Job Opportunity for Vice President – Operations at Swaniti in New Delhi

About Swaniti:

Swaniti Initiative is dedicated to building sustainable communities by enhancing public service delivery at the state and local levels. Our mission involves collaboration with community leaders, policymakers, and administrators to ensure effective last-mile service delivery. Our program interventions encompass strategies such as embedding professionals at a hyperlocal level, utilizing data to identify and address challenges, and employing data for monitoring and oversight. We firmly believe that strengthening public service delivery creates a more equitable platform for vulnerable populations. Swaniti’s operations span across India, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Africa. We serve as advisors to numerous local and state governments, offering guidance in program and policy design. Our core areas of focus include energy transition, inclusive planning, and livelihood creation. We maintain a decentralized presence, with a global team of over 200 members.

About the position:

In the last five years, Swaniti has significantly expanded its geographical footprint and impact. In the coming years, we plan to further refine our model and establish well-structured monitoring systems. We are actively seeking leaders who can help us reach this level of excellence. Swaniti’s current project portfolio extends to states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, and more. As such, we are in search of senior managers with extensive experience in governance and sustainability. These individuals will collaborate with our program team to design specific interventions, operationalize them, and collaborate with the MEL team to establish performance indicators.

Preference will be given to candidates with technical knowledge in areas such as just transition and net zero, as several of Swaniti’s projects focus on these topics, and we intend to expand our global efforts in this realm. Given Swaniti’s decentralized approach and emphasis on teamwork, we are seeking professionals with exceptional experience in team management and a successful track record of ensuring accurate reporting and resolving issues. The next five years at Swaniti will be marked by continued global expansion as we seek new partners and programs. We are looking for a senior professional to join us on this exciting journey.

Roles and responsibilities:

Leadership and Execution:

• The Vice President of Operations will transform the current program outline into a concrete work plan, which can then be shared with the team.
• The Vice President of Operations will collaborate with the MEL team to develop specific program metrics and methods for the operations team to measure progress.
• The Vice President of Operations will also have the vision and skills to engage with external stakeholders by: Regularly communicating program details, Seeking their input on program structure and Organizing outreach events as needed.
• Team Management and reporting
• The Vice President of Operations should demonstrate a track record of successfully leading teams of 3-7 members, overseeing their work plans, and providing guidance.
• They will consistently monitor team performance and ensure accurate reporting.
• Collaboration with the MEL team and internal colleagues on program reporting is expected.
• The Vice President of Operations will be responsible for day-to-day team operations and serve as the team’s representative in policy review meetings at various government levels in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Stakeholders Management and Relationship Building

• The Vice President of Operations will establish and maintain effective relationships with key authorities at the state headquarters, including department secretaries, commissioners from related departments, directors, and project officers at the divisional and district levels.
• They will also proactively engage with potential partner organizations, initiating and nurturing partnerships.
• The Vice President of Operations will actively promote and participate in collaborative opportunities across different departments within Swaniti, as well as with external partners.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate should possess a substantial work history, spanning 10 to 15 years, in areas such as Government, Climate-related Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), think tanks, or foundations, as well as Academic Institutes.
• A minimum of a Master’s degree in a Climate or sustainability-related field is required.
• A proven track record of effectively managing substantial teams is essential. During the interview process, candidates should be able to provide examples of their experience in overseeing direct reports.
• Candidates should have a well-established background in program design and the ability to translate these designs into actionable work plans.
• Demonstrated experience in collaborating closely with Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) systems is crucial, including the ability to report on key performance metrics and, where relevant, to design MEL frameworks for team members.

Required Skills and Attributes:

• Program Design: Proficiency in designing effective programs and strategies.
• Operations Management: Strong skills in managing day-to-day operations and resources.
• Team Management: Proven ability to lead, guide, and motivate teams.
• Critical Thinking: Adept at evaluating complex situations and making informed decisions.
• Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills to address challenges effectively.
• Proficiency in MS Office and Basic IT Tools: Comfortable using Microsoft Office and fundamental IT tools for efficient workflow.
• Innovation: A creative mindset for developing and implementing new and efficient solutions.