Senior Leadership Role at Upadhyaya Foundation
Upadhyaya Foundation is seeking a senior leader to work closely with the founders and team to advance the foundation's mission. The role will span partnerships, philanthropy, ecosystem building, strategic initiatives, and organisational development, while helping strengthen the foundation's impact and influence across the social sector.
Location: Lower Parel, Mumbai. This is a full-time, in-office position.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Partnerships & Ecosystem Building
Identifying and building strategic partnerships with NGOs, funders, intermediaries, wealth advisors and sector leaders
Creating and enabling platforms for collaboration across stakeholders
Acting as a connector to facilitate meaningful partnerships and aligned action
2. Capital Mobilisation & Funder Engagement
Engaging with HNIs, institutional funders, and CSRs to unlock funds for the NGO partners beyond the foundation's own giving
Designing and enabling co-funding and collaborative funding models
3. Representation & External Engagement
Representing the foundation in national and international forums, convenings, and networks
Building the foundation's credibility and presence in key ecosystem spaces
Engaging with media and external stakeholders
4. Organisational Building & Team Development
Leading recruitment, onboarding, and capacity building of the team as per the needs
Fostering a purpose-driven, collaborative, and high-performance culture
Building and strengthening internal systems and processes
Developing second-line leadership and enabling team ownership
5. Strategic Direction & Opportunity Identification
Co-defining and refining the foundation's focus areas and portfolio strategy with promoters and the team
Identifying high-impact opportunities and taking strategic bets
Conceptualising and launching new initiatives that address sector gaps
6. Narrative Building & Advocacy
Shaping and mainstreaming narratives in focus areas such as animal welfare and disability
Supporting advocacy efforts through partnerships, media, and platforms
7. Convening & Platform Building
Co-designing and hosting forums, roundtables, and showcases
Bringing together diverse stakeholders to enable dialogue, learning, and collaboration
Creating sustained platforms that strengthen ecosystem engagement
8. Governance, Operations & Accountability
Ensuring strong governance, administrative compliance, budgets and ethical practices
Reporting to promoters and aligning on strategic priorities
Maintaining accountability for the foundation's impact and direction
*As we are in the foundational stage of the organization, this role will continue to evolve based on organizational needs.
Qualifications and Experience
Bachelor's degree in any discipline. A postgraduate or higher degree in social sciences, development studies, public policy, business, communications, management, or a related field is highly preferred.
Minimum 12-15 years of professional experience, with significant experience leading a team, organisation, vertical, or major initiative.
Demonstrated experience in philanthropy, social impact, development, consulting, partnerships, ecosystem building, or a related field.
Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with NGOs, funders, intermediaries, and sector leaders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent the foundation in external forums and convenings.
Experience conceptualising, managing, or supporting strategic initiatives, partnerships, or multi-stakeholder collaborations.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to identify opportunities and translate ideas into action.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and navigate ambiguity in a fast-evolving environment.
Experience working with senior leaders, philanthropists, funders, or ecosystem stakeholders is desirable.
Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust, foster teamwork, and contribute to a positive organisational culture.
A genuine commitment to social impact and alignment with the values and mission of Upadhyaya Foundation.
Willingness to travel as required for partner engagement, convenings, and ecosystem-building activities.
Interested candidates are invited to apply by completing the application form: https://forms.gle/ByY5Upo1oJVRb5Sx9
Applications will be accepted until Sunday, 28 June 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the application deadline regarding next steps in the selection process.
