About ISDM
The Indian School of Development Management pioneers a transformative approach to management, envisioning a world that is
just, equitable, and sustainable
. Established in 2016, it serves as a foundational hub for cultivating a robust ecosystem and a cadre of skilled professionals dedicated to advancing social change globally.
Driven by the conviction that the social sector plays a pivotal role in addressing humanity's most pressing challenges, the school operates on the premise that effective management is essential for achieving significant impact. By nurturing talent in Development Management tailored to the unique needs of the social sector, the school aims to catalyze sustainable socio-economic and ecological progress on a large scale.
Recognizing the power of institutions to shape professional ecosystems, the school aims to establish itself as a beacon of excellence in higher education. Through this, it seeks to lay the groundwork for a thriving community of practitioners dedicated to driving positive change in society.
Over the past seven years, the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) has garnered validation, support, and funding from esteemed individuals and organizations. While numerous programs worldwide aim to cultivate management capabilities for the social sector, they often reside within larger university ecosystems or business schools, where they may receive lesser attention compared to mainstream programs. ISDM stands out as the sole institution globally dedicated to fostering a comprehensive ecosystem for Development Management, focusing on pioneering work in critical areas.
ISDM's initiatives encompass:
Knowledge Creation: Establishing a Global Knowledge Hub to create, disseminate, and institutionalize contextual knowledge on building, leading, and managing social purpose organizations, networks, and platforms.
Talent Nurturing: Offering the Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP-DM) to attract and develop top-tier talent capable of addressing management challenges within the sector.
Capacity Building: Providing Strategic Capacity Building programs to enhance individual and institutional capacities in development management, thereby fostering sustainable and scalable social impact.
ISDM has successfully completed its Proof of Concept Phase and is now set for expansion over the next five years. Key achievements include high placement rates for PGP-DM graduates and plans for increased batch sizes, a new campus, international partnerships, and accreditation. The institute is also conducting research and establishing Centers of Excellence in various areas of social impact. Additionally, it offers programs for professionals and resources for grassroots organizations. Know More at
www.isdm.org.in
.
ISDM invites individuals who share its vision to join in creating a dynamic, catalytic ecosystem and positioning India as a thought leader in Development Management, ultimately enabling sustainable social impact at scale.
About CIFSI
The Centre for Innovative Finance and Social Impact (CIFSI), housed at the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), works to strengthen India’s social sector by mainstreaming innovative finance as a critical complement to government and philanthropic funding. CIFSI envisions a future where social purpose organisations have sustained access to appropriate capital, enabling them to achieve impact at scale. Anchored in the belief that financial systems and capital flows play a decisive role in shaping social outcomes, CIFSI focuses on building knowledge, capacities, and ecosystems that enable social impact to be financed more effectively. The Centre works closely with practitioners, philanthropists, investors, intermediaries, and policymakers to bridge gaps between capital and impact.
About the Role
The Centres of Excellence within the Global Knowledge Hub (GKH) at ISDM are looking for an Associate / Senior Associate (Communications) to help translate research into insights that drive action in the social sector. GKH is ISDM’s research and knowledge arm, focused on generating and disseminating insights that strengthen practice and decision-making across areas such as philanthropy for inclusive development, innovative finance, and social impact.
In this role, you will work closely with researchers and the communications team to convert complex research into clear, accessible, and engaging formats—such as explainers, briefs, blogs, and presentations—and support their dissemination across relevant channels. You will also contribute to identifying the most effective platforms to reach different audiences based on their information needs and consumption behaviour. The role requires strong writing skills, comfort with multi-format content development, and the ability to use AI tools to improve efficiency while maintaining high standards of accuracy and editorial quality.
Key Responsibilities
1. Research Interpretation and Insight Synthesis
Read and understand research reports, frameworks, and concept notes, and identify key insights and implications.
Support the translation of research outputs into accessible formats such as summaries, insight briefs, and explainers.
Help distill complex ideas and frameworks into clear and practical concepts for broader audiences.
2. Content Writing and Editorial Support
Develop high-quality written content, including blogs, explainers, research summaries, practitioner notes, and presentations.
Ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency in all written outputs through careful editing and proofreading.
Adapt content for different audiences, including nonprofits, practitioners, and funders.
3. Multi-Format and AI-enabled Content Development
Contribute to developing research outputs in different formats such as articles, social media content, presentations, and short video scripts, and support the development of visual or structured communication outputs by working with designers and providing clear briefs.
Use AI tools to support tasks such as summarising research, drafting content, and adapting outputs into multiple formats, while ensuring all content is fact-checked, accurate, and aligned with ethical AI use practices.
4. Collaboration with Research and Communications Teams
Work closely with researchers to understand research insights and translate them into communication outputs.
Collaborate with the ISDM Marketing and Communications team and designers to develop high-quality knowledge products.
5. Partnerships and Channel Identification
Identify and explore potential dissemination channels such as sector platforms, networks, media outlets, and knowledge communities that align with the Centre’s vision and mission.
Support efforts to build relationships with these platforms and facilitate opportunities for content sharing, collaboration, or knowledge dissemination.
6. Convenings and Event Support
Support the planning and execution of convenings, workshops, and knowledge-sharing events aimed at driving the adoption of research insights.
Contribute to outreach and coordination efforts, including participant communication, event logistics, and supporting the overall event experience.
Demonstrate agility in managing event-related tasks and coordinating with internal teams and external partners to ensure smooth execution.
7.
Narrative Development Support
Contribute to shaping communication pieces by helping organise insights into coherent narratives.
Assist in developing thought pieces, articles, or knowledge outputs emerging from the Centre’s research.
8.
Audience-Oriented Dissemination
Support efforts to tailor communication outputs for different stakeholder groups.
Contribute to identifying appropriate channels and platforms (online and offline) to reach these audiences by understanding their content consumption behaviour and preferences.
Support in adapting research outputs and dissemination formats to ensure they reach and engage the intended audiences effectively.
9.
Visual and Conceptual Thinking
Help organise ideas into simple visual or conceptual structures such as frameworks, diagrams, or models.
Support the creation of communication outputs that make research easier to understand and apply.
Required Skills & Experience
Education:
A Master’s degree is preferred in fields such as Communications, Journalism, English language or literature, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Public policy, or allied fields.
Experience:
3–5 years of relevant work experience in communications, content development, knowledge management, research communication, or editorial roles.
Experience in the social sector, philanthropy, public policy, research organisations or think tanks would be strongly preferred.
Understanding of the Social Sector
Interest in and awareness of the social sector ecosystem. Ability to understand and appreciate the broader context in which research and knowledge outputs are created and applied.
Tech proficiency
Practical proficiency with design tools (Canva, Adobe), social media platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram), collaboration platforms (Google Workspace), CMS/Social tools for posting and analysis (WordPress, Hootsuite, Zoho Campaigns), AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Notebook LLM, Perplexity AI etc).
Analytical Curiosity
Comfortable engaging with research material and motivated to understand and simplify complex ideas.
Strong Writing Skills
Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely with attention to structure, tone, and readability.
Clarity-Oriented Thinking
A natural inclination to simplify complex information while maintaining accuracy and nuance.
Learning Mindset
Open to experimenting with new communication formats, tools, and AI-enabled workflows.
Attention to Detail
Strong editorial discipline with a focus on accuracy, quality, and consistency.
Collaboration
Ability to work effectively with researchers, designers, and communications colleagues in developing knowledge products.
Remuneration for this role will be commensurate with qualifications & experience. To learn more about us and apply, check out
isdm.org.in/careers
.
ISDM is an equal opportunity organization with a particular emphasis on affirmative action. The culture of the organization is one of professionalism while also one that greatly values relationships.
