Director, India Regional Operations

Location: Delhi

About IDinsight

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide.

IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organization that helps global development leaders maximize their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools, including randomized evaluations and machine learning, to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, and innovative non-profit organizations in Asia and India. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support clients’ use of data and evidence for routine and major decision-making.
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches.
• Create and share tools, knowledge, and ideas that expand the use of data and evidence for social good.

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operate in nearly two dozen countries around the world.  Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.

About the role

The India Regional Operations Director will lead all aspects of the IDinsight India’s operations, and ensure that it is run like a world-class organization. Being a great place to work is one of our main goals in our overall org strategy, and this role is, therefore, very important to ensuring IDinight’s success as an organization. They will report to the India Regional Director, and collaborate closely with IDinsight’s Global Operations team. IDinsight seeks a self-starter who will be able to independently manage a wide range of autonomous work streams, and who is looking for a role that emphasizes execution, inspiring leadership, and people management. The India Regional Operations Director will manage a team of multiple full-time operations and administrative staff (potentially hiring more people to the team as needs arise), as well as working closely with IDinsight client-facing staff who will dedicate a portion of their time to organization building. 

Responsibilities

• Ensure IDinsight India has best-in-class systems and policies in place, building on Global Operations’ platforms - As IDinsight grows, we want to stay lean and nimble while also ensuring that information is shared across the offices and staff have the tools they need to do their jobs. The India Regional Operations Director will collect feedback from staff on where their current systems and policies are falling short, adapt their systems or design new ones, coordinate the roll-out of these new systems and policies, and ensure adherence. They will have a high degree of latitude and autonomy to create systems and policies uniquely suited to the Indian context. These systems may be in support of IDinsight’s client-facing social impact work, including project management, knowledge management, client development, or internal goal-tracking systems. They may also be people-related, including performance management, staffing, benefits, safety and security, and various policies.
• Recruit and train excellent employees - The India Regional Operations Director will oversee India-specific recruiting events and candidate screening, work with India leadership to set hiring goals, and write/review JDs for new roles. Some elements of the recruiting process, such as interviewing, are managed centrally and this person will coordinate with the Global Operations team on high-level talent strategies. The India Regional Operations Director will oversee other Operations staff in running a comprehensive onboarding for new employees, as well as ongoing training investments. 
• Oversee project staffing across IDinsight India - The India Regional Operations Director will act as a bridge between the operations team and the client-facing teams. They will be responsible for managing project staffing across the India office, ensuring that project teams have the right personnel to maximise the social impact of their projects, and that teammates enjoy the work they do at IDinsight.
• Lead the India Regional Operations/Admin team - This is a leadership role, where in addition to working on the team health of the entire India office, the India Regional Operations Director in particular is responsible for the leadership of the India Regional Operations team and the India Administrative team. The India Regional Operations Director will devise a strong plan to ensure all workstreams including compliance are adequately covered by the team, and that teammates are motivated and have opportunities to develop their skills. 
• Oversee all other People Ops’ related issues - The team will oversee other related issues like immigration, people-related compliance, safety and security, team connectivity, etc.
• Solve problems as they come up - As IDinsight is growing rapidly, various logistical or people-related issues may arise. The India Regional Operations Director will be the go-to person for the region for problem-solving. They are expected to understand the issue holistically, exercise judgment and tact, and develop and execute a clear action-plan. When required, he/she will escalate issues to other senior leadership members for consultation, and provide recommendations on a course of action.
• Exemplify IDinsight’s mission and values - Ensuring a strong alignment between incoming Directors and IDinsight’s values is an important priority for us. Directors are the face of IDinsight both externally and internally and will be expected to always and unambiguously exemplify their mission and values. These include prioritizing social impact, and modeling honesty, humility, and inclusivity in their leadership approach.

Does this sound like you?

• 10+ years of work experience and proven track record of results and commitment to excellent and quality output (preferably in a high growth environment) with a GSD (get stuff done) approach
• Experience working in people operations, business operations and strategy in a leadership role.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate high performing and geographically dispersed teams in a dynamic, multicultural environment with strong leadership skills to influence them toward achieving business goals.
• Strong experience in systemization of processes and the ability to not only leverage but also analyze, interpret and present data in a detailed & structured manner.
• Ability to conceive, execute, and lead strategic initiatives, but also high attention to detail and willingness to get his/her hands dirty on the nuts and bolts of running an organization.
• Ability to navigate people and policy decisions with nuance and discretion.
• Passion for improving lives through evidence-informed policy.
• Experience in a well-run global organization. Familiarity with the latest research (in behavioral economics, organizational management, and other fields) on how to develop a best-in-class organization is a plus.
• Strong communication skills (ability to be clear, yet tactful).
• Familiarity with MS Office, Google Docs, and ideally other relevant systems such as Asana, Slack.
• Fluency in English and Hindi. 

Professional development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy, and have been noted highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsighters receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and are given considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen a variety of skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture and formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to utilize to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Nuts & bolts

Location

This position is based in IDinsight’s Delhi office. This position is not eligible for remote work elsewhere in India or outside India. All candidates who are not currently located in Delhi will be expected to relocate to Delhi at the onset of their employment. Preference will be given to those who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in India; however, IDinsight will seek work permits where possible for exceptional candidates. 

Start date

The start date of this position is January 2025, with a preference for candidates who can start sooner. 

Compensation

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for, and competitive within the global development sector. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer including comprehensive international health insurance, including mental health coverage; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; relocation benefits; a travel stipend; technology and work from home stipends; a professional development budget; and more.

Please note, as a non-profit, we are unable to provide compensation similar to leading private sector organizations. 

How to apply

Please click the "Apply for this job online" button at the top right. Applications are rolling and considered as they are submitted. The application asks various questions in order for us to get to know you, and requires a CV and cover letter. 

Please ensure that your CV includes relevant professional and personal experience as well as details on academic qualifications. CVs can range from one to two pages. Please note, headshot photographs, parental details, birth dates, marital status and other personal information not relevant to the application do not need to be included in your CV. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to use your cover letter to highlight why you want to work for IDinsight specifically, and what has prepared you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. A customized cover letter is an important part of IDinsight’s recruiting process as it allows us to understand your motivations for the position, relevant skills, and clarity of writing.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process and frequently asked questions, can be found online at IDinsight Careers. Any questions should be directed to careers@IDinsight.org. 

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work. 

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships, and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, caste, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.