Please Note: This role requires the ability to work onsite 3 days per week per company policy. This role is funded through 31/08/2026 with the possibility of extension. About the World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change. In this spirit, the Forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas and solve shared global challenges. About the C4IR India The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India was launched in October 2018 by the Prime Minister of India with the aim of driving the adoption and responsible deployment of emerging technologies in India. The C4IR India has taken a three-pillared approach to its initiatives, which includes constituting a multi-stakeholder community, enabling insight reports and frameworks and helping to design, pilot, and scale targeted solutions. About the Centre for Urban Transformation The World Economic Forum s Centre for Urban Transformation advances public-private collaboration in cities to enable more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities and local economies. The Centre s initiatives and year-round activities provide a diverse range of opportunities for partners to learn from urban development latest trends and solutions, share insights and expertise, forge new relationships, and collaborate to drive positive change in cities and local communities across the globe. About UpLink UpLink is the World Economic Forum s early-stage innovation initiative, created to scale the world s most promising impact-driven startups. We build the ecosystems entrepreneurs need to grow connecting them with capital, visibility, networks, and expertise. We work across critical sectors including food, water, climate, health, circularity, and nature to surface breakthrough solutions and support their growth. By bringing together investors, corporates, and expert partners, we help these ventures scale faster and more sustainably. We exist to unlock early-stage innovation that drives meaningful progress toward a net-zero, nature-positive, and inclusive future. Why we are Recruiting Amid rising geopolitical tensions, cities and local communities have become a vital testing ground for public-private collaboration and an essential means for scaling up impact. Cities are home to a growing majority of the world s population and generate more than 80% of global GDP. As such, they serve as essential incubators and testbeds for new solutions and the businesses of tomorrow. In January 2025, the World Economic Forum announced the launch of Yes/Cities , an ambitious global initiative to accelerate the on-the-ground deployment of innovative solutions, reimagining and transforming urban life across the globe. Yes/Cities is a shared commitment by Forum partners to accelerate investments in urban innovation ecosystems with the goal of providing direct support to more than 1,000 innovators by 2030 and helping scale their game-changing solutions across 50+ cities in the next five years. The initiative builds on the success of Yes San Francisco (Yes SF), a collaboration between the World Economic Forum s Centre for Urban Transformation , UpLink , Deloitte, Salesforce, Citi and the SF Chamber of Commerce to support the post-pandemic recovery and revitalization of San Francisco s downtown business district. Over the last two years, Yes SF has grown into a coalition of 90+ organizations with an innovation hub in the heart of downtown, dedicated to supporting innovators working on sustainability solutions while revitalizing the city and local economy. Bengaluru has been selected as a next site due to its dynamic innovation landscape, leadership in sustainability, and capacity for public-private collaboration. You will work with global and local leaders to accelerate inclusive and sustainable urban development in Bengaluru and create a replicable model for other cities. Reporting Lines and Interactions This post will be based in the World Economic Forum s Liaison Office in Mumbai (C4IR India) and report to the Lead of Urban Innovation, Yes/Bengaluru. This position is part of a high-profile, rapidly growing team of experts at the Centre for Urban Transformation and UpLink. The Specialist will collaborate closely with colleagues from the San Francisco, New York and Geneva Forum s offices. Main Responsibilities The Specialist will support building local coalitions and help manage engagement across a robust network of the Forums existing global communities of business executives, leading academicians from the country s top research universities, government officials, start-ups, media, civil society organizations, social entrepreneurs, and affiliated centres. Key areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Project Coordination & Implementation Support the execution of the Yes/Bengaluru workplan, coordinating meetings, timelines, and deliverables. Assist in documenting outcomes, preparing presentations, and maintaining records of stakeholder engagement. Track progress and help deliver local events, workshops, and sessions with innovators. 2. Stakeholder Engagement Coordinate outreach with local government, private sector, incubators, and civic actors; ensure contact databases and meeting schedules facilitate key relationship-building efforts. Develop key materials to support local ecosystem onboarding and engagement, including one-pagers, presentations, overviews, emails, and other written and visual communications. Prepare briefing documents, notes, and follow-ups for stakeholder discussions to ensure that the coalition team is well-coordinated. 3. Innovation Ecosystem Support Assist in proactively identifying and onboarding support partners (mentors, investors, accelerators) to aid Top Innovators. Work with the Lead, Urban Innovation, Yes/Bengaluru to develop and maintain an ecosystem map of Bengalurus urban innovation landscape and leverage to approach new potential ecosystem partners. Help organize and deliver innovation programming, such as pitch sessions, expert talks, and learning exchanges, by preparing session structures, identifying and inviting speakers and participants, briefing relevant stakeholders, and coordinating end-to-end logistics. 4. Communications & Reporting Coordinate with the Forum s Marketing & Communications team on storytelling and promotional efforts. Support content development for reports, articles, social media, and press releases. Compile updates and reporting inputs for internal teams and external partners. 5. Cross-Team Collaboration Work with colleagues across Urban Transformation, UpLink, and the Forums India Office to align activities and share knowledge. Ensure links to broader Forum and Urban Transformation-specific events and sessions, relevant to Bengaluru and the region. Requirements and Experience Bachelor s or Master s degree in urban planning, sustainability, public policy, business, or a related field. 2-4 years of relevant work experience in project coordination, urban development, or entrepreneurship support. Familiarity with India s innovation, startup, or urban ecosystem experience in Bengaluru is a plus. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, with an ability to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint, Asana); familiarity with Salesforce is a plus. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. #Linkedin Why work at the Forum: The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!