Public engagement Coordinator

1 Job Title: Public Engagement Coordinator Location: Sangath, New Delhi Contract Type: Full-time (100% FTE) Project Name: Mechanistic Trial of Problem Solving and Behavioural Activation for Youth Depression (METROPOLIS) Contract Duration: Three years. (The initial appointment will be made for six months’ probation from the date of joining, with renewal up to one year based on a performance review. Performance will be reviewed at the end of each year. The position is co-terminus with the project.) Number of Positions: 1 Applications Due: April 17, 2025 About Sangath: Sangath is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to transforming healthcare by focusing on mental health and public health initiatives. Our mission is to empower communities through world-class research, innovative healthcare solutions, and compassion-driven services. We are proud to have recently been recognized with the prestigious "Great Place to Work" award, a testament to our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work culture. Our Values: At Sangath, our values form the cornerstone of everything we do. For nearly three decades, we have passionately upheld a belief in the power of empathy, teamwork, and respect for every individual we serve and work with. We are committed to excellence in delivering world-class research and mental health services, backed by professional rigor and cutting-edge technology. Our drive for innovation keeps us forward-thinking, always learning and evolving to solve complex healthcare challenges. We take pride in our unwavering integrity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and ethical practices throughout our work. Finally, we hold performance as a key measure of success, continuously striving for impactful, sustainable solutions. These values have been the backbone of our organization, guiding us on a journey of creating lasting change in the communities we serve. Benefits: We believe in taking care of our team as much as they care for our mission. Sangath offers a dynamic range of benefits that reflect our commitment to our employees’ well-being and professional growth. These include Provident Fund (PF), ESIC, Gratuity, and comprehensive Medical Insurance, ensuring financial and health security. We offer flexible work timings to promote a healthy work-life balance, along with special leaves such as Menstrual Leave and Gender Affirmation Leave. Our progressive work-from-home policy is designed to give employees the flexibility they need in today’s changing work environment. Joining Sangath means being part of an organization that truly values and supports its people. About METROPOLIS: Mechanistic trial of problem-solving and behavioural activation for youth depression (METROPOLIS) is a research project. Project partners include King’s College London (KCL) 2 (UK), OP Jindal Global University (JGU) (India), Youth for Mental Health Foundation (India), and Brighton and Sussex Medical School (United Kingdom). The programme aims to advance understanding of the effectiveness and mechanisms of problem-solving (PS) and behavioural activation (BA) when delivered by peer counsellors as early interventions for young people with depression. Both PS and BA have the potential to be used as brief and effective standalone interventions, yet they have rarely been evaluated outside of multicomponent packages. We will investigate these active ingredients in India, which is home to 20% of the world’s youth population, focusing on university students from disadvantaged groups in Delhi NCR. Overview of the Role: We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative, and self-motivated Public Engagement Coordinator with a strong background in writing, storytelling, policy advocacy, and communications. If you are passionate about using personal narratives to drive change, this is an exciting opportunity to join the METROPOLIS research programme—a Wellcome Trust-funded initiative focused on mental health interventions for youth and offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in this field. As the Public Engagement Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in shaping public conversations around mental health, reducing stigma, encouraging help-seeking behaviour, and involving students in programme activities. You will also lead storytelling campaigns of personal narratives and other communication content to engage diverse youth audiences. This role reports directly to the Research Director, Dr. Aishwarya Thakur. Key Responsibilities 1. Design, implement and evaluate a public engagement strategy: Develop and implement the METROPOLIS programme’s public engagement strategy, prioritising online and in-person activities to share and centre the lived experiences of youth, particularly those from marginalized communities, to engage diverse audiences on mental health issues. Track the effectiveness of public engagement activities through relevant metrics and adjust strategies as needed to improve outreach and impact. 2. Lead collaboration with youth partner organisations and marginalized groups: Work with youth partner organizations, particularly those representing marginalized and underrepresented groups, to carry out public engagement activities on partner campuses and online. This includes managing student campaigns, outreach events, and an annual public engagement festival designed to amplify diverse youth voices and encourage participation in mental health initiatives. 3. Manage partnerships and relationships: Develop MoUs and maintain strong relationships with collaborators, stakeholders, and vendors to ensure smooth implementation of programme activities. 4. Develop inclusive and engaging content: Produce compelling written and visual content for various platforms (blogs, articles, social media, policy briefs, and reports), with a focus on personal stories that reflect the experiences of marginalized youth. 5. Manage the It’s Ok To Talk campaign: Oversee the It’s Ok To Talk youth storytelling campaign which includes a storytelling website (www.itsoktotalk.in) and public events hosted jointly with youth partners. Includes ensuring that calls for personal stories are disseminated, and newsletters are released regularly; reviewing submissions, ensuring they reflect diverse voices, and publishing them through blogs, videos, or other media formats. Maintain and regularly update the website database. 3 6. Support media engagement and research dissemination: Assist the Co-Principal Investigator and international partners with media outreach and the dissemination of research findings through press, publications, and other media channels. 7. Support development of intervention digitisation: Coordinate the development of digitisation digital intervention materials developed through the METROPOLIS programme as part of wider dissemination activities. 8. Lead development of programme communication and dissemination materials: Prepare and edit content for proposals, presentations, posters, publications, and IEC materials, including updates for the METROPOLIS programme’s website. Work closely with a designer and other team members to develop recruitment materials for participants in the METROPOLIS programme, 9. Support scaling in higher education: Contribute to the development of strategies for engaging higher education institutions with METROPOLIS interventions. The responsibilities above are not exhaustive, and the role may include additional tasks as required.


 Qualifications and Experience: 

Essential Criteria
 

 1. Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field (communications, journalism, public relations, public policy, psychology, social science, health, or community development). 2. At least 3 years of demonstrated work experience in communications, journalism, policy, and advocacy, particularly in health or social issues. 3. Strong experience working with advocacy campaigns and outreach activities. 4. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including youth, researchers, and media outlets. 5. Good familiarity with modern communication strategies and best practices in knowledge exchange and information management. 6. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi, including presentation skills (PowerPoint, video, etc.). 7. Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects effectively. 

Desirable Criteria 1. Experience in writing compelling content for diverse audiences, with a focus on storytelling, and personal narratives. 2. Proficiency in Wix and/or Wordpress website management and using social media tools. 3. Experience in creating visual content for health/scientific communication, including websites, videos, policy briefs, and media materials. 4. Educational qualification and/or work experience in mental health or public health-related fields. 

Compensation: The remuneration for this position will be commensurate with educational qualifications, work experience and as per applicable Sangath’s salary policy. The initial appointment will be for a six-month probation period, with the possibility of renewal for up to one year based on performance review. 4 How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit the following documents by 5:00 PM on April 17, 2025: 1. A cover letter explaining how you meet the essential criteria and applicable desirable criteria. 2. A detailed CV. 3. A portfolio of relevant past projects (if available). 4. Contact information for two professional references. 



Please email your application to Alka Singh at alka.singh@sangath.in with the subject line: "Application for Public Engagement Coordinator, METROPOLIS". Please note that only complete applications will be considered. Equal Opportunity: Sangath is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We value all employees, regardless of gender, caste, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply