Job Opportunity for Associate Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Bridgespan Group in Mumbai

About the Bridgespan Group

The Bridgespan Group is the leading nonprofit consulting organization serving ambitious nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, and impact investors in North America, Africa and Asia. We work with social change organizations such as the Anudip Foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dasra, Omidyar Network and Tata Trusts.

We value diversity, passion, respect, candor, and most of all having social impact and working towards societies characterized by equity and justice. Equity is central to all that we do. Our mission to break cycles of poverty is impossible if we do not also achieve equity given the intersection of issues of gender, caste, race, religion, etc. with poverty and justice. We have made a public commitment to anti-racism (statement is  here ), and more importantly are doing the essential work to build a team and leadership at all levels that is diverse, develop a truly inclusive culture, and integrate a focus on equity in all our client work.

At Bridgespan, our internal approach to diversity, equity and inclusion is twofold: We believe that organizations need to fundamentally rethink the ways in which business is conducted to make space for marginalized and underrepresented employees. While those systems and processes are being rethought, refined and rebuilt, marginalized and underrepresented staff need space, community and support to thrive in the workplace. Our DEI team focuses on both, and each role supports Bridgespan achieving progress along both dimensions. 

If you want to work with the market leader that bridges the worlds of social change leaders, game-changing philanthropists, and impact investors, then Bridgespan is the place for you.

The opportunity

This new position will report to the Director of DEI who is based in the U.S., and will have responsibility to be part of the growing DEI team and oversee the Mumbai office’s equity efforts and support the emerging equity efforts in our Southeast Asia Office. The organization first elevated a focus on racial equity in the U.S. in 2016 and has pursued a four-part strategy in the intervening years. Having recently refreshed that strategy, the organization is expanding the Office of DEI to support the next chapter of Bridgespan’s racial equity work in the US and as the organization serves a growing number of geographies outside the United States, including Mumbai and Southeast Asia. We have a global vision for our Equity strategy yet we recognize that our DEI needs and priorities need to be contextualized and we want to offer dedicated support to advance our equity efforts across the globe As such, the person in this role will play a critical role in helping to shape our Equity strategy and elevate and implement the strategy in our Mumbai Office, which opened in 2016 and will also serve as a DEI point person for Bridgespan’s Southeast Asia office, which opened in 2022. 

In addition to race, Bridgespan’s DEI team considers equity along multiple dimensions, including but not limited to gender, gender identity and sexual orientation, class, caste, disability and religion. 

Key responsibilities

This role will be accountable for four primary areas of responsibility within Bridgespan’s Equity Strategy:

Strategy and progress monitoring

• In partnership with Dir. of DEI and Mumbai Office Leadership team,  establish annual DEI priorities for the Mumbai office in collaboration with the Human Resources team and Advisory staffing team
• Stay up to date on the DEI landscape in India and cultivate relationships with critical DEI partners  
• Help raise awareness about DEI efforts across Bridgespan and keep the broader Bridgespan community informed about DEI progress and activities in Mumbai
• Ensure that the Mumbai office’s DEI progress is accounted for in Bridgespan’s annual DEI dashboard

People

• Support the continued progress toward goal of diversity representation of marginalized groups (specific marginalized group (s) to be identified by the forthcoming India Equity strategy project) in the Mumbai office on behalf of the DEI Team 
• Steward, evaluate and improve retention efforts for Bridgespan’s team members based in Mumbai 
• Serve as a ombudsperson who is a confidential sounding board and vocal advocate for underrepresented and marginalized staff’s workplace triumphs, challenges and concerns
• Monitor, document and share staff experience themes with Dir. of DEI, Office Head, and People & Culture Team
• Participate in talent management discussions for junior staff to ensure equity lens is accounted for in our processes 
• Partner closely with recruiting team to understand the landscape of recruiting to increase representation of marginalized groups, in particular for operational roles, and participate in recruiting events and hiring processes (as needed) 

Culture

• Stay up to date on the planning and oversight of staff affinity groups (i.e., API, BABs, BGLAD, LATBA, M@B, W@B )
• Support the launch of additional staff affinity groups as needed
• Design and execute programming and learning opportunities that showcase the vibrant diversity of the Bridgespan community and the geographies in which we work; will include organizing and facilitating learning discussions

Operations

• Steward the in-development India Equity Strategy in collaboration with Head of Equity, Director of DEI, Director of Racial Equity, Mumbai Office Leadership, Southeast Asia Leadership and People and Culture Team
• Serve as a key partner in developing and implementing an Equity Strategy for Bridgespan Southeast Asia 
• Inform and support the development of the Mumbai office DEI programming in partnership with Dir. of DEI and Dir. of Racial Equity and oversee the execution of the programming 
• Support the Dir. of DEI in understanding opportunities to fine tune and create policies that advance more equitable outcomes 
• Routinely engage with DEI team members across Bridgespan in order to share best practices and to embed aligned philosophies across offices
• Maintain database of and relationships with DEI Technical Assistance providers 
• Support preparation of local DEI budget 

Candidate profile

Bridgespan seeks an exceptional DEI practitioner with intellectual breadth and curiosity, a deep commitment to the mission and values of the nonprofit sector, and the ability to be an influential and motivational mentor and advocate for junior team members and colleagues.  

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in working in DEI in India and a deep understanding of the unique equity challenges that exist in India as well as familiarity with equity issues that exist outside of India (e.g., Racial Equity in the United States). She/he/they will exhibit self-awareness, high emotional intelligence, and an understanding of others that enhances interpersonal communication and management abilities. This person will have stellar personal and professional integrity and will be able to collaborate effectively with employees across levels and units in the organization, while earning respect and confidence from the leadership team, staff and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be able to bring all these attributes to the hard work of change management in a global, multi-racial and dynamic organization that is rapidly growing. 

Critical criteria when assessing candidates will include: 

• Relevant expertise – Deep knowledge base of equity and DEI space, and experience setting and managing toward equity priorities
• Execution and project management expertise – Demonstrated ability to manage projects effectively and strong ability to execute against strategies, build alignment and lead implementation within multi-stakeholder organizations.
• Collaboration – A track record of establishing productive, authentic and collaborative relationships with leaders and colleagues. 
• Values – Alignment with Bridgespan’s values and beliefs .

In addition, likely candidates will have the following profile:

• Strong professional experience, ideally in nonprofits and/or client service organizations
• Proven track record of success serving and navigating internal relationships and influencing the outcome
• Exceptional team player committed to collaborating not only with the DEI team but with colleagues across different roles and offices 
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen intently and respond effectively
• Familiarity in developing a strategic plan and experience in executing a plan effectively Comfort with gathering, interpreting, and acting on quantitative data (e.g., employee survey data, HR data, etc.) 
• Familiarity with HR processes (e.g., talent management)
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and comfort with working independently 
• Flexibility and adaptability to be responsive as new needs and priorities arise 
• Experience and proficiency with engaging on issues of equity and systemic oppressions
• Willingness and ability to get things done, both advising strategically and rolling up their sleeves to make things happen
• A desire and knack for making work fun and engaging
• Enthusiasm for working with people of all backgrounds and identities 
• Ability to learn from and maintain momentum in the face of challenges 
• Experience with consulting / client service entities would be ideal
• Experience in global / multi-country organization(s) would be ideal

At Bridgespan, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion because we are passionate about helping our clients achieve breakthrough results. An organization that reflects the diversity of our clients and their beneficiaries will produce deeper relationships, engagement, and insights. Bridgespan is committed to providing equal opportunities. We serve diverse organizations, and are committed to non-discrimination. Bridgespan will not discriminate against any employee with respect to any term or condition of employment, including but not limited to less favorable treatment, exclusion from employment or employment opportunities (including hiring, assignment, performance assessment and promotion) on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, gender (including pregnancy), gender identity, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, expression, veteran’s status or other protected characteristics or status. We actively partner with organizations representing minority concerns and interests to build high-performing teams that mirror the communities we serve. 

All company sponsored programs including training, job, social and recreational activities are required to be nondiscriminatory and all human resource practices are monitored to ensure equal opportunity.