project Manager will be responsible for on-time delivery, operational excellence, stakeholder coordination, and market integration of food enterprises, ensuring alignment with project outcomes and donor expectations.

Responsibilities:

I. Project Planning, Implementation & Management

• Lead end-to-end project implementation including planning, execution, monitoring, and closure of F&B related project components.
• Develop detailed implementation plans, timelines, milestones, and resource allocation for project activities.
• Manage field teams and partners to ensure efficient, high-quality, and timely delivery of project outputs.
• Conduct weekly and monthly project reviews, identify risks and bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure adherence to approved project scope, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Coordinate closely with Marketing, Finance, HR, Admin, and MIS teams for smooth project operations.
• Lead donor engagement, including progress updates, reviews, and compliance with reporting requirements.

II. Operations Oversight

• Oversee the setup, operationalization, and scale-up of community kitchens and F&B enterprises.
• Ensure implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to food preparation, hygiene, safety, quality control, and service delivery.
• Support kitchen operations including menu planning, pricing, procurement planning, vendor coordination, and daily operations optimization.
• Ensure compliance with FSSAI and other food safety, health, and local regulatory requirements.
• Identify operational efficiencies to improve cost control, quality consistency, and customer satisfaction.

III. Marketing, Branding & Business Development

• Lead marketing and branding strategy for community kitchen initiatives, both digital and on-ground.
• Facilitate onboarding and coordination with online food delivery platforms (e.g., Swiggy, Zomato, cloud kitchen platforms).
• Develop and execute market-entry and customer acquisition strategies, including B2B and institutional sales (offices, schools, hospitals, hostels, events).
• Support brand positioning, packaging, pricing strategies, and promotional campaigns.
• Build partnerships with corporates, institutions, aggregators, and local market players to drive revenue and scale.
• Track sales performance, customer feedback, and market trends to inform continuous improvement.

IV. Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for donors, implementation partners, service providers, and regulatory bodies.
• Coordinate with training, marketing, and operations partners to ensure alignment with project goals.
• Liaise with government departments and regulatory authorities for licenses, registrations, and operational approvals.

V. Monitoring, Reporting & Financial Oversight

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to operations, marketing, revenue, and sustainability.
• Review MIS data regularly to track progress against targets and guide decision-making.
• Prepare high-quality reports, case studies, and documentation capturing outputs, outcomes, and learnings.
• Ensure financial discipline, budget tracking, and compliance with donor and organizational norms in coordination with the Finance team.

Experience

• Master’s degree in Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of professional experience in project implementation and management, preferably in food services, F&B operations, cloud kitchens, QSRs, or allied sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in launching, managing, or scaling food operations.
• Strong exposure to marketing, business development, and partnership management in urban contexts.
• At least 5 years of experience managing multi-disciplinary field or operations teams.
• Experience working with donor-funded or multi-stakeholder projects will be an added advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Project Planning, Execution & Risk Management
• Food & Beverages Operations Management
• Marketing Strategy & Brand Development
• Business Development & Market Linkages
• Stakeholder & Partner Coordination
• Financial Oversight & Budget Monitoring
• Strong Documentation & Reporting Skills
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MIS tools

Language Proficiency:

• Excellent command over English language (read, speak, understand and write)
• Good command over Hindi language (read, speak and understand)

Travel Requirement:

Willingness to travel across project locations as required for implementing the project effectively.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is commensurate to industry standards and will be determined based upon experience set of the candidate and the HR policies of the organization.

How to apply: For your application to be successfully submitted, kindly fill the google form provided in link – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdF_BCV5WlM3kxEyhdAXzyCL_tJEqxshXROQ3FyAfBSHspqGw/viewform

ACCESS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to providing an environment of fairness, and mutual respect where all applicants have access to equal employment opportunities. ACCESS values diversity and inclusion, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age and disability.

Interested candidates should send an up-to-date CV and cover letter addressing the above requirements to hr@accessdev.org.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.