Participatory Planning and Infrastructure Development Specialist

WHO ARE WE: Instituted on August 16, 2016, Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel Limited mandated with the responsibility of executing CSR for Tata Steel. A Section 8 company, TSF is rapidly growing across Odisha, Jharkhand, Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh with over 1600+ people and presence in over 16 units. With a vision to create an enlightened and equitable society, we are committed towards playing a larger role in India’s sustainable development by embedding wider economic, social, and environmental objectives through its programmes.

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Purpose of the Role: Support participatory planning and infrastructure development in informal settlements. Collaborate with communities, Slum Dwellers Associations (SDAs), Urban Local Bodies and selected technical agency to co-create inclusive, technically sound, and sustainable neighbourhood development plans.

Key Deliverables:

Participatory Planning & Design:

• Facilitate analysis of spatial and vulnerability maps of slums.

• Co-develop neighborhood development plans integrating community aspirations and technical feasibility.

• Ensure alignment of plans with ULB priorities and government schemes.

Infrastructure Development:

• Provide technical inputs for designing civic infrastructure (roads, drainage, sanitation, housing, etc.) to the Urban Local Bodies

• Support implementation of infrastructure projects in collaboration with ULB engineers.

• Ensure climate resilience, universal accessibility, and sustainability in design.

Community Engagement:

• Work closely with SDA leaders and residents to ensure community ownership of planning processes.

• Conduct design charrettes, focus group discussions, and visual presentations to communicate plans effectively.

Capacity Building:

• Train Cluster Coordinators and SDA members on basic planning concepts and infrastructure maintenance.

• Develop visual tools and templates for community-led monitoring of infrastructure projects.

Documentation & Reporting:

• Maintain detailed records of planning processes, designs, and implementation progress.

• Prepare technical reports, maps, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Key areas of intervention:

• Unlocking Public Entitlements: Ensure saturation of government schemes at individual, household, and community levels. Address documentation gaps through Common Service Centers and Mo Seba Kendras.
• Build capacity of frontline facilitators in household profiling and scheme linkages. Prioritize inclusion of vulnerable groups-persons with disabilities, informal workers, elderly, and women-headed households-for equitable access to entitlements.• Participatory Habitat Planning: Facilitate participatory spatial and vulnerability mapping of slums to co-create draft neighborhood development plans that reflect both community aspirations and technical feasibility. With support from Urban Local Bodies, implement these plans to ensure universal access to improved civic services and infrastructure.
• Strengthening Slum Institutions: Enhance the capacity of existing Slum Dweller Associations through leadership development, community asset mapping, and operational guidelines for infrastructure maintenance. These institutions will serve as platforms to integrate cross-cutting themes such as climate resilience, child protection, health-seeking behavior, and social inclusion.

Positioning:

Selected candidates will be posted at the State PMU in Bhubaneswar but will frequently travel to Urban Local Bodies across Angul, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khurda, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha. Must be open to relocation across India based on organizational needs.

Work experience in years

3 + Years

Additional weightage for candidates

with experience in urban planning,

architecture, or infrastructure

development, preferably in informal

settlements or urban poor contexts

Minimum Qualification

A full-time bachelor’s degree any stream

(experience in urban planning,

architecture, Urban Design or related fields will be preferred )

Technical Skill Sets

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, GIS, SketchUp, and other design tools.

• Strong skills in spatial analysis, mapping, and technical drawing.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Effective communication in English, Hindi, and Odia (reading,writing, speaking).

• Aligned to TATA Values (Integrity, Responsibility, Excellence, Pioneering, Unity & Respect)

• Strong Interpersonal Skills and Collaborative Approach

• Self-Motivated, Result-oriented, Sensitive to cultures & diversity

• Strategic Thinking and Decision Making

Behavioural Skill Sets

• Accountability and Ownership

• Community-centric approach with sensitivity to marginalized groups.

• Ability to simplify technical concepts for community understanding.

• Team player with strong coordination and problem-solving skills.