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 years, 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 its 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 Strategic Capacity Building (SCB)
Strategic Capacity Building (SCB) at ISDM began with a view that while the 1-year PGP is impacting fresh graduates and young professionals, Body of Knowledge is focused on curating and building knowledge, there is a great need to work with the mid and senior management and leadership in the sector today, to be able to evangelise the change we want to see and build the society we envision.
The Strategic Capacity Building (SCB) vertical of ISDM works with SPOs to build their foundational capabilities in Leadership & Management and with Corporates to effectively leverage their resources to address the development sector needs and bring out the much desired change in social space.
SCB engages with key stakeholders such as CSRs, Foundations, NGOs, Intermediaries, Collaboratives, Government, Development Professionals, Volunteers, Social Entrepreneurs through:
Open programs for key stakeholders to catalyze social sector leadership such as Executive Development Programs for mid-senior professionals, Nation Building Programs targeting groups such as CXOs, Women Leaders, etc.
Custom Learning & Organisation Development solutions which aligns with strategic goals of the organisations
Digital solutions to drive collective & collaborative learning
Advisory services for Impact Assessment to evaluate the effectiveness and significance of changes made on people and planet through programs and projects.
About the Role
Associate Director, SCB is a senior level role responsible for the strategic design, operational excellence, and overall impact of the practice pillar’s initiatives in nurturing human capital, and building capacities in development management, and leadership of individuals, organisations thus building a resilient SPO ecosystem. This role requires a blend of strategic planning, detailed operational execution, team leadership, and persuasive communication to ensure programs effectively align with the organizations mission and the needs of the community / stakeholders its serves.
Key Responsibilities
Understand the philosophy, ethos and approach of Strategic Capacity Building work, it’s background and contribute towards achieving the overall vision.
Program Strategy and Design
Strategic Vision: Lead the program strategy ensuring alignment with SCB’s mission, emerging trends in the L&OD space and SPO ecosystem needs
Needs Assessment: Ideate and co-create needs assessments to identify gaps in partner organizations that feed into new program development aligning with SCB’s mission.
Curriculum Development: Support the design and continuous refinement of capacity building content, curriculum, training modules, toolkits and ensure they are scalable, contextually and culturally relevant, in collaboration with content lead and internal curriculum and pedagogy experts.
Program Delivery and Operations
Operational Oversight: Provide oversight and lead / manage the end-to-end program lifecycle, including planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and quality assurance across all programs and delivery methods (in-person, virtual and blended)
Budget Management: Oversee multiple program(s) budget, grant utilisation, and ensure optimal utilization of resources to maximise program delivery efficiently.
Team Leadership and Management: Directly manage and mentor a team of program managers and program teams to provide guidance on project management, delivery, all the while ensuring the well-being and support required to enable and empower the team.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish and maintain robust M&E systems to track outputs, measure outcomes, and gather qualitative data on program effectiveness from the various stakeholders.
Stakeholder & External Communications
Partner & Stakeholder Relations: Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, including partner non-profits, government agencies, subject matter experts, and sponsors.
Donor Relations & Development Support: Providing narrative and data for grant proposals, renewal reports, and donor pitches, effectively translating program goals into fundable opportunities.
External Representation: Engage with diverse communities and represent as needed at conferences, panels, and sector events, enhancing SCB’s vision, and visibility; facilitate stakeholder meetings to gather input, feedback and support feeding into program initiatives.
Marketing and Outreach
Strategies for outreach: Design, develop in collaboration with program teams and Marketing and Communications team on outreach strategies to promote open programs on appropriate channels.
Compelling collaterals: Provide vision and inputs to create compelling marketing materials, including brochures, flyers, websites, and social media content for the programs, and also to reach program updates to partners, sponsors and internal stakeholders.
Partnership Development
Strategic Partnerships: Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with organizations including Government, SPOs, and individuals to enhance SCB program impact and reach.
Co-creation of programs: Ideate, collaborate and co-create potential programs with partners (Govt., NGOs, Funders, CSR partners et al) aligned with SCB mission and aligning with DM principles.
Team Leadership & Vision
Delegation and Trust: Effectively delegate responsibility (not just tasks) and empower team members, while providing necessary support and maintaining accountability.
Adaptive Leadership: Adopt adaptive leadership style based on the competency and commitment level of individual team members and the context of the task, helping maintain morale and focus.
Coaching and Mentoring: Serve as the teams coach and mentor providing feedforward and development opportunities to build their competencies including learning / growth pathways.
Educational and Experience Required
Bachelor or Master degree (or equivalent experience) in Non-Profit Management, Education, OD, or a related field.
Minimum of 18-25 years of progressive work experience in strategic program management, capacity building or adult / learning with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership / supervisory role.
Proven ability to translate high-level vision into actionable program design, plan, and measurable outcomes.
Proven experience in program management (preferred program life cycle in the non-profit sector) with a focus on open programs and / or community engagement initiatives. (Additionally knowledge of working in Govt. ecosystem delivering last mile programs - preferred)
Strong skills in budget development, financial tracking and resource allocation and management.
Ability to lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team fulfilling their potential and aligning with SCB mission.
Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
Outstanding communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, translate data into impact stories, and narratives to build consensus.
Demonstrated capability in adaptive leadership and management style.
Creative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for driving innovation and positive change with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders through SCB offerings.
Strong experience with marketing, outreach, and digital media tools and platforms preferred.
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.
