Job Opportunity for Director – Systems Change at The Convergence Foundation in Delhi

Ashish Dhawan is a leading Indian philanthropist who, in his earlier career, founded and ran ChrysCapital, one of the first private equity funds in India. Over the last decade, he has played a pivotal role in building successful institutions such as Ashoka University and strategic foundations like the Central Square Foundation, which works to ensure quality school education for all children in India. He established The Convergence Foundation (TCF) in 2021 to tackle Indias most important challenges by building pioneering institutions and supporting bold leaders.

The Convergence Foundation seeks to identify the Archimedean levers for Indias growth and developmenthigh-leverage opportunities that can catalyze pivotal outcomes. We currently support fourteen organizations through their seed stage across two pillars: direct engines of growth and human capital development. These organizations work in diverse areas such as labor-intensive manufacturing, science and technology, effective governance, education and the acceleration of Indian philanthropy. Each organization adopts a systems change approach, working in close collaboration with governments to improve development outcomes at scale.

In the next phase of our journey, we aim to leverage our strengths as a philanthropic foundation to drive economic growth in India. While we will continue building institutions, we also plan to drive strategic projects around economic growth and development. We have identified seven program areas, which will be housed at TCF or work closely with partner organizations.

Our North Star

Improving government effectiveness to catalyse Indias economic growth and human capital development outcomes.

Our Approach:

We aim to create comprehensive, high-quality knowledge products and offerings rooted in the Indian context and conduct deep engagements with relevant stakeholders, catering to 4 objectives:

• Unlocking CSR funding towards System Change Initiatives
• Unlocking Indian HNI funding towards System Change Initiatives
• Shaping supply of nonprofits adopting the System Change approach
• Building narrative and surround sound of System Change

Position Summary:

As the Director of System Change Initiatives, you will play a critical role in positioning TCF as a leading thought leader and practitioner of system change in India. You will engage with key internal stakeholders, including partner organizations and operating partners, and crucial external stakeholders such as governments, government and industry bodies, CSRs, and UHNIs to unlock funding, shape the supply of nonprofits based on demand-side needs, and build the narrative and surround sound.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership and strategic direction: Provide leadership and overall strategic direction for the initiative, in alignment with TCFs long-term strategy
• Build surround sound: Highlight the importance of system change approach as a solution for India’s development challenges, engaging with diverse stakeholders and champions.
• Stakeholder engagement: Build strong relationships with key stakeholders – HNIs, CSRs and philanthropic foundations – to showcase the impact of systemic change initiatives.
• Build champions and communities of practice: Build a supportive network of aligned funders, practitioners, intermediaries, former bureaucrats and influential ambassadors
• Program Support: Oversee programs to spread system change practices among major non-profits. In addition, provide strategic support to select organizations on their system journey
• Thought Leadership: Establish TCF and its partners as prominent players in the ecosystem by building and sharing high-quality knowledge and insights
• Internal Capability Building: Strengthen TCFs internal muscle and processes in system change to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Desired Qualities:

• A minimum of 20 years of experience in consulting, leading significant non-profits, CSRs, or in multifaceted corporate roles focused on organizational and strategic development.
• Demonstrated passion and understanding of the importance of work on systems change.
• Experience in evangelizing and creating buy-in around pivotal ideas
• Proven ability to think analytically, devise solutions, and build partnerships with a collaborative mindset, demonstrating thought leadership in driving innovative strategies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

What You Bring:

• Visionary leadership with a strategic outlook towards systemic impact.
• Strong analytical skills and solution-driven approach to complex challenges.
• Strong relationships and networking skills with NGOs, funders, and government bodies, or the proven ability to build these relationships effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to execute and get things done in an ambiguous environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build effective partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commitment to contribute to Indias sustained growth through strategic philanthropy and impactful system change.

Compensation

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy pay scales and will depend upon the candidates experience.

Location

New Delhi, India