About ISDM
The Indian School of Development Management pioneers a transformative approach to management, envisioning a world that is just, equitable, and sustainable. Established in 2016, it serves as a foundational hub for cultivating a robust ecosystem and a cadre of skilled professionals dedicated to advancing social change globally.
Driven by the conviction that the social sector plays a pivotal role in addressing humanitys most pressing challenges, the school operates on the premise that effective management is essential for achieving significant impact. By nurturing talent in Development Management tailored to the unique needs of the social sector, the school aims to catalyze sustainable socio-economic and ecological progress on a large scale.
Recognizing the power of institutions to shape professional ecosystems, the school aims to establish itself as a beacon of excellence in higher education. Through this, it seeks to lay the groundwork for a thriving community of practitioners dedicated to driving positive change in society.
Over the past years, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) has garnered validation, support, and funding from esteemed individuals and organizations. While numerous programs worldwide aim to cultivate management capabilities for the social sector, they often reside within larger university ecosystems or business schools, where they may receive lesser attention compared to mainstream programs. ISDM stands out as the sole institution globally dedicated to fostering a comprehensive ecosystem for Development Management, focusing on pioneering work in critical areas.
ISDMs initiatives encompass:
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Knowledge Creation
: Establishing a Global Knowledge Hub to create, disseminate, and institutionalize contextual knowledge on building, leading, and managing social purpose organizations, networks, and platforms. -
Talent Nurturing
: Offering the Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP-DM) to attract and develop top-tier talent capable of addressing management challenges within the sector. -
Capacity Building
: Providing Strategic Capacity Building programs to enhance individual and institutional capacities in development management, thereby fostering sustainable and scalable social impact.
ISDM has successfully completed its Proof of Concept Phase and is now set for expansion over the next five years. Key achievements include high placement rates for its PGP-DM graduates and plans for increased batch sizes, a new campus, international partnerships, and accreditation. The institute is also conducting research and establishing Centers of Excellence in various areas of social impact. Additionally, it offers programs for professionals and resources for grassroots organizations. Know More at www.isdm.org.in .
ISDM invites individuals who share its vision to join in creating a dynamic, catalytic ecosystem and positioning India as a thought leader in Development Management, ultimately enabling sustainable social impact at scale.
Global Knowledge Hub (GKH)
The Centres of Excellence are housed within the Global Knowledge Hub, whose role is to strengthen, from end-to-end, the knowledge and practice of Development Management. GKH does this by collating and curating global experiences and knowledge, conducting in-depth research and producing knowledge assets and resources, and collaborating to design products and programs for a wide range of target segments that impact the practice of development management and disseminating knowledge as a public good through like-minded individuals and institutions globally.
Centres of Excellence:
- They are independent units, carrying out research studies, engagement, and other activities in specific domains of development management.
- Their aim is to impact the practice of development management in the Social Purpose ecosystem and significantly scale up the positive impact on the lives of people in sustained ways.
- They will drive cutting-edge thinking and become a global authority in that domain.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Program Manager to support the Director of GKH in ensuring seamless operations, governance, and management across all its initiatives. This is a dynamic and multi-faceted role that requires a blend of program management, stakeholder engagement, and operational execution. You will also support CoEs in managing events, partnerships, outreach, and other critical functions. This role demands high levels of patience, coordination, and people skills, as you will be working closely with multiple stakeholders within and outside the organisation.
Key responsibilities:
Operational & Programmatic Support
- Support the GKH Director in managing the end-to-end functioning of GKH
- Oversee day-to-day operations, including vendor coordination, webpage updates, and internal workflows
- Manage SOPs, governance processes, and documentation systems
- Track budgets, resource planning, and reporting requirements
Centre of Excellence (CoE) Coordination
- Provide project management support to CoE teams
- Maintain regular touchpoints with CoE leads to track progress on deliverables and events
- Manage internal knowledge sharing and collaborative efforts across centres
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Build and manage relationships with funding partners and other stakeholders
- Coordinate stakeholder communications, outreach initiatives, and ecosystem engagement
- Manage and update the CoE database and partnership pipeline
Events & Communication
- Coordinate GKH-led events, conferences, roundtables, and webinars
- Liaise with the communications and digital teams to ensure visibility of GKH initiatives
- Support creation of event briefs, outreach materials, and post-event follow-ups
You must have:
- Master s degree in a relevant field within social sciences with a 12-15 years of experience in program or operations management
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects across timelines and teams
- Passion for the social sector or experience working with knowledge management platforms
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong people skills and demonstrated patience and adaptability in high-collaboration environments
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to work in a fast-paced, evolving ecosystem
- Ability to take ownership and work independently while being a strong team player
What We Offer
- A high-trust, high-autonomy workplace driven by purpose and values
- Opportunities to work at the intersection of research, knowledge, and systems change
- A collaborative team committed to building the field of Development Management in India and globally
- The chance to be part of something meaningful, ambitious, and world-first
Remuneration for this role will be commensurate with qualifications & experience. To learn more about us and apply, check out isdm.org.in/careers.
ISDM is an equal-opportunity organization with a particular emphasis on affirmative action. The culture of the organization is one of professionalism while also one that greatly values relationships.
