Job Description:
Background
We live in a world of fast-paced innovation today, driven by exponential progress in science and technology (S&T) and the growth of vibrant ecosystems to commercialize research. India must aspire to be a top 3 S&T Nation, where the first two places are occupied by the US and China today. To do so, India needs to be at the forefront of research: the creation of new knowledge (research) and its translation to economic and social goods.
This is imperative for long-term industry competitiveness, national security, and self-reliance to attain our socio-economic goals. The time for India to revive its S&T agenda is now or never. We have the economic size, the talent pool, a large market size and a vibrant startup ecosystem to both invest in research and be able to translate S&T knowledge into economic value.
The Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (FAST India) is a non-profit institution of excellence dedicated to catalyse India’s journey to a top 3 S&T Nation.
Leadership
FAST India is founded by Varun Aggarwal, who is a successful entrepreneur and researcher, and Ashish Dhawan, a private equity investor turned philanthropist. Varun built and sold India’s largest job assessment company, Aspiring Minds and wrote a book on the science ecosystem of India.
Ashish Dhawan is the chairperson of Ashoka University, a leading liberal arts university in India, and Central Square Foundation, and is passionate about promoting science in India.
FAST’s advisory board is chaired by Prof. Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor at Harvard Business School and consists of Dr K VijayRaghavan, formerly Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation; Dr Thomas Barlow, author, former Adviser to the Australian Government, and Financial Times columnist; Shantanu Rastogi, Managing Director at General Atlantic.
Approach
FAST aspires to help make India a Top 3 Science & Technology Nation by working closely with key stakeholders in the S&T ecosystem the government, industry and institutions, while inspiring youth for a career in science.
Our approach comprises
A) Insightful research: The FAST team conducts detailed research, developing foundational reports and knowledge base needed for policy formulation and deployment.
B) Develop Salience : FAST team advocates changes and improvement ideas, utilises social media, opeds, and interactions with policy makers and change agents to suggest improvement ideas and changes.
C) Programmatic Interventions: FAST partners with various government bodies, industry and institutions to implement programs that are scalable exemplars to build India’s S&T capability.
Roles and responsibilities:
You will be a part of the founding team at Industry Vertical in FAST. Your roles and responsibilities will include but not limited to:
1. Sector Research & Strategy
Conduct deep-dive research on specific industries and emerging technologies.
Develop comprehensive sectoral roadmaps and identify opportunities to drive R&D and innovation.
Benchmark global best practices and distill insights into actionable strategies.
2. Ecosystem Engagement
Build and manage relationships with leaders from industry, academia, think tanks, and government.
Facilitate conversations that align public and private sector priorities to accelerate S&T outcomes.
Represent FAST in external engagements and contribute to white papers, briefs, and sector events.
3. Thought Leadership & Influence
Contribute to shaping conversations around science, technology, and innovation in India through well-researched editorials, reports, and digital content.
Support the planning and execution of convenings such as advisory councils, working groups, and sectoral roundtables.
4. Program Design & Execution
Incubate and scale pilot programs that demonstrate models for building India's scientific capabilities.
Collaborate with partners to co-create initiatives that are research-backed and outcome-oriented.
5. Team Building & Leadership
Depending on seniority, build and lead high-performing teams.
Foster a culture of intellectual rigor, collaboration, and ownership.
Who We're Looking For
We’re seeking strategic thinkers with strong execution skills. Ideal candidates will have:
Background in management consulting, public policy, research organizations, or strategy roles in industry.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to dissect complex sectors and synthesize research into actionable insights.
A demonstrated ability to work across stakeholder groups and drive outcomes in dynamic environments.
Comfort with ambiguity and a proactive, entrepreneurial mindset.
Excellent communication skills written and verbal.
A passion for nation-building through science and technology.
Levels we are hiring for:
Program Associate/Senior Program Associate - 1-4 yrs of experience
Program Manager/Team Lead - 4-7 yrs of experience + Masters
Director/Associate Director - 10-15 yrs of experience