Overview
JAQA World Foundation is a Section 8 company born with a vision to scale globally by combining nature-based restoration, climate-smart livelihoods, clean water, renewable energy, circular economy, disaster resilience, digital environmental intelligence, and microfinance. You will be the first operational leader: building the team, launching pilots, closing early funding, and turning the origin model into a replicable “Origin-to-Orbit” impact engine.
Key Mandate (First 12 Months)
- Establish the foundation as a functioning, donor-ready organization.
- Launch and operationalize at least three pilot verticals in Kerala.
- Secure initial seed / unrestricted funding to unlock scale.
- Build core team, systems, compliance, and early global replication pathways.
Responsibilities1. Strategy & Execution
- Translate JAQA’s multi-vertical impact framework into actionable year-1 operational plans.
- Lead rapid pilot deployment in Kerala for priority verticals (e.g., ecosystem restoration, climate-smart agriculture, water access).
- Own the “Kerala model” packaging: playbooks, log frames, pitch materials, and global replication blueprint.
2. Fundraising & Partnerships
- Drive urgent fundraising: CSR, impact investors, blended finance, grants, and seed donors.
- Build and manage a pipeline of partners (NGOs, government, academic, tech, international replication nodes).
- Steward early funders with clear reporting, transparency, and impact storytelling.
3. Team & Governance
- Recruit and onboard first core staff/volunteers (program leads, operations, MEL).
- Work with the founding board to operationalize governance (policies, committees, compliance calendar).
- Serve as the de facto public face for the foundation until a broader leadership team is in place.
4. Operations & Compliance
- Set up financial controls, budgeting, audit readiness, and statutory filings (MCA, CSR reporting, initiate FCRA if applicable).
- Establish M&E framework, baseline data collection, and impact tracking for pilots.
- Build simple internal systems (CRM for donors, program MIS, documentation).
5. Growth & Scaling
- Document pilot performance; create dissemination materials for replication (digital playbook, virtual summit).
- Secure at least two international “next-site” commitments (e.g., partner organizations in Indonesia/Kenya) by Q1 2026.
Qualifications & ProfileMust-haves:
- 7+ years of leadership in early-stage non-profits / social enterprises or mission-driven startups.
- Demonstrated fund-raising success (ideally ₹2–5 Cr equivalent raised previously) from grants, CSR, impact, or blended sources.
- Strong operational dexterity: setting up programs, managing budgets, and delivering pilots without large existing infrastructure.
- Comfort with ambiguity, bootstrap mentality, and building from zero.
- Excellent storyteller and relationship builder.
Nice-to-haves:
- Domain familiarity in climate resilience, water, renewable energy, circular economy, or rural livelihoods.
- Kerala / regional networks and language familiarity.
- Experience with digital monitoring tools or impact tech.
- Prior experience with governance of Section 8 / NGO compliance in India.
Terms & IncentivesCompensation: Volunteer / non-salaried initially until funds and donations aresecured.Costrecovery: Modest honorarium when pledged funds permit.Impact-linked incentive: “Phantom equity” or surplus-linked bonus structure (e.g., percentage of early unrestricted funding mobilized, deferred recognition package when funding stabilizes).Title& Authority: Whole-Time Director / Executive Director with delegated signing authority (to be formalized by board resolution).Duration: Initial 12-month charter with review at scale-gate (end Q3 2026).Support: Board backing, access to templates/collateral, and commitment to seed initial pilot funding to enable traction.
Metrics of Success (First 12 Months)₹1-2 Cr (or equivalent) in unrestricted/seed funding committed.3 pilot verticals operational with baseline and early outcomes.Core team of ~10 onboarded (staff or committed long-term volunteers).Governance and compliance calendar fully activated (statutory filings, audit ready).At least 2 replication partners identified outside India.
