Job Opportunity for Portfolio Associate: SGB Evidence Fund at Villgro in Chennai/Bengaluru

Villgro Innovations Foundation is looking for a highly motivated and passionate program manager to work on a one of its kind experimental research study on impact measurement of small and growing businesses (SGBs) across India. The candidate will play a pivotal role and work with Villgro and its research partner, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and researchers from Harvard Business School on research design, data collection, analysis, and driving the overall project implementation.

About the SGB Evidence Fund: Supporting the development of small and growing businesses (SGBs) in developing countries are key to enabling job creation and poverty alleviation.

Although the evidence base in this area is expanding, there is still much we do not understand about how to best support firm growth and create quality jobs. To address these challenges, the Small and Growing Business (SGB) Evidence Fund, a joint effort of the International Growth Centre (IGC) and the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), supports collaborations between researchers and practitioners to understand the most effective ways to support SGBs and the economic and social impact of SGB growth.

About the research: Investors and firms face uncertainty over how to measure and manage impact, an uncertainty that introduces severe challenges when trying to evaluate the growth of firms in low-income countries across both financial and impact metrics. Through this project, Villgro and Chicago Booth aim to run a large-scale causal examination of impact management and measurement (IMM) practices in Low Income Countries (LICs). The project will take advantage of a rich dataset on the workforce, financials, and business details of revenue-generating SGBs.

Career Stage and Experience

1. Early career professional

2. Economics/Social Science/Management student from a reputed school

Must-have Skills

➢ Self-starter, able to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced multinational environment, interacting with multiple enterprises

➢ Analytical approach; able to perform queries diligently, identify trends and anomalies with data and draw accurate conclusions

➢ Experience with Microsoft Office/Excel spreadsheet preparation and analysis

➢ Has strong interpersonal and communication skills; is confident to engage with senior management and Indian entrepreneurs comfortably.

Roles and responsibilities:

1. Handhold startups in their implementation process of Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) via weekly catchup calls, etc.

2. Address queries of startups relating to impact metrics, challenges faced in implementation, etc.

3. Connecting startups to respective experts- internal and external ecosystem of Villgro

4. Facilitate match- making between potential investors and interested startups.

5. Monitor and guide in the data collection/ management processes of startups.

6. Hand- hold startups to participate in respective surveys.

7. Driving startups towards creating business value from impact measurement.

You would make a great fit, if:

1. Have demonstrable interest and passion for learning more about the startup ecosystem In India, conducting research in impact investing, and impact measurement

2. Have excellent attention to detail

3. Have excellent analytical and organizational skills, and are comfortable working across varied data sets

4. Have the ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.

5. Possess either a Bachelors/Masters degree with preferred specialization in either of the following- Economics/Social Science/Business/Entrepreneurship

6. Have a minimum 1-2 years of work experience in the relevant field(s)

What’s in for you:

Investors and firms face uncertainty over how to measure and manage impact, an uncertainty that introduces severe challenges when trying to evaluate the growth of firms in low-income countries across both financial and impact metrics. Through this project, Villgro and Chicago Booth aim to run a large-scale causal examination of impact management and measurement (IMM) practices in Low Income Countries (LICs). The project will take advantage of a rich dataset on the workforce, financials, and business details of revenue-generating SGBs. You will get the opportunity to work on path breaking research with some of the leaders in this space.

1. Experience working on developing and improving social impact measurement standards and practices

2. Experience how data is made actionable and utilized to derive insights

3. Indulge in working with startups to get hands on experience and learning

4. Discover how impact measurement frameworks function across early-stage social enterprises, inform investment, and influence other aspects of business growth

Compensation: between INR 4.8- 6 lakhs for the duration of 9 months depending on skills and
experience.

How to apply:

Apply to this role by Filling this Form. We look forward to hearing from you!

Location: Hybrid (Bangalore/ Chennai)

About Villgro:

We are India’s foremost impact-first incubator. We believe that innovation and for-profit business models are the sustainable route to solving critical social and environmental problems in India. We help enterprises scale by financial (grants/equity/low-cost debt), subject matter expertise and help in accessing hard to reach markets.

We work with those who work in one or more of these areas –

1. Enabling green livelihoods

2. Generating value from waste

3. Reducing pressure on land and water systems

4. Improving livelihoods for small-holder farmers

5. Increasing the participation of women in the workforce

6. Improving health outcomes for women, and

7. Improving access to affordable screening and diagnostics for low-income populations i India.

Since 2001, we have worked with over 350 enterprises which have impacted over 20 million lives.

Values we hold close:

Villgro alumni have gone on to found social businesses, study at Ivy League and Indian B Schools, work or found impact funds and public policy institutes. But most importantly, they have become voices of change. We are committed to providing the same exposure and experiences to help you achieve your personal and professional goals.

An ideal candidate will resonate strongly with one or more of the following values.

● Empathetic: We walk in the shoes of our entrepreneurs and partners

● Bold: We embrace uncertainty, ambition, and believe in limitless possibilities

● Entrepreneurial: We take initiative and capitalize on opportunities

● Demonstrating Integrity: We are transparent, candid, and honest in our dealings