Panchayat Waste Systems and SHG Livelihoods Lead

Role Title

Panchayat Waste Management & SHG Livelihoods Lead

(Field-based: Coastal Karnataka – frequent travel to panchayats / gram sabhas)

Location: Coastal Karnataka

About Baeru:

Baeru is a climate technology company committed to innovative ocean research and coastal impact projects. We are scaling globally to advance waste traceability, climate resilience, and blue carbon solutions. Join us to drive transformational change in sustainable material recovery and circular economy.

About the Role

Baeru Collective is setting up panchayat-level waste management centres that are run by women’s SHGs as sustainable micro-enterprises.

We are looking for a field-heavy, execution-first professional who can:

Set up and operationalise waste management centres at panchayat level

Train and handhold women’s SHGs to run them as viable, dignified livelihoods

Build simple systems so these centres sustain beyond the project period

Key Responsibilities:

1. Setting up Panchayat Waste Management Centres

Work with panchayats to identify sites, basic infra needs, and local approvals

Coordinate layout and basic set-up of segregation, storage, baling, record-keeping spaces

Create simple SOPs for daily operations - collection, segregation, record keeping, safety, sales

Support in identifying local waste collectors / staff and integrating SHGs into operations

2. SHG Training and Handholding (Women’s Groups)

Design and deliver training modules for SHGs on:

Basics of segregation and material quality

Centre operations & roles

Health, safety, and dignity of work

Provide business and livelihood training:

Costing, pricing, margins

Simple bookkeeping, daily registers

Negotiating with scrap buyers and recyclers

Regularly visit centres to mentor SHGs, solve issues, and build local leadership

3. Making the SHG Model Sustainable

Help SHGs understand their income streams (user fees, sale of recyclables, service contracts, etc.)

Co-create monthly targets and basic business plans with SHGs

Support SHGs to negotiate agreements with panchayats and buyers

Identify when a centre is struggling and put in course correction plans

4. Government & Community Coordination

Work closely with panchayat officials, waste management committees, and local leaders

Organise gram sabha / ward meetings, awareness drives, and community onboarding

Coordinate with other departments (e.g. women & child, rural livelihoods) where relevant

5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Learning

Maintain simple data on:

Quantity and type of waste handled

Income earned by SHGs

Households / wards covered

Share regular ground updates with Baeru team (photos, stories, challenges)

Suggest improvements in design, training, infra, and policy based on field learning

Profile & Experience

3–5 years experience in at least one of these:

Rural livelihoods / SHG or Federation work

Waste management or sanitation projects

Panchayat-level or community development programs

Strong field orientation – comfortable spending most of the time in villages / harbours / centres

Experience working with women’s SHGs, JLGs, FPOs or collectives is a big plus

Prior work with panchayats / rural local bodies is an advantage

Skills & Mindset

Ability to train, motivate, and handhold women’s groups, not just conduct one-time sessions

Strong relationship-building with local leaders, officials, and communities

Basic comfort with Excel/Google Sheets or apps for tracking data

Language: Kannada required, coastal dialects a big plus; working English is useful for reporting

Patient, grounded, and solution-oriented - able to handle local politics, delays, and conflict

Belief in dignity of waste work and women’s leadership