Working at CEGIS

Position Summary:

As a Senior Program Associate (SPA) – Project Delivery at the Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS), you will drive end-to-end project execution, from conceptualisation and diagnostics to solution design, piloting, implementation, and scale-up. Working closely with Project Leads, you will anchor the analytical backbone of initiatives, ensuring data-driven decision-making in frontline service delivery, governance reforms, and public expenditure efficiency.

You will be responsible for conducting in-depth research, synthesising complex data, and translating insights into actionable recommendations through clear, compelling reports, presentations, and knowledge products. The role demands exceptional attention to detail, advanced analytical and research skills, and the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders. Collaboration is a crucial aspect of this role, where you will be required to coordinate across teams to ensure alignment, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver measurable impact.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Data Analysis and Insight Generation:

- Collect, validate, and analyse quantitative and qualitative data (using advanced tools such as STATA, R, excel) to diagnose problems, generate insights and track progress
- Identify data gaps, address quality issues, and present findings for decision-making.

Solution Design and Implementation:

- Support the design and rollout of competency-based L&D interventions, including competency identification, training needs assessments, and development of learning pathways for key government positions.
- Conduct independent research and root cause analyses to inform other reform pathways.
- Recommend enhancements to strategies, project approach, frameworks and targeted solutions based on the government context.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

- Build relationships with key government partners and internal teams to assess needs and ensure alignment on program design and implementation.
- Maintain a regular communication cadence with external stakeholders, prepare discussion notes, and ensure timely sharing of project updates, reports and deliverables.
- Ensure cross-functional collaboration with internal teams to gather inputs, avoid duplication, and maintain consistency across tools and communication artefacts

Project Management:

- Assist in altering project goals and outcomes based on stakeholder feedback and project progress.
- Develop and manage work plans, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.
- Identify risks, roadblocks, and strategies for the project for stakeholder buy-in.
- Produce high-quality reports and analyses for internal and external dissemination.

Documentation and Knowledge Creation & Facilitation:`

- Document and disseminate domain specific information that enables project success.
- Create original knowledge pieces like blogs, concept notes, work flows etc.
- Maintain Project based knowledge repository and contribute to other Knowledge management processes.

Education & Experience:

- 3-6 years of experience with organisations working in related fields of work i.e., research agencies, policy think-tanks, government or private sector organisations working on government advisory or consulting, preferably with a Masters degree or equivalent in public policy, social science, Human Resources or related fields from a reputable institution.
- Fluency in English and Kannada is required.

Required Competencies:

Functional Competencies

- Solution Design: Applies user-centric insights to design, test, and improve solutions
- Research and Data Analytics: Proficient in data analytics, conducting research and generating actionable insights, skilled in statistical tools like STATA, R and/or Excel,
- Project Management: Skilled in planning, task prioritisation and consistently meeting deadlines.
- Writing and Documentation: Creates high-quality reports, concept notes and presentations to convey complex ideas with clarity and structure.

Professional and Leadership Competencies

- Relationship Building: Builds trust with stakeholders and fosters collaboration and alignment through clear, consistent engagement.
- Collaborative Problem Solving: Demonstrates problem-solving skills coupled with creative thinking and risk-taking aptitude
- Ownership: Exhibits self-motivation and proactivity in managing multiple tasks, timelines, and responsibilities, ensuring accountability for high-quality results.
- Learning Orientation: Seeks feedback, reflects on gaps, and continuously works to improve effectiveness.

Remuneration:

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Pre-reads:

- Concept note on CEGIS 
- A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024 
- CEGIS Snapshot 2023-24
 
- Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India 
- You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharan's work here and through his book Accelerating India's Development: A State-Led Roadmap for India's Development

About CEGIS Foundation

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS pronounced See-Jis) aims to improve lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes. The four key characteristics of any high-performing organisation are (a) measuring outcomes through reliable, high quality data that enables goal setting and monitoring progress towards these goals; (b) strategic use of personnel competency based hiring and training, skilling, and performance appraisals to determine job assignments, pay, and promotions to achieve the goals above; (c) strategic budgeting where resource allocation is based on evidence and cost-effectiveness; (d) and creating efficient systems to leverage external actors (including for-profit and nonprofit organisations). The Indian State needs to perform better on all four fronts above, by enhancing its capacity. CEGIS partners with states to improve this capacity by focusing on these four pillars of the State.

Informed by cutting-edge research and evidence as well as a practical orientation toward implementable ideas, CEGIS works with multiple State Governments and a few Government of India entities across nutrition, health and education sectors to enable a transformative improvement in their functioning. This vision and Theory of Change (ToC) is an outcome of extensive research done by Prof. Karthik Muralidharan (CEGIS Co-Founder and Scientific Director) and strategic philanthropic support provided by Mr. Ashish Dhawan (CEGIS Co-Founder).

Prof. Karthik Muralidharan is the Tata Chancellors Professor of Economics at the University of California, San Diego. Over the past two decades, he has led extensive research projects in India across education, health, and social welfare. His book, Accelerating India's Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance, systematically analyses India's governance challenges and provides actionable, evidence-based strategies, emphasising state-level reforms as critical for India's advancement.

Ashish Dhawan is a leading Indian philanthropist and the Founder-CEO of The Convergence Foundation (TCF). He is also the Founding Chairperson of Ashoka University and the Central Square Foundation, and is a governing board member of the Gates Foundation. Before his second career as a philanthropist, Ashish was among India's most successful private equity investors.

Funding Partners

TCF-https://theconvergencefoundation.org

NATCO- https://www.natcopharma.co.in/

Veddis Foundation- https://veddis.org/

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation- https://www.gatesfoundation.org/

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation- https://www.dell.org/

CEGIS is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.

Overview:

Within CEGIS, the Outcome Measurement (OM) teams role is to support the institutionalisation of data-driven decision-making by setting up the required infrastructure and technical capacity with the Planning department and relevant line departments in the state. The Program Managers (OM) will play a crucial role in executing this vision in the state, working closely with both the OM technical team and the State team.

Position Summary:

As a Senior Program Manager (SPM) in OM, you will lead and manage complex digital data collection operations, collaborating closely with senior academics and government stakeholders to customize research design and protocols to local contexts. Your role will encompass ensuring adherence to stringent data quality protocols and overseeing the development of high-quality outputs summarizing project progress, data analyses, and research findings for dissemination at various forums.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Data Analysis Oversight:

• Evaluate and review pre-analysis plans to ensure comprehensive and precise data analysis procedures.
• Regularly check progress on data analysis and provide necessary inputs for improvement.

Research and Data Management:

• Oversee accuracy and validity of data collected to inform decision making
• Enhance accuracy, validity, and completeness of collected research and data.
• Develop protocols and guidelines for managing data quality, access, verification, and validation.

Solution Design and Technical Expertise:

• Contribute technical and operational insights to solution design.
• Ensure adherence to best practices and established protocols.
• Provide expertise for new or pilot projects during the diagnosis and solution design process.
• Guides interpretation and meaning making

Project Management:

• Align project activities with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
• Oversees comprehensive project management, spanning from conceptualization and resource allocation to briefing and execution.
• Manage project outputs and ensure successful completion.
• Support budgeting process for interventions.
• Ensure quality and technical integrity of project outputs.
• Oversee technical evaluations and quality control processes to align to ToC
• Prepare and pitch proposals to donors and stakeholders.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with external stakeholders.
• Synthesize stakeholders' feedback to develop strategic communication strategies.
• Shapes stakeholder perceptions through engagement and relationship building
• Fosters internal alignment to meet project priorities and Organisational goals

Knowledge Product Development:

• Collaborates with team members to develop impactful knowledge products, such as policy notes, analysis reports, and frameworks and contributes to knowledge sharing.
• Transform insights and findings into actionable knowledge products.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration

Qualifications and Attributes:

• 8 to 12 years of progressive work experience, including field research, managing evaluations, and quantitative analysis and team.
• Masters or advanced degree in economics, statistics, public policy, engineering, or related fields from a prestigious institution.
• Proficiency in quantitative data management and analysis using STATA, R, or Python programming.
• Strong research aptitude to analyze complex data and formulate innovative solutions.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, adept at setting priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Deep passion for enhancing the effectiveness of Indian States, with an operating style conducive to autonomy and adaptability.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs consistently.
• A creative mindset and willingness to experiment with new ideas.
• Exceptional collaboration and active listening skills, fostering an inclusive environment.
• Adaptability to transition between projects and sectors, demonstrating versatility and agility.
• Superior problem-solving, strategic thinking, and research acumen for analyzing complex data.
• Excellent proficiency in English, with exceptional writing and communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.
• Advanced planning and organizational skills, including effective team management and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Unwavering dedication to improving Indian states, in line with organizational goals.
• Operating style characterized by autonomy, adaptability, and resourcefulness under pressure.
• Proven ability to consistently deliver high-quality results and innovate new initiatives.
• Adaptability to embrace diverse projects and rapidly integrate into new sectors.

Location and Compensation

Location: The role can be based out of Delhi/ Hyderabad/ Bangalore/ Chennai. Travel to other states may be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads for the application process:

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

• Concept note on CEGIS
• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024
• CEGIS Snapshot 2023-24
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India.
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here and through his book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development.

Overview:

Within CEGIS, the Outcome Measurement (OM) teams role is to support the institutionalisation of data-driven decision-making by setting up the required infrastructure and technical capacity with the Planning department and relevant line departments in the state. The Program Managers (OM) will play a crucial role in executing this vision in the state, working closely with both the OM technical team and the State team.

Position Summary:

As a Senior Program Manager (SPM) in OM, you will lead and manage complex digital data collection operations, collaborating closely with senior academics and government stakeholders to customize research design and protocols to local contexts. Your role will encompass ensuring adherence to stringent data quality protocols and overseeing the development of high-quality outputs summarizing project progress, data analyses, and research findings for dissemination at various forums.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Data Analysis Oversight:

• Evaluate and review pre-analysis plans to ensure comprehensive and precise data analysis procedures.
• Regularly check progress on data analysis and provide necessary inputs for improvement.

Research and Data Management:

• Oversee accuracy and validity of data collected to inform decision making
• Enhance accuracy, validity, and completeness of collected research and data.
• Develop protocols and guidelines for managing data quality, access, verification, and validation.

Solution Design and Technical Expertise:

• Contribute technical and operational insights to solution design.
• Ensure adherence to best practices and established protocols.
• Provide expertise for new or pilot projects during the diagnosis and solution design process.
• Guides interpretation and meaning making

Project Management:

• Align project activities with Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
• Oversees comprehensive project management, spanning from conceptualization and resource allocation to briefing and execution.
• Manage project outputs and ensure successful completion.
• Support budgeting process for interventions.
• Ensure quality and technical integrity of project outputs.
• Oversee technical evaluations and quality control processes to align to ToC
• Prepare and pitch proposals to donors and stakeholders.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with external stakeholders.
• Synthesize stakeholders' feedback to develop strategic communication strategies.
• Shapes stakeholder perceptions through engagement and relationship building
• Fosters internal alignment to meet project priorities and Organisational goals

Knowledge Product Development:

• Collaborates with team members to develop impactful knowledge products, such as policy notes, analysis reports, and frameworks and contributes to knowledge sharing.
• Transform insights and findings into actionable knowledge products.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration

Qualifications and Attributes:

• 8 to 12 years of progressive work experience, including field research, managing evaluations, and quantitative analysis and team.
• Masters or advanced degree in economics, statistics, public policy, engineering, or related fields from a prestigious institution.
• Proficiency in quantitative data management and analysis using STATA, R, or Python programming.
• Strong research aptitude to analyze complex data and formulate innovative solutions.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, adept at setting priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Deep passion for enhancing the effectiveness of Indian States, with an operating style conducive to autonomy and adaptability.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs consistently.
• A creative mindset and willingness to experiment with new ideas.
• Exceptional collaboration and active listening skills, fostering an inclusive environment.
• Adaptability to transition between projects and sectors, demonstrating versatility and agility.
• Superior problem-solving, strategic thinking, and research acumen for analyzing complex data.
• Excellent proficiency in English, with exceptional writing and communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.
• Advanced planning and organizational skills, including effective team management and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Unwavering dedication to improving Indian states, in line with organizational goals.
• Operating style characterized by autonomy, adaptability, and resourcefulness under pressure.
• Proven ability to consistently deliver high-quality results and innovate new initiatives.
• Adaptability to embrace diverse projects and rapidly integrate into new sectors.

Location and Compensation

Location: The role can be based out Hyderabad. Travel to other states may be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads for the application process:

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

• Concept note on CEGIS
• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024
• CEGIS Snapshot 2023-24
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India.
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here and through his book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development.

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Program Manager for Communications. This role is responsible for all of CEGIS content produced for governments, donors, potential employees, current employees, partners and alumni. The role is responsible for both content refinement (with the core content and messages coming from the solutions teams ) and deployment using owned and earned media channels. Currently reporting to the Head of External Engagements , the role is part of the larger Central Leadership team which looks to shape the brands positioning and provide the crucial fuel to the state delivery teams, solutions teams as well as donor management and fundraising teams. The role serves as a strategic partner to People and Culture and the Senior Leadership Team including the CEO.

Key Responsibilities

Owning the narrative and key messaging strategy

• Develop strategic narratives that communicate our value proposition clearly to governments (at multiple levels) , donors, partners, and other key external/ internal audiences.
• Create relatable messaging that links to CEGIS goals and drives necessary action from key audience groups - government, donors (international and domestic) , partners , current and potential employees
• Building and maintaining communications centric relationships with key advocates - donors, partners, board members and others who can serve as powerful voices for CEGIS and its narrative and goals

Management of earned and owned media

• Lead a team that manages current social media channels (Linkedin, Instagram, X ) and website
• Work with the solutions, states and other internal teams to finetune and develop all content - text, visual and video based in a cohesive and cost effective manner, with adherence to brand guidelines and which further the org goals.
• Owner of the annual report and all other standard and existing publications including newsletters targeted at specific audiences (Existing employees, alumni and the the overall ecosystem)

Using communications as a key driver to build the governance ecosystem

• Drive existing properties like Governance Dialogues- the ecosystem building webinars around key themes that CEGIS works on in accordance with the organisation strategy. Understand topical contexts and relevance , identify communications opportunities and work with the solutions and state teams to deliver basis these opportunities.
• Showcase stories of excellent work done by the bureaucracy and the governance machinery in driving systematic impact ( CEGIS womens day videos, CEGIS in conversation with Dr Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MOSPI)

Partner -Centric Engagement

• Leverage CEGIS network of partners to explore joint communications - from publishing to events to social media campaigns
• Drive cohesive communications based partnerships with other TCF (Convergence Foundation ) organisations that amplify the message of state capacity enhancement
• Own editorial relationships with mainline and specialist publications as well as key institutions and organisations for ecosystem events and convenings

Design process excellence and visual storytelling

• Select,maintain and continually evaluate the work of external vendors and agencies to deliver content for CEGIS
• Supervise (along with the team), deliver QC and look at better visual ways of telling our story
• Evolve and adapt brand guidelines basis ecosystem trends , ensure broadbased adoption of these guidelines across all touchpoints

Team development

• Recruit , train and manage a team of communications resources basis evolving requirements
• Allocate projects, evaluate and manage career development for the team

Key Working Relationships

Internal

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Collaborate closely for strategic direction, key decision-making, and alignment of communications priorities with the organizations overall mission and vision.
• Co-founder and Scientific Director: Partner to ensure that the organizations communication outputs reflect research accuracy, integrity, and scientific rigor.
• Senior Management Team: Work in coordination with the Chief of Solutions, Head of State Engagements, and other senior leaders to develop and disseminate impactful narratives around institutional initiatives and outcomes.
• State and Vertical Leads: Liaise regularly to capture on-ground insights, success stories, and implementation progress for amplification across platforms.
• Knowledge Creation and Management (KCM) Team: Collaborate to translate technical and analytical outputs into accessible knowledge products for diverse audiences.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Team: Engage to communicate evidence-based outcomes and demonstrate the organizations impact through data-driven storytelling.

External

• TCF Communications Teams (and partner organizations): Coordinate messaging, branding, and outreach to ensure alignment and coherence across all communication channels.
• Vendors and Agencies: Manage relationships with creative, media, and PR partners for the design, production, and dissemination of high-quality communication materials.
• Key Publications and Media Outlets: Build and sustain relationships with sectoral and mainstream media to drive visibility and coverage of CEGISs work.
• Sectoral and Policy Organisations: Engage with organizations and platforms that influence public discourse and policy to enhance CEGISs salience and thought leadership.
• Partners and Collaborators: Work with institutional partners, funders, and other stakeholders to ensure consistent representation of CEGISs vision, impact, and strategic priorities.

What We're Looking For

• At least 10 years of experience in the social impact space in a comms / partnerships role out of which at least 4 years in a think tank / org working with the government
• Must have handled some degree of donor comms and communications related partnerships
• Being a designer is an advantage but not a mandate, however an eye for design and ability to deliver top quality content is a must
• Proven ability to work on narrative development and contextualised story telling , recognising the importance of carefully curated and tailored stories.
• Dynamic self starter who can juggle multiple responsibilities and often shifting priorities.
• Excellent communicator and team player

Location and Compensation

Location: The role can be based out of Delhi/ Hyderabad/ Bangalore/ Chennai. Travel to other states may be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads for the application process

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

• Concept note on CEGIS
• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024
• CEGIS Snapshot 2023-24
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India.
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here and through his book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development.

Overview:

Within CEGIS, the Public Revenue/Taxation/Public Finance teams role is to support institutionalisation of data driven decision making by setting up the required infrastructure and technical capacity with the relevant line departments. High quality data and insights generated are expected to aid the State in goal setting, progress monitoring and strategic decision making. In addition, as a sectoral workstream, specific objectives are furthered by testing and institutionalising interventions in the form of Micro RCTs with the larger goal of improving tax compliance and augmenting revenues.

Our projects can be of a wide variety and involve elements of research and analytics, advocacy, policy implementation and evaluation, and active support to line departments in reforms adoption. A large part of the work is by its very nature quantitative.

Specifically, this will, among other things, entail:

• Conducting detailed budgetary analysis at different levels of government
• Conducting situational analysis on a variety of economic sectors and subjects
• Conducting forensic analysis to identify anomalous patterns in taxpayer behaviour
• Mapping government budgeting and administrative processes and identify efficiency enhancing solutions
• Conduct financial impact assessment in terms of cost-effectiveness and rates of returns.
• Design and implement micro RCTs on live policy interventions

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager oversees data management, analysis, project management, stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and knowledge sharing within Strategic Public Finance projects. They ensure meticulous data handling, drive insightful analysis, engage with stakeholders, mentor team members, and foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The Senior Manager plays a central role in driving project success and advancing organizational objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Data Management and Analysis:

• Facilitates access to administrative data from relevant government line departments, reviews them using a prescribed template, and conducts analysis as required.
• Ensures strict compliance with data quality protocols, including auditing enumerators, supervising data collection, and performing data quality audits.
• Manages all primary, secondary, and administrative data by strictly following data management and security protocols and creating standardization of protocols for projects.

Analysis and Interpretation:

• Conducts independent analysis and interpretation of information, translating data into actionable insights.
• Oversees detailed budgetary analysis at different levels of government and situational analysis on a variety of economic sectors and subjects.
• Oversees forensic analysis to identify anomalous patterns in taxpayer behavior and assesses financial impacts, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and return rates.
• Designs & executes micro RCTs to facilitate real-time policy interventions.
• Monitors global best practices and research, aiding the team in adapting these methodologies.

Project Management:

• Directs the launch and conceptualization of projects aligning with SPF primary objectives.
• Oversees comprehensive project management, spanning from conceptualization and resource allocation to briefing and execution.
• Manages the team's research efforts by delegating tasks, reviewing outputs, and ensuring the quality and rigor of outputs.
• Provides technical inputs and guidance to project/state teams, ensuring high-quality outputs that contribute to project progress and the organisation's knowledge base.
• Oversees project resourcing and allocates resources effectively to maximize project outcomes.
• Collaborates with team members to develop impactful knowledge products, such as policy notes, analysis reports, and frameworks and contributes to knowledge sharing.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Oversees the interpreting and presenting of data effectively, helping to convey meaningful insights to internal and external stakeholders.
• Leads the preparation and pitching of proposals and decks to donors and new states/departments.
• Synthesizes stakeholders' feedback to develop strategic communication strategies.
• Creates presentations, reports, and dashboards for diverse stakeholders.

• Engages with state teams and government stakeholders to pitch ideas, present concepts, and advocate for impactful initiatives.
• Develops and nurtures relationships with public officials, government departments, and other stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and support for SPF projects.

Knowledge Management

• Identifies internal and external knowledge sources and shares best practices.
• Plans and executes initiatives related to knowledge sharing and partnerships.

Education and Experience:

• Masters or advanced degree, such as a PhD or equivalent, in economics, statistics, public policy, engineering, social science, or related fields from a prestigious institution.
• 8 to 12 years of progressive work experience, including extensive research, advanced quantitative analysis, client management (especially with government entities), and substantial managerial experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative data management and analysis, utilizing advanced tools such as STATA, R, or Python programming extensively.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional problem-solving and strategic thinking abilities, with a track record of formulating innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Proficiency in English with outstanding writing and communication skills, capable of effectively conveying intricate concepts to diverse audiences both within and outside the organization. Knowledge of the local language(s) is highly desirable.
• Proven capacity to cultivate and manage high-level relationships with partner organizations, particularly with extensive experience collaborating with Indian state governments.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, adept at setting priorities, establishing timelines, and consistently meeting deadlines in dynamic environments.
• Deep commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of Indian states, coupled with a firm alignment with the organization's theory of change and impact.
• Operating style conducive to autonomy and adaptability within a small-organization context, where teamwork and resourcefulness are paramount.
• Ability to thrive under pressure, managing competing priorities while upholding meticulous attention to detail and delivering exceptional outcomes consistently.
• Willingness to innovate and take calculated risks, translating ideas into actionable strategies to drive organizational objectives forward.
• Exceptional collaboration and active listening skills, demonstrating an ability to understand and respect diverse perspectives.
• Flexibility to seamlessly transition between various projects and swiftly immerse oneself in new sectors.
• Proficiency in at least one of the following areas: taxation, public finance management systems, or budgeting. Familiarity with experimental and non-experimental research methods is highly advantageous.

Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities:

• Superior problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities, coupled with a robust research acumen for analyzing intricate quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent proficiency in English, complemented by exceptional writing and communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.
• Advanced planning and organizational skills, combined with the ability to effectively manage teams from diverse backgrounds, including close collaboration with government stakeholders to ensure seamless project execution.
• Unwavering dedication to improving the efficacy of Indian states, aligned closely with the organization's theory of change.
• Operating style characterized by autonomy, adaptability, and a strong sense of resourcefulness.
• Proven ability to thrive under pressure, maintaining meticulous attention to detail while consistently delivering high-quality results.
• A penchant for innovation and a willingness to explore new ideas, translating them into actionable initiatives.
• Exceptional collaborative skills, with a keen emphasis on active listening and valuing diverse perspectives.
• Adaptability to embrace diverse projects and rapidly integrate into new sectors.

Location and Compensation

Location: The role will be based out of Bhubaneswar. Travel to other states may be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads for the application process

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

• Concept note on CEGIS
• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024
• CEGIS Snapshot 2023-24
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India.
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here and through his book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development.

About Human Resource Unit (HRU)
CEGIS intends to collaborate with the Government of Odisha in establishing a Human Resource Unit (HRU).

The HRU shall function as a dedicated think tank to enhance and strengthen HR practices across the state government. Its primary mandate shall be to drive comprehensive and integrated HR management within the state, focusing on recruitment, learning and development, and performance management systems. The HRU shall provide strategic direction and support to HR teams or Capacity Building Units (CBUs) across various line departments and ensure their alignment with state and national priorities, fostering a well-rounded HR ecosystem within the state government.

HRU will be responsible for institutionalising the strategic work done by CEGIS in pioneering a competency-driven approach to Capacity Building. By prioritising competencies, CEGIS aims to bring clarity to the work done by officials and empower them to achieve better results. This translates to a shift in accountability from simply following processes to delivering tangible outcomes.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Program Manager (SPM) who can anchor the design, rollout, and institutionalisation of Learning & Development (L&D) and Performance Management System (PMS) solutions within the HRU. This role is critical in translating the HRUs strategic intent into operational programs, piloting and scaling solutions across departments, and supporting their alignment with Mission Karmayogi and the mandates of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC).

In addition to leading technical interventions in L&D and PMS, the SPM will support the HRUs broader mandate by playing a key advocacy and coordination role with department heads, CBUs, and training institutes, fostering buy-in and driving implementation on the ground.

The ideal candidate will understand competency as a concept and its wide application in the Human Resource Ecosystem. The candidate must also possess deep knowledge and understanding of how technology can be used in strengthening government systems. The candidate is expected to have a proven track record of using principles of systems thinking, stakeholder management and change management and is driven by a passion for creating meaningful impact in the capacity building of the state.

Roles and Responsibilities

Institutionalisation of competency-based HR Management (L&D and PMS)

• Oversee the design and rollout of competency-based frameworks for learning & development, and performance management across departments in alignment with Mission Karmayogi
• Identify and address gaps in personnel capability, performance culture, digital infrastructure, and resource utilisation across departments.
• Drive the integration of PMS with learning and career progression to reinforce a culture of accountability and development
• Develop and operationalise tools such as Annual Capacity Building Plans (ACBPs), performance frameworks, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and digital dashboards that integrate with platforms like the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT)-Karmayogi platform and electronic Human Resource Management System (eHRMS)
• Liaison and management of relationships with Technology partners, administrative and state training institutes, learning content developers, etc, to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions.

Enabling CBU Functioning

• Support the formation and operationalisation of CBUs in line departments in line with CBC mandates and Mission Karmayogi guidelines.
• Build CBUs capacity to carry out competency-based HR functions, such as creating job descriptions, issuing work allocation orders, building ACBPs and integrating performance management systems
• Leverage data from personnel diagnostics and HR analytics platforms to enable CBUs to design tailored HR interventions and track progress.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and cross-learning between CBUs through workshops, learning sessions, and collaborative forums.

Project and Stakeholder Management

• Act as the key liaison between the HRU, line departments, central institutions such as CBC and SPV: Karmayogi Bharat, and external partners.
• Contribute to strategic planning on the implementation of L&D and PMS solutions with HRU leadership and CEGIS to maintain program coherence and drive long-term impact.
• Drives project planning, efficient resource allocation, goal tracking, risk identification and mitigation for seamless project execution
• Manage and mentor a team of managers (s) and associates (s) to deliver time-bound, defined outputs and outcomes in alignment with the projects goals
• Lead advocacy efforts with senior bureaucratic and political leadership to build consensus and institutionalise customised HR reforms in the state context
• Build internal consensus and ownership through regular presentations, briefs, and review meetings with departments.

Knowledge and Change Management

• Lead the documentation of implementation journeys, challenges, and good practices across departments.
• Translate data insights and implementation experiences into compelling narratives to develop knowledge products (e.g., playbooks, policy briefs) and support scale-up
• Identify context-relevant, high-impact use cases in HR reform, learning, and performance management and inform the strengthening of solutions
• Think ahead with the leadership team to plan and prioritise the various activities and constantly link them to the broader goals of the program and organisation.

Education and Experience

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, Public Policy, Social Work or a related field.
• 8 to 12 years of experience in a high-performing environment, focusing on human resource management, performance management or project management, preferably within the Indian government ecosystem
• Prior Experience of working on complex multi-stakeholder projects, especially with governments, donors, and research organisations

Note

• The role will be based in Bhubaneswar.
• Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales, depending on the candidates experience levels.

CEGIS is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, or national or ethnic origin.

Pre-reads for the application process

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application.

• CEGIS website
• CLOP Initiative website
• Karmayogi Bharat website
• Concept note on CEGIS
• Chapter 5 of Accelerating India's Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Effective Governance by Prof. Karthik Muralidharan
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here.

Position Summary

As the State Lead for Telangana, you will lead and drive the CEGIS engagement in the state. This will involve directly or indirectly managing all ongoing projects in the state while working with senior Government officials to develop a pipeline of future projects. In doing this, you will interact regularly with senior government officials, researchers and other organizations working in the space. You will be required to build an in-depth understanding of the states major policy developments and priorities.

This role directly reports to the Head of State engagements (South), who comes with substantial experience in government and a proven ability to deliver systemic reform/ programs at scale. You will also be expected to work closely with the founder and Scientific Director (Prof. Karthik Muralidharan) to understand the intellectual vision behind proposed reforms and drive the implementation of the reforms across sectors in Telangana. Finally, you will be expected to work closely with the Vertical Heads and Chief executive officer to support capacity building and organizational development.

Role and Responsibilities

• Drive CEGISs reform initiatives in Telangana with a strong execution focus. This will involve collaborating with CEGISs functional and sectoral teams (i.e. Outcome Measurement and Nutrition etc.) and drawing on your own knowledge to shape outcomes and create impact at scale.
• Develop relationships with key officials in Telangana and establish mechanisms for review and institutionalisation of reforms.
• Source, embed and provide oversight to other key strategic partners for the State. While CEGIS has a small team in Telangana, the extended network team includes government resources in the form of seconded personnel, Fellows available via a GoTS sponsored fellowship program and external partners. As State Lead, you would work with senior state officials to select, embed and ensure alignment and delivery from all the partners under this reform umbrella.
• Create a culture of impact and enable team building through collaboration and transparency. CEGIS is a young organization. As a startup with a unique goal, managing talent that is energized by contributing to demonstrable impact requires building a culture that is collaborative, inclusive and prioritizes rigour. As State Lead, you will help shape our choices about what we do and how we do it.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• Masters degree or equivalent in relevant fields, including management, economics or public policy from a top global program
• 10 to 15 years of work experience with managerial responsibilities, demonstrating entrepreneurship, superb project delivery and team leadership
• Prior exposure to working very closely with senior bureaucrats and designing/implementing large-scale projects is highly desirable
• Strong interest in improving the functioning of the government combined with interest/experience in using research and evidence to improve policy
• Excellent problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, ability to analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data, craft possible solutions and recommend actions
• Excellent writing and communication skills (ability to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way and across different audiences) in both English and Telugu Ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships both within and outside the organization
• Ability to set goals and metrics for a team, and manage the team towards delivering those goals
• Strong planning and organizationalskills, and an ability to be able to set priorities, plan timelines and meet deadlines.

Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities

• Ability to align multiple stakeholders and build platforms for collaboration and coordination
• Passion for working with governments and making Indian states work better Public-spirited and generous temperament
• Ability to think creatively, willing to take risks to experiment with new ideas and the ability to turn ideas into action
• Excellent people management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate teams working out of different locations in India towards a common goal
• High ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understanding and valuing others views
• Intellectual curiosity and ability/willingness to constantly learn
• Operating style suited to working independently and in a small-organization setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued

Location and Compensation

Location: The role will be based out of Hyderabad. Travel to other states may be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads for the application process

Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:

• Concept note on CEGIS
• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024
• CEGIS Snapshot 2023-24
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan one each on education and healthcare in India.
• You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here and through his book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development.

About CEGIS

Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS – pronounced See-Jis) aims to improve lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes. We believe that well-functioning governments share at least four features with high-performing organisations: (a) measuring outcomes through reliable, high quality data that enables goal setting and monitoring progress towards these goals; (b) strategic use of personnel – competency based hiring and training, skilling, and performance appraisals to determine job assignments, pay, and promotions – to achieve the goals above; (c) strategic budgeting where resource allocation is based on evidence and cost-effectiveness; (d) and creating efficient systems to leverage external actors (including for-profit and nonprofit organisations). At CEGIS, we support the state governments to build these foundations so that they can deliver development outcomes more effectively.

CEGIS works closely with the political and bureaucratic leadership in the states to achieve transformational change. We are currently present in 9 states - Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh. We also partner with union agencies/ministries such as Capacity Building Commission, Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to provide technical support for strengthening foundational systems and reflect insights from CEGISs work at the state-level into national level initiatives and guidelines. We also collaborate closely with academics and research institutions to ensure our work is grounded in rigorous research and evidence-based practices.

CEGIS Approach and Model of Functioning

Our solutions to enhance governance are co-created with state governments in a state-led way, where we focus on deep partnerships with states with an iterative cycle of think-demonstrate-document-transfer. We work closely with the top bureaucratic leadership, front-line workers and public officials in Finance, Planning, Human Resources and a few other priority line departments. Many of our solutions reflect ideas outlined in our founder Prof. Karthik Muralidharan's book (Accelerating India's Development), and these solutions are constantly being refined based on real-time feedback and are designed to both be customized to the contexts we are working in, and to create templates that can provide the starting point for replication across contexts.

To further explore the mission of CEGIS and the impact we hope to have, please take a look at this video of our CEO, Dr Vijay Pingale.

About the projects in Maharashtra
CEGIS works closely with the Government of Maharashtra to support improvements in governance and service delivery across priority social-sector outcomes. The State Lead will anchor this partnership, working with senior government stakeholders to strengthen data-informed decision-making and execution across key departments. CEGIS supports the state across core social-sector priorities—including health, nutrition, education, and gender—by identifying underperforming geographies, diagnosing root causes through administrative data and field insights, and co-developing actionable, department-ready solutions.

Position Summary

As the State Lead, you will lead and drive the CEGIS engagement in the state of Maharashtra. This will be through a combination of directly leading some projects, and providing support strategic oversight to others, while having an overall picture of the portfolio of projects in the State. You will be ultimately responsible for the success of CEGIS-driven reforms and must ensure seamless team management and coordination with government and external partners. You will interact with senior government officials, researchers, agencies and have a macro-overview of the entire State and will be required to build an in-depth understanding of the states major policy developments and priorities. Over time, you will be expected to achieve a high level of trust and efficacy, and be able to function as an effective advisor to the State Government.

This role directly reports to the Chief Executive Officer, and also works closely with other State / function-heads on solution design, organization building, collaboration with external partners, donor stewardship, etc. You would also work time-to-time with the Chief of Solutions and with the Co-founder and Scientific Director (Prof. Karthik Muralidharan) to understand the intellectual vision behind the proposed reforms and drive the implementation of the reforms across sectors, as well as vertical leads and external partners.

Roles & Responsibilities

Drive the governance reform initiatives with a strong execution focusSolution Leadership and Design

• Provide overall leadership to execute the strategy for the state, collaborate with the vertical and support teams to embed and scale impactful solutions and provide thought leadership to shape the outcomes where you have sectoral expertise.
• Be a force multiplier across CEGIS: Partner with other CEGIS verticals and embed State inputs into solution design (ex-ante), implementation (in-flight), and institutionalization (ex-post), aligning with state capacity building and government processes.

Develop relationships with the key officials of the State and set-up mechanisms for review and institutionalization of reforms

• Pitch CEGIS offerings to State level Stakeholders and influence decision making
• Identify and devise strategies to capitalize on new opportunities within the state.
• Build and maintain relationships with local organizations and stakeholders
• Create opportunities for Project Managers and team members to interact with the principal external stakeholders to create ongoing engagement
• As a State Lead, work with senior State officials to select, embed, and ensure alignment and delivery from extended network team including Fellows, seconded staff from government and all relevant partners under this reform umbrella.

Manage Partnerships and Relations

• Institutionalize Partnerships, funding and other advisory support possible in the region in support of program objectives
• Identify and influence operational partnerships and be the point of contact to maintain the relationships in the region, be it funding partnerships or operational agreements
• Cultivate relationships and networks with prospective donors and industry experts, sectoral influencers, HNIs, other non-profits & eco-system players through engaging and meaningful communication.
• Participate in external events, workshops, and conferences to advocate for CEGIS mission and establish new partnership, thereby advocating CEGIS work internally and externally.

Ensure Oversight to Project Portfolio and management

• Lead in presenting to CEGIS' Investment Committee (Apex Committee) to commence projects, drawing from client interactions and insights, collaboration and effective communication among teams within the office.
• Provide feedback to ensure that the project portfolio aligns with CEGIS' Theory of Change, ensuring effective delivery that fulfills both client and CEGIS requirements
• Participate, as required, and help the teams scope and build the solution proposal, ensuring a balance of rigor, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness, aligned to CEGIS ToC.
• Provide strategic direction to apply technical solutions in innovative ways to address complex departmental / state level requirements.
• Provide strategic insights into project structure, approach, methodologies, deliverables, and timelines, leveraging support from subject matter experts when necessary.
• Address and resolve project-related issues, including delays, data requirements, scope changes, administrative and logistical matters, staffing, and more, with both external and internal stakeholders.
• Review Project OKRs with the Project Leads and presentation of progress to the Management and donors.
• Create a culture of impact and enable team building through collaboration and transparency

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Mitigate risks associated with client engagements and internal operations.
• Act decisively in response to crises or unforeseen challenges affecting the office's operations.
• Local Vendor agreements and payments

Required Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

Educational Qualification

• Masters degree or equivalent in relevant fields, including management, economics or public policy – from a top global program. A PhD in a relevant discipline is an advantage but not mandatory.

Professional Experience

• 13–15 years of work experience with managerial responsibilities, demonstrating entrepreneurship, superb project delivery and team leadership
• Prior exposure to working very closely with senior bureaucrats and designing/implementing large-scale projects is highly desirable
• Strong interest in improving the functioning of the government combined with interest/experience in using research and evidence to improve policy
• Excellent problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, ability to analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data, craft possible solutions and recommend actions
• Excellent writing and communication skills (ability to communicate complex ideas in a meaningful way and across different audiences) in both English and local language(pref)
• Ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships both within and outside the organization
• Ability to set goals and metrics for a team, and manage the team towards delivering those goals
• Strong planning and organizational skills, and an ability to be able to set priorities, plan timelines and meet deadlines.

Personal characteristics & Interpersonal abilities

• Ability to align multiple stakeholders and build platforms for collaboration and coordination
• Passion for working with governments and making Indian states work better
• Ability to think creatively, willing to take risks to experiment with new ideas and the ability to turn ideas into action
• Excellent people management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate teams
• High ability to collaborate and actively listen to others, understanding and valuing others views
• Intellectual curiosity and ability/willingness to constantly learn
• Operating style suited to working independently and in a small-organization setting, where teamwork and resourcefulness are highly valued
• Demonstrated relationship-building ability and management of high-level relationships with partner organizations, ideally based on experience of working with Indian state governments

Location and Compensation

Location: The role will be based out of Mumbai. Travel to other states will be required.

Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidate's experience levels.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their applications by clicking the apply button below

Note: CEGIS has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. We therefore expect each applicant to self-declare related to the same. CEGIS could, if required, initiate a prevention of sexual harassment-based background verification. If an applicant is reported for misconduct, appropriate action that may include employment termination would be taken. Please complete the details for self-declaration on the application form.

Pre-reads

• CEGIS Overview
• A glimpse into life at CEGIS - CEGIS Retreat 2024
• Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan – on education , healthcare , federalism and state capacity, and bureaucracy in India.
• You are also highly encouraged to read Prof. Karthik Muralidharans book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development that informs much of CEGISs work and theory of change (especially Chapters 1, 4-6, 10-12, and 15-16)