Job Description:
JOB DESCRIPTION: Project Leader - Deoria -Kushinagar
Tourism
Location: Deoria, Uttar Pradesh
ABOUT MIDAS
The Middle India Development and Advancement Strategy (MIDAS) is a project initiated by The
Convergence Foundation (TCF). The initiative focuses on accelerating economic growth in
underdeveloped rural districts across India by creating scalable models to improve prosperity.
As a first step, MIDAS has selected Deoria district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh as its pilot site.
Over the next 3–4 years, the objective is to develop and test a replicable playbook for driving
district-level growth in Middle India.
To implement this on the ground, TCF is partnering with the Deoria Development Alliance, led
by Member of Parliament Shri Shashank Mani. The district-level initiative is branded as Amrit
Prayas, with a long-term goal of accelerating Deoria's per capita income growth.
ROLE OVERVIEW
Deoria and Kushinagar hold profound cultural and historical significance, particularly as
cornerstones of the Buddhist circuit and hubs for authentic village experiences. While these
destinations possess immense potential; they currently face practical hurdles—from limited
branding and infrastructure to a lack of diverse visitor experiences.
We are looking for a Project Leader to turn this potential into a tangible reality. This is a role for
someone who wants to do more than plan; it is for a professional who wants to build the
foundation for a thriving, sustainable tourism ecosystem.
As the Project Leader, you will be the primary driver of development on the ground. Your work
will focus on unlocking the value of key sites like the Mahaparinirvana Temple and developing
Village Experience Clusters that benefit both travelers and local communities.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead destination-level engagements with state government departments, city administrations, local authorities, and private stakeholders to design and drive tourism transformation initiatives in Kushinagar and Deoria.
- Identify and bridge capability gaps (not capacity gaps) within public sector counterparts, helping them think differently about tourism outcomes.
- Develop destination-level strategies and roadmaps that link public sector reforms with private sector participation and investment.
- Package destination opportunities in a manner that is attractive and credible for private sector players, including hospitality, travel, and experience providers.
- Navigate multi-agency environments at the destination level and identify practical levers to drive progress despite institutional complexity.
- Provide leadership and guidance to project teams comprising MIDAS and Amrit Prayas staff, consultants, and partner organisations.
- Track progress rigorously, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure momentum on agreed initiatives.
Ideal candidate profile
- 8–10 years of experience working on public sector or social sector programmes at the state, district, or city level (or a strong inclination to do so).
- Strong on-ground execution skills combined with the ability to think strategically about destination development.
- Comfort working in ambiguous environments with evolving objectives and constraints.
- Ability to engage constructively with government officials, private sector stakeholders, and local institutions.
- Creative, outside-in thinking on how tourism destinations can be repositioned and unlocked.
- Strong communication and coordination skills.
- Willingness to be based in Deoria and spend extended time at destination sites when required.