About ISDM
The Indian School of Development Management pioneers a transformative approach to management, envisioning a world that is just, equitable, and sustainable. Established in 2016, it serves as a foundational hub for cultivating a robust ecosystem and a cadre of skilled professionals dedicated to advancing social change globally.

Driven by the conviction that the social sector plays a pivotal role in addressing humanity's most pressing challenges, the school operates on the premise that effective management is essential for achieving significant impact. By nurturing talent in Development Management tailored to the unique needs of the social sector, the school aims to catalyze sustainable socio-economic and ecological progress on a large scale.

Recognizing the power of institutions to shape professional ecosystems, the school aims to establish itself as a beacon of excellence in higher education. Through this, it seeks to lay the groundwork for a thriving community of practitioners dedicated to driving positive change in society.

Over the past years, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) has garnered validation, support, and funding from esteemed individuals and organizations. While numerous programs worldwide aim to cultivate management capabilities for the social sector, they often reside within larger university ecosystems or business schools, where they may receive lesser attention compared to mainstream programs. ISDM stands out as the sole institution globally dedicated to fostering a comprehensive ecosystem for Development Management, focusing on pioneering work in critical areas.

ISDM's initiatives encompass:
  1. Knowledge Creation: Establishing a Global Knowledge Hub to create, disseminate, and institutionalize contextual knowledge on building, leading, and managing social purpose organizations, networks, and platforms.
  2. Talent Nurturing: Offering the Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP-DM) to attract and develop top-tier talent capable of addressing management challenges within the sector.
  3. Capacity Building: Providing Strategic Capacity Building programs to enhance individual and institutional capacities in development management, thereby fostering sustainable and scalable social impact.

ISDM has successfully completed its Proof of Concept Phase and is now set for expansion over the next five years. Key achievements include high placement rates for its PGP-DM graduates and plans for increased batch sizes, a new campus, international partnerships, and accreditation. The institute is also conducting research and establishing Centers of Excellence in various areas of social impact. Additionally, it offers programs for professionals and resources for grassroots organizations. Know More at www.isdm.org.in .  
ISDM invites individuals who share its vision to join in creating a dynamic, catalytic ecosystem and positioning India as a thought leader in Development Management, ultimately enabling sustainable social impact at scale.

Global Knowledge Hub (GKH)
The Centres of Excellence are housed within the Global Knowledge Hub, whose role is to strengthen, from end-to-end, the knowledge and practice of Development Management. GKH does this by collating and curating global experiences and knowledge, conducting in-depth research and producing knowledge assets and resources, and collaborating to design products and programs for a wide range of target segments that impact the practice of development management and disseminating knowledge as a public good through like-minded individuals and institutions globally. 

Centres of Excellence:
  • They are independent units, carrying out research studies, engagement, and other activities in specific domains of development management.
  • Their aim is to impact the practice of development management in the Social Purpose ecosystem and significantly scale up the positive impact on the lives of people in sustained ways.
  • They will drive cutting-edge thinking and become a global authority in that domain.

The Role
This role is responsible for building and operationalising the Global Knowledge Hub (GKH) alongside the GKH Director, ensuring its sub-verticals (Centres of Excellence and DM Hub) succeed. The role combines operational oversight with strategic co-creation, advisory leadership, and institution-building.

Key responsibilities:
GKH Building & Strategic Co-Creation
  • Partner with the GKH Director to envision and shape the future of GKH.
  • Co-create strategy across all sub-verticals (Centres of Excellence, DM Hub, Innovation Lab), ensuring coherence and alignment with ISDM’s mission.
  • Translate strategic direction into execution plans, covering budgets, resourcing, structures, and fundraising needs.
  • Act as a bridge between the GKH Director and Centre Leads/Programs to ensure synergy and accountability across the portfolio.

Financial Sustainability & Advisory Services
  • Drive GKH towards financial self-reliance by co-creating sustainable revenue streams, together with Centre Leads.
  • Lead the design and institutionalisation of Advisory Services across GKH, working with all Centres and the DM Hub to package knowledge into bespoke offerings.
  • Build and manage a pipeline of advisory projects/clients, with a target of 2–3 projects in the next year.

Leadership, Donor & Ecosystem Engagement
  • Represent GKH in select external forums, supporting the Director in positioning GKH as a thought leader.
  • Build relationships with donors, partners, and ecosystem actors, supporting both fundraising and programmatic influence.
  • Mentor and support emerging leaders within Centres, building cross-centre collaboration and shared culture.

Programmatic & Operational Excellence
  • Ensure smooth functioning of GKH and its sub-verticals by driving programmatic governance.
  • Oversee budgeting, financial tracking, and SOPs across Centres.
  • Institute and strengthen processes for governance, donor management, and knowledge management.
  • Anchor internal and external reporting for GKH, consolidating updates from Centres and presenting to donors, advisors, and ISDM leadership.
  • Provide operational guidance and troubleshooting support to Centre Leads and Program Managers, ensuring consistency and high-quality execution.

Qualifications and Experience Required:
  • 15–18 years of experience in the social sector and in working with philanthropists, with a deep passion for making a difference.
  • Post-graduate Degree or equivalent in Management Studies/Social Sciences, or related fields.
  • Stellar verbal and written communication skills.
  • A proven track record of navigating complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
  • A collaborative spirit paired with strong ownership and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience leading high-performing teams and delivering results that matter.

Remuneration for this role will be commensurate with qualifications & experience. To learn more about us and apply, check out isdm.org.in/careers.

ISDM is an equal-opportunity organization with a particular emphasis on affirmative action. The culture of the organization is one of professionalism while also one that greatly values relationships.
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