Job Description:
Head of Partnerships Ecosystem
Organization: Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF)
Location: Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore
1. The Strategic Mandate
Maker Bhavan Foundation is pivoting from bilateral partnerships to Ecosystem Orchestration. We are seeking a leader to serve as the facilitator of a dynamic stakeholder ecosystem that unites Academia (HEIs), Industry, Government, and synergistic Non-Profit Partners.
Your mandate is not merely to foster higher employability but to fundamentally transform the DNA of engineering education in India. You will catalyze a shift from rote learning to a "Maker and Innovator Mindset" embedded with Design Thinking. By orchestrating deep collaborations, you will ensure that Indias vast engineering talent pool is equipped with domain-specific, hands-on skills required to drive the "Make in India" mission and the "Viksit Bharat 2047" agenda.
You will position MBF as a Nation-Building Catalyst that constructs the architecture for semester-long, immersive apprenticeships and innovation clusters, creating a generation of problem-solvers and innovators for India.
2. Core Responsibilities
A. Ecosystem Orchestration & Cluster Activation (35%)
Leverage the Aggregators: Shift focus from 1-to-1 corporate partnerships to high-leverage alliances with Industry Bodies and Associations. You will collaborate with association leadership teams to unlock their aggregate member base for collective action.
Cluster Strategy: Operationalize "Innovation Clusters" in key geographies using a multi-stakeholder approach.
Strategic Example (Pune): Architect a consortium involving Pune Auto Ancillary industries, local HEIs, and the Maharashtra Directorate of Technical Education. The goal is to create a seamless pipeline where students work on live problem statements from ancillary units.
The "Keystone" Strategy: Position MBF as the neutral "Keystone" organization that aligns the disparate incentives of HEIs (accreditation/quality), Industry (job readiness), and Government (skilling metrics).
B. Strategic Coalitions & Civil Society/Non-Profits Synergies (25%)
The "Force Multiplier" Strategy: Move beyond competition to build functional alliances with synergistic non-profits to co-execute programs. Use these partnerships to expand the reach of MBF's Vishwakarma Awards or Tinkerers' Labs.
Global Enabler Alignment: Secure and manage high-level partnerships with global foundations and enablers.
Consortium Building: Architect "Impact Coalitions" where multiple stakeholders (Industry + Non-Profit + Donor) come together to solve systemic problems.
C. Deep Skilling via Policy & Apprenticeships (25%)
Architecting Immersive Learning: Move beyond short-term internships. Work with Industry partners to institutionalize Semester-Long Apprenticeships where students earn academic credits for deep, domain-specific work on the shop floor or R&D labs.
Scheme Operationalization: Master and deploy government instruments like the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) to support these long-duration engagements, ensuring they are financially viable for MSMEs while providing high-quality exposure to students.
Policy Alignment: Ensure MBF initiatives align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, specifically regarding credit transfer for practical work. Serve as a strategic advisor to partner HEIs on operationalizing these credits to foster a true "learning-by-doing" culture.
D. Value-Based Industry Engagement (15%)
From "Supply Chain" to "Innovation Partner": Reframe the conversation with Industry. We are not just a supply chain for entry-level talent; we are partners in Capacity Building. Position MBF programs as the R&D extension for mid-sized corporations, where students solve real industry challenges using Design Thinking.
Collaborative CSR: Orchestrate "Pooled CSR" vehicles where multiple companies in a cluster contribute to shared infrastructure (e.g., makerspaces), maximizing impact and reducing individual donor burden.
3. Candidate Profile: The Ecosystem Architect
We are not looking for a salesperson. We are looking for a leader who is a systems thinker with executive presence.
Experience:
10+ Years of Strategic Leadership: A seasoned professional who has held senior roles in Industry Associations, Corporate Strategy, Innovation Management, or large-scale Non-Profit Operations.
Stakeholder Credibility: Must possess the professional standing to collaborate with association leadership teams, senior government officials (e.g., Directors of Technical Education), Directors/Vice-Chancellors of HEIs, and India leadership of Global Foundations.
Coalition Building: Demonstrated success in weaving together networks of diverse organizations (NGOs, Corporate CSR, Donors) to achieve "Collective Impact" rather than isolated results.
Competencies:
Systemic Orchestration: The ability to influence without direct authority, aligning diverse stakeholders towards a common goal of national development.
Development Sector Fluency: Ability to navigate the world of global foundations and non-profits, understanding how to align MBFs "Engineering" focus with broader "Skilling" or "Innovation" mandates.
Industrial Insight: A strong grasp of the "Shop Floor to Top Floor" dynamics in Indian manufacturing and the specific cultures of industrial clusters.
Strategic Bilingualism: Fluent in the languages of all sectors: can talk "ROI and Innovation" to Industry, "Pedagogy and Credits" to HEIs, "Scale and Compliance" to Government, and "Impact and Equity" to Foundations.
4. Measures of Success (KPIs) for the first 12 months
Cluster Activation: Operationalization of the pilot Innovation Clusters with formal governance.
Apprenticeship Depth: Number of Semester-Long, Credit-Bearing Apprenticeships secured, reflecting a shift from "volume of placements" to "depth of skilling."
Coalition Success: Establishment of 2-3 active "Impact Coalitions" with peer non-profits or global foundations resulting in co-funded or co-branded initiatives.
- Mindset Transformation: measurable increase in stakeholder engagement with MBF flagship programs.
Apply through:
Interested candidates should fill out the application form or reach out to us at sunaina@theconvergencefoundation.org