Manager, Strategy and Operations, Livelihood Ecosystem

Job Description

About The/Nudge The/Nudge is an action institute building resilient livelihoods to alleviate poverty. We work with women, farmers, tribals and youth on rural development, agriculture, skilling and economic inclusion, along with 15+ central and state government partners. Our economic inclusion journey for 25 million Indians, has reached 10 states with $250M of government funding to cover 1.25M people. Our incubator, accelerator and grand challenges have supported 200+ social entrepreneurs including 17 Forbes 30U30, 3 EarthShot Prize winners, 1 Time Magazine cover and more. Set up with support from 100+ eminent philanthropists , 40+ corporates and 15+ foundations including Gates, Mackenzie Scott, Vinod Khosla, Nandan Nilekani, Tata Trusts, Skoll, Meta, LinkedIn, HDFC, Mphasis, KPMG and LOreal, we are contributing towards a "poverty-free India, within our lifetime". About the Program The presence of a vibrant ecosystem is critical for solutions to achieve scale. Availability of talent and funding, a conducive policy environment, access to data and technology, are essential for innovation, growth and scale. The Livelihoods Ecosystem programs at The/Nudge are working towards creating a thriving livelihood ecosystem. The programs proactively address barriers and bottlenecks and unlock the systems potential for the large-scale social transformations envisioned by The/Nudge Institute. Key Roles & Responsibilities: Strategic Planning & Growth: Support leadership in developing and refining the livelihood ecosystem strategy, including long-term vision, strategic priorities, and growth plans for programs. Develop business cases, strategic frameworks and budgets for new initiatives, expansions, or partnerships. Operational Excellence & Process Improvement: Analyze existing operational processes across livelihood ecosystem programs to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. Lead cross-functional projects aimed at streamlining operations, improving resource utilization, and standardizing best practices. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure program objectives are met within the stipulated timelines and budgets. Financial Oversight & Cashflow Management: Monitor and analyze cash flows across livelihood ecosystem program budgets, ensuring efficient utilization of funds and alignment with strategic priorities and donor budgets. Collaborate with the finance team to develop cashflow forecasts, identify potential shortfalls or surpluses, and recommend strategies for optimal financial health. Support the development of robust financial planning processes to ensure the long-term sustainability of programs and the organization. Project Management & Implementation: Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to track progress of livelihood ecosystem programs and inform leaderships decision-making. Coordinate with multiple internal teams and external partners to ensure smooth execution of initiatives. Develop dashboards with key KPIs and reporting mechanisms to provide leadership with real-time visibility into progress and challenges. Team Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Collaborate effectively with program heads, functional leads across the organization, and enabling teams such as People & Culture, Marketing, Finance and Fundraising to align strategies, operational plans and enable the achievement of annual goals. Own design and implementation of strong induction and onboarding of new hires into the livelihood ecosystem team - including headcount plan, timely hiring and clarity on OKRs. Design, execution and ownership of updated customized collaterals required for board reviews, all hands and cross functional updates. Who are we looking for in this role? Strategic & analytical acumen: Proven ability to think strategically, identify patterns, and develop long-term plans. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach. Expertise in data analysis, interpretation, and visualization. Ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable strategies. Operational Expertise: Demonstrated experience in process design, optimization, and implementation. Strong program management skills with an excellent command over MS Office suite. Proficiency in using project management tools and methodologies. Communication, Leadership & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization. Self-starter with a high degree of initiative and ownership. Domain Knowledge (Desirable) Understanding of the non-profit sector, social challenges in India, and poverty alleviation efforts. Prior experience in consulting, program management, or operations within a growth-stage organization is highly valued. Education & Experience: Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences, or a related field. Masters degree (e.g., MBA) is preferred. 5-8 years of relevant experience in strategy, operations, management consulting, or a similar role, preferably with some exposure to the social sector. .