Job Description:
Deputy Director, Centre for Social Impact & Philanthropy (CSIP)
About Ashoka University
Ashoka is Indias #1 liberal arts and sciences university that is home to the most diverse student body, a hub for impactful research and a magnet for best-in-class faculty and staff. Ashoka has been ranked in the top five among private Universities in India by QS Asia and has also secured top rank among all Indian Universities in the InternationalnFaculty indicator.
At Ashoka University, we are on a mission to redefine higher education and create a remarkable space where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a pioneering force in interdisciplinary learning, we continually grow and adapt to stay at the forefront of educational excellence with emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity. Our philosophy revolves around care, well-being, and connection, which are deeply embedded in everything we do.
When you join our community, you become part of an extraordinary journey in which you can unleash your potential and make a meaningful impact. Where education empowers, where innovation thrives, and where excellence and humility coexist. We truly believe the world will enrich itself when there is progress with purpose.
About the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP)
The Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) is Indias first academic center dedicated to advancing philanthropy and the social sector. As a premier "do-tank," CSIP combines academic rigor with practical insights to drive meaningful change. We create knowledge products, develop leaders, influence strategy, and strengthen sectoral capabilities.
With a strong leadership team, including an engaged Advisory Board of sector leaders, donors, and intermediaries, CSIP has pioneered first-of-its-kind knowledge products, insights, capacity-building programs, and convenings over the last decade. Entering our second decade, we are adopting a startup mindset with a focus on data-driven philanthropy and sector maturity. Our goal is to accelerate the creation and adoption of evidence-based knowledge to shape a more effective social sector. We seek entrepreneurial leaders passionate about driving impact and institution building. As a strategic center of
Ashoka University, CSIP is positioned for expansion and invites professionals with a growth mindset to join our journey.
Role Purpose
The Deputy Director, Strategy and Operations will work closely with the Director to support strategy, execution, and institutional development of CSIP. This role combines platform building, business development, ecosystem engagement, and team leadership, with increasing ownership across all dimensions of the Centre.
Core Responsibilities
1. Strategy, Execution & Team Leadership
- Translate CSIP's strategic pillars into clear plans, priorities, and outcomes Drive high-quality execution across initiatives
- Build strong project management discipline and internal systems
- Lead and mentor teams, fostering ownership, accountability, and performance 2. Build and Scale Platforms
- Take ownership of 1-2 key CSIP initiatives (e.g., Case Centre, Evidence led philanthropy, Institution Building)
- Develop these into scalable, high-impact platforms with clear roadmaps Identify opportunities for growth, partnerships, and monetisation
3. Fundraising, Business Development & Partnerships
- Co-lead funding journeys from origination to closure with Director
- Build and manage end-end an agreed upon pipeline of funding, commissioned work, and strategic partnerships
- Engage with funders and collaborators with a view to upselling future work
4. Ecosystem Engagement & External Representation
- Represent CSIP in sector forums, convenings, and partnerships
- Ideate and co-create platforms that shape discourse in philanthropy and social impact Build credibility with funders, practitioners, academia, and Ashoka stakeholders
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- The candidate should possess a minimum qualification of a bachelor's degree and Post-Graduation or MBA degree would be preferred.
- The candidate should have at least 15 years' of total work experience and spent 7 years' in a leadership and management role leading strategies, people and teams with operational excellence
- The ideal candidate has a mix of corporate/consulting and development sector experience
Skills and Capabilities
- Demonstrated ability to build and scale initiatives for impact, not just manage them Strong business development and partnership orientation, with the ability to originate and close opportunities
- Ability to operate across strategy and execution, with comfort in ambiguity and lean, build-oriented environment
- Ability to persuade, inspire and lead by example
- Credibility and confidence to engage senior stakeholders and represent the organisation externally
- Strong people leadership and team development capability
- High ownership, sound judgment, and alignment with CSIP and Ashoka's mission