Job Description

Job Title: Program Lead - Odisha State Team

About TCF and TCF Network:

The Convergence Foundation (TCF) is an Indian philanthropic foundation dedicated to catalysing rapid and sustained economic growth to enhance the lives of all Indians. Established by Ashish and Manisha Dhawan in April 2021, TCF builds on their legacy of impactful philanthropy, including the founding of transformative institutions like Ashoka University and the Central Square Foundation.

Our mission is clear: to transform the lives of all Indians through rapid, sustained, and inclusive economic growth. To achieve this, we focus on seven key program areas that influence job creation, human capital development through education and skilling, women empowerment, and strengthening state capacity to deliver outcomes.

In each area, TCF works on:

• Building pioneering institutions to address India's most complex socio-economic challenges
• Shaping the larger ecosystem and sharing knowledge, insights and learning with other philanthropists, governments, and key stakeholders

The TCF Network includes 16+ organisations, each committed to addressing specific areas of India's socio-economic development, from school education and governance to women's economic empowerment and export competitiveness.

TCF State Teams - Shaping Agenda and Anchoring Multi-Partner Collaborations in Indian States:

Governments are critical (and most often the primary) partner and driver of change to achieve impact at scale i.e. outcomes across human capital development and economic growth. While the Central Government is a key stakeholder and exercises a significant influence, a state is an ideal unit of change, especially in Indias context, given the regional diversity and federal structure of the government. Across health, education, agriculture, nutrition and other sectors, Indian state governments have the mandate, sphere of influence, resources, and personnel to deliver public services and create the conditions for economic growth and development.

TCF aims to work closely with the state leadership to shape the states goals and support with implementation to ensure required outcomes are met.

TCFs State teams will be on ground and work closely with the offices of states leadership team to provide high-quality, pro-bono strategic support across multiple areas.

• Support in shaping the states agenda by engaging with key decision makers and leveraging TCFs excellent research, analysis, knowledge, and network
• Provide strategic advice to the state in developing a comprehensive reform roadmap across multiple sectors, in partnership with leading agencies and partners
• Bring in Indias best organizations, within and beyond TCF network, for various domains and enable their success in the state
• Work closely with state leadership and partners to track implementation and ensure desired outcomes are met

By 2030, TCF plans to have deep relationships with at least 6 large Indian states.

Position Summary

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the TCF partnership in a large (Indian) state and provides exposure to a diverse range of areas such as economic growth, education, skilling, women empowerment, and health. You will work closely with senior leaders across political, bureaucratic, private sectors, and not-for-profit sectors to drive priority outcomes for the state and TCF.

This is a dynamic role that requires agility to develop strong content knowledge on a wide range of topics, work with and influence multiple senior stakeholders, and a deep passion for impact.

You will be part of a 4-6 member team and report to the Program Head, Odisha State Team. The Odisha State team will further report to TCFs Central Policy and Government partnership team, which will be based out of Delhi.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing high-quality research and strategy to shape states agenda and roadmap: Conduct research, data analysis, expert consultations, field visits, etc. to help TCF build strong PoV on states needs and key levers of change
• Onboarding and supporting leading partners: Evaluate and onboard best-in-class organizations in the ecosystem - within TCFs network as well as external - for the prioritized bodies of work. Work hands-on to support orgs and achieve tangible outcomes, especially in the initial stages. Thereafter, support integration and growth of partner orgs in the state
• Building credibility and relationship within the state ecosystem: Develop relationships across CS and CM offices, and other key departments and stakeholders. Understand deeply states priorities, opportunities, and unique challenges and share with TCF and partners to improve the coalitions work and overall engagement
• Supporting CS office on key, strategic work: Beyond the scope of work undertaken by TCF and partner organizations, provide analytical and operational support on important projects led by the CS office (~30% of teams bandwidth)
• Delivering outcomes for assigned workstreams: Work closely with the Program Head to set priorities, plan timelines, create high-quality deliverables as per timelines, and ensure outcomes for your workstreams. Deliverables include presentations, excel analysis, policy notes, proposals, etc.
• Managing a small team of associates: Oversee and guide a team of associates, ensuring alignment on deliverables and timelines, while supporting their development and growth.
• Independently leading workstreams: Take full ownership of assigned workstreams, setting priorities, managing timelines, and ensuring high-quality deliverables such as presentations, excel analysis, policy notes, and proposals.
• Stakeholder management: Engage and collaborate with both TCF portfolio organisations and government stakeholders, ensuring smooth coordination and productive partnerships to achieve strategic goals.

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Attributes:

Qualifications -

• Experience: Minimum 6 years of experience, with prior stints in top-tier consulting firms or strategy roles in fast-paced environments (start-ups, VCs, etc.); experience of working with the government is highly desirable
• Education: Bachelors from a top-tier institution; Masters degree preferred

Skills -

• Strategic Thinking: Proficient in creating long-term strategy plans and implementation roadmaps across a variety of verticals and projects. Comfortable with building structure and solutions to complex, ambiguous problems
• Problem Solving: Demonstrated innovative problem-solving skills in complex environments
• Analytical and Technical skills: Able to work with data and tools to generate insights
• Curiosity: Enjoys learning new areas of work through research, experts consultations, etc.
• Ownership: Capable of owning and delivering major initiatives independently
• Communication Skills: Superior communication skills with the ability to negotiate and persuade high-level stakeholders. High quality knowledge outputs, especially presentations and policy briefs
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams in dynamic, fast-paced environments
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Management: Proficient with engaging and building meaningful relationships. Role requires collaborating with senior and junior govt officials, partner organizations, industries, advisors, and TCF senior leadership
• Leadership: Lead and mentor internal TCF team members as well as guide teams/individuals from partner organizations
• Adaptability: Exceptionally adaptable, with the ability to adjust strategies in response to changing conditions

Attributes -

• Passionate about TCFs mission and driven to make a measurable impact on India's growth trajectory through policy reform and government engagement

• Perseverance and patience to work through challenging problem statements, a variety of stakeholders, and dynamic situations

• Focused on outcomes by being proactive in identifying opportunities/challenges, reaching out to the right set of people, taking required actions, and measuring outcomes

• Integrity and discretion in handling sensitive situations and confidential information

• Credible and trustworthy demeanour that fosters respect, confidence, and lasting relationships with diverse stakeholders

Location: Bhubaneswar; Travel within Odisha on need basis

How to Apply: Please send an email to the following address: vishal@theconvergencefoundation.org or click on "APPLY HERE!" to submit your application.