Job Description:
Position: Head of Programs
Location: New Delhi
Organisation: Aikyam Foundation
Reports to: Director, Aikyam Foundation
About Aikyam
Aikyam works to strengthen Indias institutional response to youth mental health. Founded by Manisha Dhawan, Aikyam partners with governments and education institutions to design, implement, and embed structured, evidence-backed mental health systems that can be sustained over time. Although psychological distress affects a significant share of college-going youth, most institutions lack the systems required to respond trained personnel, identification protocols, referral pathways, and implementation frameworks. Institutional action remains fragmented, and few models exist for coordinated reform. Left unaddressed, student distress drives dropout, suicide, and long-term disengagement not only from education, but from employment, health, and civic life. Aikyam aims to reduce psychological distress among students by 30 percent over the next decade, reaching over 10 million students across 5,000 institutions. Our approach integrates systems design, institutional capacity-building, and policy-aligned implementation tools.
Our work spans two domains:
1. System and knowledge design: institutional diagnostics, delivery frameworks, and policy-relevant tools tailored to the education context
2. Execution and scale: partnerships with states and HEIs to operationalise and embed mental health systems
We are a founding partner of the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA) and work closely with the Ashoka Centre for Well-being (ACWB) to connect research, policy, and practice. Aikyam is supported by leading institutions in the public and philanthropic sector.
Position Summary
The Head of Programs will lead Aikyams government partnerships and program implementation portfolio. This role is responsible for shaping and delivering Aikyams state and institutional engagement strategy, anchoring our work with central and state governments to enable system-level mental health reform across the education ecosystem.
The ideal candidate will bring deep experience designing or leading government-facing technical engagements, strong familiarity with public systems, and the ability to work across levels from senior policy dialogue to on-ground delivery. This is a leadership role requiring both strategic direction and hands-on execution, with potential to shape Aikyams long-term institutional engagement strategy as the organisation scales.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Leadership
- Lead the design and execution of Aikyams government engagement and programs strategy, aligned with organisational priorities and long-term systems reform objectives
- Contribute to organisational strategy-setting and cross-functional decision-making as part of the leadership team
Government and Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior officials at the central and state levels
- Represent Aikyam in key advisory forums, working groups, and high-level policy convenings
Program Design and Implementation
- Oversee the co-development and rollout of flagship initiatives, including institutional pilots, technical assistance programs, and delivery models in partnership with institutions and state actors
Team Leadership
- Manage and mentor a team of program managers and associates; build internal capabilities to support effective state and institutional engagement
Policy, Knowledge, and Collaboration
- Work closely with Aikyams research, communications, and partnerships teams to produce high-quality outputs including diagnostics, toolkits, and policy notes that inform and support implementation
Operations and Organisational Growth
- Take on cross-functional responsibilities and contribute to building internal systems as Aikyam grows its organisational footprint
Qualifications and Experience
- 12+ years of experience in public policy, government engagement, program implementation, or adjacent domains
- Proven track record of working with or within government to deliver technical advisory, reform, or implementation support
- Strong understanding of government structures, institutional dynamics, and delivery systems in India
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across policy, academic, and civil society contexts
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving ability; experience operating in complex, evolving environments
- Willingness to travel across India to support program execution and partner engagement
- Prior experience in mental health, education, or related sectors is welcome but not required
Why Join Us
This is a rare opportunity to shape how institutions respond to one of the most urgent and overlooked public health challenges in India: youth mental health. Aikyams work is focused on embedding mental health systems within education institutions and state structures not as add-ons, but as part of how institutions function.
You will join a lean, purpose-driven team committed to serious systems change. We work with rigour, humility, and long-term ambition, valuing evidence, institutional partnerships, and grounded solutions that can last.