Manas is currently in the leadership team of PRADAN and coordinates its efforts on research and advocacy. He was the executive director of PRADAN in 2012-17. He has been working in the field of rural development since 1990, providing leadership on irrigation and Natural Resource Management, and participating in related research and evaluations. He has a master's degree in water resources development and management from IIT, Kharagpur and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from NIT, Rourkela.