Associate Director for the Social & Rural Development-Government Advisory

Job Title: Associate Director for the Social & Rural Development team.

Service Line:

Sub-Service Line:

Sub-sector: Social & Rural Development (S&RD)

Location:

Work Arrangement:

>> About KPMG India

KPMG entities in India are established under the laws of India and are owned and managed (as the case may be) by established Indian professionals. Established in August 1993, the KPMG entities have rapidly built a significant competitive presence in the country. Today we operate from offices across 14 cities including in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, Pune, Vadodara and Vijayawada.

Our differentiation is derived from a rapid performance-based, industry-tailored and technology-enabled business advisory services delivered by some of the leading talented professionals in the country. KPMG professionals are grouped by industry focus and our clients can deal with industry professionals who speak their language. Our internal information technology and knowledge management systems enable the delivery of informed and timely business advice to clients.

>> About Health Human & Social Services (HHSS)

KPMG’s Health Human & Social Services (HHSS) in India works with a broad range of government agencies, private sector participants, civil society stakeholders and citizen groups to address these development challenges and help create more efficient and effective human and social services. Our mission is to help governments carry out their core responsibilities to provide for the essential human needs of all citizens, and to ensure their basic social security, through our global experience, expertise and thought leadership in this sector. A sub-sector within HHHS, Social and Rural Development (S & RD), works closely with governments and non-state actors in domains of decentralization & rural development, gender and social inclusion, disability and minorities, social protection, human rights to inclusive growth. The team has provided services related to policy and regulatory design, institutional strengthening, outcome-based budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, change management and project management. We provide these services through a large team of technical experts, social scientists, policy planners, management consultants and domain experts. Our contemporary solutions help governments make a paradigm shift from their role as conventional service providers to value based reform enablers.

>>Position Overview

The Associate Director will play a pivotal leadership role within KPMG India’s Health Human & Social Services (HHSS) practice, specifically in the Social & Rural Development (S&RD) sub-sector. This role involves driving strategic growth, leading high-impact development projects, and managing client relationships across domains such as decentralization, gender inclusion, social protection, and rural development.

The incumbent will be responsible for conceptualizing and delivering innovative, market-linked solutions, overseeing multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring excellence in project execution. With a strong focus on business development and stakeholder engagement, the Associate Director will contribute to shaping inclusive policies and strengthening institutional frameworks in collaboration with government and development partners.

This is a high-visibility role requiring extensive travel, strong consulting acumen, and a deep understanding of the social sector landscape in India.

>>Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of market-linked, sector-specific solutions.
• Oversee project teams and manage client communications and relationships.
• Supervise project execution and ensure high-quality delivery.
• Monitor progress and ensure client satisfaction.
• Coordinate with clients and document communications.
• Drive business growth through new project development.
• Travel extensively across India (~50% of the month) for project execution and business development.
• Achieve financial targets, manage project budgets and schedules, and ensure compliance with internal and contractual requirements.
• Collaborate across functions to build business and lead teams effectively.

>>Qualifications and Skills:

• 8–10 years of experience in the social sector/rural development domain.

• MBA from a premier B-school and/or Master’s in a relevant social sector discipline from a reputed institution.

• Prior experience in management consulting.

• Proven leadership in social/development sector assignments.

• Familiarity with development projects funded by MNDBs, IDAs, and other agencies.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Demonstrated success in revenue generation and strategic portfolio development.

• Excellent project delivery, client service, communication, and organizational skills.

• Strong business acumen and ability to identify risks and opportunities.
• High integrity, team orientation, and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong analytical, writing, presentation, and stakeholder communication skills.

KPMG India has a policy of providing equal opportunity for all applicants and employees regardless of their color, caste, religion, age, sex/gender, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or other legally protected status. As an equal opportunity employer, KPMG is committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels welcomed and is treated fairly. If you have any reasonable accessibility or accommodation requirement that will make you more comfortable during the assessment and recruitment process, please let us know and our Talent Acquisition colleague will connect with you.