SELCO Foundation

Manager-Livelihoods Scaling

Join SELCO Foundation in Pune as Manager-Livelihoods to lead climate-responsive livelihood initiatives. This role focuses on piloting innovative solutions, building partnerships, and scaling programs within the district. Benefit from a dynamic environment with strong community engagement and opportunities for extensive fieldwork.
SELCO Foundation
SELCO Foundation
Pune, India On-site Full time UTC+05:30

SELCO Foundation

Company Overview

SELCO Foundation

Bangalore, India

2010

Approximately 600 employees across the SELCO ecosystem, leveraging philanthropic funding without public revenue disclosure (source: frappe.io).

What They Do

SELCO Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and deploying decentralized renewable energy solutions, primarily focusing on solar technologies. Founded by Harish Hande, who also co-founded SELCO India, the Foundation aims to alleviate poverty and enhance access to essential services such as healthcare and education in underserved rural communities across India (source: energypedia.info). The Foundation operates mainly in South Asia, particularly in states like Karnataka, Odisha, and Jharkhand, utilizing a network of energy service centers established by SELCO India (source: selcofoundation.org). Their approach emphasizes user-centered solutions, including solar-powered lighting, thermal water heaters, and energy-efficient medical equipment, which are designed to reduce labor and enable income generation for low-income rural users (source: lemelson.org).

Projects & Track Record

SELCO Foundation has undertaken several notable projects aimed at enhancing energy access and improving livelihoods. One significant initiative is the e-Shala (e-school) project, which deploys solar-powered storage devices and LED projectors to electrify education in rural areas, particularly in Karnataka (source: wikipedia.org). Additionally, the Foundation has supported agricultural mechanization projects, such as Jayashree's bread-making unit, which utilizes SELCO-supported machinery to reduce labor on farms (source: lemelson.org). The Foundation's current major projects include the 'Energy for Health' initiative, which aims to provide solar solutions to 25,000 healthcare facilities by 2026, and the Sustainable Energy Led Climate Action Program (SELCAP) focusing on energy planning in Odisha and Jharkhand (source: hbs.edu).

Recent Developments

In recent years, SELCO Foundation has expanded its partnerships and initiatives significantly. The 'Energy for Health' partnership with IKEA Foundation has been announced to target solar solutions for 25,000 healthcare facilities by 2026, building on previous successful projects (source: hbs.edu). The Foundation also received a $400,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation in 2022 to integrate decentralized renewable energy into programs in Odisha and Jharkhand, following a $200,000 grant in 2020 for healthcare initiatives (source: macfound.org). While no acquisitions or mergers have been reported, the Foundation continues to receive funding from various sources, including a notable $2 million grant from DOEN Foundation in 2016 (source: doughnuteconomics.org).

Working There

SELCO Foundation operates within a broader ecosystem that includes SELCO India and other entities, employing around 600 people across various roles. Positions range from design thinking and technology development to program implementation in health, education, and livelihoods (source: frappe.io). The Foundation primarily hires from its headquarters in Bangalore and branches across several Indian states, emphasizing local recruitment to build trust in rural service roles (source: selco-india.com). The company culture is centered around long-term mission protection, inclusive hiring practices, and collaboration within the ecosystem, focusing on user-centered innovation and community ownership models (source: doughnuteconomics.org).


Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue

Job Description

The Manager - Livelihoods will anchor SELCO Foundation's work in Pune district, driving the design, implementation, and scale-up of climate-responsive livelihood interventions.

The role will focus on identifying local opportunities, piloting innovative solutions, and enabling their integration into government programs and existing livelihood ecosystems. Working closely with community institutions, enterprises, financial institutions, and government stakeholders, the Project Manager will ensure that interventions are grounded in field realities while being designed for scale and sustainability.

Acting as the key link between program strategy and on-ground execution, the role will also support ecosystem building, partnership management, and the development of scalable models that contribute to long-term livelihood transformation.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Program Implementation & District Ownership

    • Lead implementation of livelihood programs and pilots within the district
    • Translate broader program strategy into district-level action plans and execution roadmaps
    • Identify high-potential sectors and opportunities for intervention
  2. Innovation & Piloting

    • Identify and develop innovative livelihood models integrating DRE solutions
    • Lead pilots, demonstrations, and validation of new approaches
    • Ensure solutions are adapted to local needs and field realities
  3. Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement

    • Build and manage partnerships with government departments, local institutions, enterprises, NGOs, and financial institutions
    • Strengthen linkages with SHGs, FPOs, and grassroots organizations
    • Facilitate stakeholder alignment and coordination
  4. Scale & Convergence

    • Support integration of successful pilots into government schemes and larger programs
    • Design district-level scale pathways for proven interventions
    • Enable convergence between livelihoods, energy access, and financing
  5. Monitoring, Learning & Documentation

    • Track progress, outcomes, and impact of interventions
    • Document learnings, case studies, and scalable models
    • Use field insights to refine program design and implementation
  6. Program Development & Expansion

    • Support proposal development, fundraising inputs, and program expansion
    • Identify opportunities for scaling across clusters within the district
    • Contribute to cross-learning across regions and teams

Experience, Qualifications, Skills

  • Degree in Rural Development, Development Studies, Management, Engineering, or related fields
  • 4 - 8 years of experience in livelihoods, enterprise development, or innovation programs
  • Strong experience in program design, partnerships, and scaling models
  • Ability to work across strategy and on-ground realities
  • Experience with ecosystem building, incubation, or multi-stakeholder programs
  • High field orientation with willingness to travel extensively
  • Good stakeholder management and partnership-building skills

Apply now

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About the role

April 8, 2026

Full time

Non-profit

April 8, 2026

On-site

Bioenergy , Energy Storage , Smart Grid

SELCO Foundation

selcofoundation.org

  •  Pune, India

4 - 8 years

UTC+05:30