Team Lead

About Maharashtra - Decision Support System (DSS)

The Decision Support System is envisioned to be the CMOs first port of call for enabling data-driven governance backed by analytical evidence. The key objectives of the DSS include 1) Setting and measuring outcome goals against benchmarks from national and international indices, 2) Triangulating administrative data with own/national surveys to reduce data discrepancies, 3) Improving citizen feedback through efficient use of existing supervision mechanisms at the department level. A Data Analytics Unit (DAU) will be set up to conduct analytics for the DSS.

The primary objective of the DAU will be to deliver advanced analytical work on programmatic data (outputs, outcomes) and its determinants, typically:

• Utilise administrative data to assess district-level performance of priority schemes and enable benchmarking against relevant national and international indices, thereby informing strategic goal-setting.
• Address known limitations in administrative data quality by instituting systematic, periodic collection of citizen-level data focused on outcomes across sectors such as health, education and nutrition.
• Diagnostics to determine causality and correlations
• Regular and ad hoc data aggregation, analysis, and developing dashboards as required for senior stakeholders

The Team Lead for the Data Analytics Unit will oversee operations, strategic alignment, and stakeholder engagement for this critical analytics initiative within the Government of Maharashtra. This person will be the bridge between the analytics unit and key governmental stakeholders, ensuring the analytics units contributions are strategically positioned, visible, and impactful within the broader government ecosystem. They will report to the administrative head of the department (or equivalent).

Roles & Responsibilities

Problem statement formulation and strategy communication

• Guides the team to carry out issue identification and analysis using secondary research and techniques such as root cause analysis, pattern analysis, among others to develop data frames and analytical solutions.
• Present and vet the problem statement with govt stakeholders to help prioritise the unit's work
• Drive strategic positioning and visibility of the analytics unit within government departments, policymaking bodies, and external forums.
• Identify opportunities for leveraging analytics to influence policy formulation, program implementation, and evidence-based decision-making.

Research & Development

• Present analytical findings clearly and persuasively in governmental meetings, forums, conferences, and strategic discussions.
• Engage regularly with internal technical experts, including data scientists and analysts, to ensure methodological rigor, quality, and innovation.
• Collaborate proactively with external experts, including economists, academic researchers, and subject matter specialists, to incorporate cutting-edge methods and diverse perspectives into the units work.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced analytics tools, evaluating their potential to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the unit.
• Foster partnerships and collaborations with academia and research institutions to maintain the units relevance and lead in applying innovative analytical approaches.

Project & Team management

• Act as the primary liaison between the unit and government stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, alignment, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Oversee the smooth operational functioning of the unit, including project management, workflow optimization, and quality assurance.
• Mentor and guide the analytics team, ensuring individual members professional development and high-quality outputs.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Abilities

• Masters degree or higher in Economics, Engineering, Management, or related fields from a recognized institution.
• Skilled in statistical modelling and data analysis.
• Knowledge of R, Stata, Python, PowerBI, Tableau a plus.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience, preferably within government or public sector environments.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management, policy communication, or governmental liaison roles.
• Proven experience in overseeing data-driven projects or analytics units.
• Prior experience in presenting complex analytical findings to diverse, non-technical audiences, especially senior government officials.
• Must be fluent in Hindi and English. Working knowledge of Marathi is highly preferred.

Personal Characteristics and Desired Qualities

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, capable of articulating complex information clearly and compellingly.
• Strategic thinker with strong leadership and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Diplomacy and professional maturity, able to navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Proactive, innovative mindset focused on continuous improvement and learning
• Detail-oriented and ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks
• Public-spirited and generous temperament
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in data analysis

Location and Compensation

This role will be based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Remuneration will be competitive with Indian philanthropy and social sector pay scales and will depend on the candidates experience levels.