Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff (Founding Hire)

Company:

Location:

Employment Type:

About TSF

Anjan Sundaram

The Role

Chief of Staff

In your first 6–12 months, you will:

• Operationally take TSF to the 2026 Prize launch:
• Manage the

  jury and awards processes

  .
• Lead

  media campaigns

  and coordinate with partner outlets.
• Help organize

  fundraising dinners

  and donor events.
• Build and manage the

  support pipeline

  (fellowships, mentorships, and partnerships delivering mental-health, legal aid, and publication opportunities).
• Design and oversee

  eligibility criteria, selection rubrics, and safeguarding protocols

  for journalist support.
• Build a

  donor and grants CRM

  (25–40 prospects), and deliver 10+ high-quality funding proposals with clear board/donor reporting dashboards.
• Negotiate and execute

  dozens of MoUs

  with NGOs, media, and corporate partners, ensuring clear KPIs and budget ownership.
• Track and report

  lightweight impact metrics

  (10 key KPIs).
• Manage

  compliance, accounting, and tax filings

  .
• Lead a network of

  volunteers and experts

  contributing pro bono to TSF program design.
• Conduct analytical

  research

  to support fundraising and stakeholder engagement.

Success looks like:

Why This Role Is Compelling

• Founding scope & high ownership:

  Build TSF’s systems and cadence from the ground up.

• Fast-track growth:

  Clear path to

  Head of Programs / Director

  within 18–36 months based on performance.

• High-level exposure:

  Work directly with the founder, board, major donors, and international partners.

• Mission-driven impact:

  Enable courageous journalism with tangible, global outcomes.

• Runway & scale:

  Multi-year funding already secured; significant growth planned.

• Collaborative, low-ego culture:

  Direct access to leadership and decision-making.

What You’ll Bring

• 4–7 years of experience

  in

  management consulting

  , project management, or a Chief of Staff / Strategy role.

• Top-tier consulting experience

  (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent strategic boutique)

  strongly preferred

  .
• Experience in nonprofits, global development, or philanthropy a plus.
• Proven

  client-style problem solving

  : ability to structure ambiguous problems, synthesize insights, and drive strategic decisions.

• MBA or master’s degree

  from a top university (IIMs, ISB, Ivy League, Oxbridge, Sciences Po, LSE, etc.) preferred.
• Demonstrated

  stakeholder management

  experience across executives, donors, and global partners.
• Exceptional

  communication, analytical, and presentation skills

  .

• Operational excellence mindset

  : strong planning, prioritization, and follow-through across multiple workstreams.
• Comfort with technology tools (Google Workspace, Excel, CRMs, Airtable/Canva, etc.).
• Familiarity with

  grantmaking, selection panels, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E)

  a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

US$ 2,500–4,000/month

Salary paid monthly in USD (not adjusted for INR fluctuations).

• Significant annual bonus

  based on performance.

• Sign-on bonus

  for certain candidates based on background.
• Additional perks and flexibility based on tenure and results.