Associate Director - SRITNE

Associate Director (Founding Team) – Technology for Impact

Location: Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, India

Centre: Srini Raju Centre for IT and the Networked Economy (SRITNE)

Reports to: Executive Director, SRITNE

About the Indian School of Business

The Indian School of Business (ISB) is one of Asias leading business schools, recognized globally for its research, executive education and leadership in management education. Through its faculty, centres and partnerships, ISB works closely with industry, government and civil society to address some of the most important opportunities and challenges shaping business and society.

About SRITNE

The Srini Raju Centre for IT and the Networked Economy (SRITNE) is ISBs flagship centre focused on understanding how technology is transforming businesses, markets and society.

Operating at the intersection of technology, business research and societal impact, SRITNE develops rigorous research, datasets, digital products and strategic partnerships that enable organizations to harness technology for sustainable growth and meaningful impact.

Rather than functioning solely as a research centre, SRITNE combines academic excellence with technology development, field implementation and ecosystem building to create solutions that are both evidence-based and scalable.

The Centre is organized around two complementary strategic pillars:

Technology for Growth, which helps businesses leverage technology to innovate, compete and scale.

Technology for Impact, which focuses on applying technology to improve livelihoods, entrepreneurship, public services and inclusive development.

Together, these pillars reflect SRITNEs belief that technology should drive both economic progress and societal transformation.

About the Technology for Impact Initiative

Technology has become one of the most powerful drivers of social and economic development. Artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, mobile technologies and digital platforms are creating unprecedented opportunities to improve livelihoods, strengthen institutions and expand access to markets and services.

Yet realizing this potential requires more than technology alone. It demands collaboration between researchers, governments, development organizations, technology companies, philanthropies and communities.

SRITNEs Technology for Impact initiative brings these stakeholders together to design, test and scale technology-enabled solutions to real-world development challenges.

Working through long-term partnerships, the initiative seeks to translate research into practice by developing scalable programmes, digital tools, policy insights and institutional capabilities that improve outcomes across sectors such as entrepreneurship, livelihoods, skilling, financial inclusion and digital adoption.

Rather than implementing isolated projects, the initiative aims to create reusable knowledge, products and partnerships that strengthen the broader technology-for-impact ecosystem.

A Founding Team Opportunity

SRITNE is entering an exciting phase of institution building.

As a member of the Founding Team, you will play a central role in shaping not only the Technology for Impact portfolio but also the future of the Centre itself.

Unlike established organizations with predefined structures and processes, SRITNE offers the opportunity to build new initiatives from the ground up. This includes developing partnerships, creating programmes, establishing operating processes, mentoring emerging talent, designing new products and contributing to the Centres long-term strategy.

The successful candidate will help define how one of Indias leading research and innovation centres evolves over the coming decade.

The Role

The Associate Director will lead the Technology for Impact portfolio by developing strategic partnerships, creating new programmes and ensuring the successful execution of collaborative initiatives.

Working closely with the Executive Director, faculty, researchers and external partners, the Associate Director will translate ideas into impactful programmes that combine rigorous research with practical implementation.

The role requires an individual who is equally comfortable engaging with senior government officials, nonprofit leaders, corporate partners, researchers and community organizations while managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships

• Develop and nurture long-term collaborations with government agencies, development organizations, philanthropic foundations, technology companies and social enterprises.
• Identify emerging opportunities that align with SRITNEs mission and convert them into sustainable collaborations.
• Represent SRITNE at external meetings, conferences and strategic forums.
• Develop proposals for collaborative research, implementation and capacity-building initiatives.

Programme Design and Leadership

• Lead the conceptualization, design and execution of flagship Technology for Impact initiatives.
• Translate emerging opportunities into well-structured programmes with clear objectives, implementation plans and measurable outcomes.
• Build initiatives that combine research, technology and implementation to generate scalable societal impact.

Research Translation

Work closely with ISB faculty and research teams to translate academic research into practical solutions.

Support the development of:

• field pilots
• implementation studies
• technology-enabled interventions
• practitioner toolkits
• digital products
• policy engagement
• institutional knowledge assets

Ensure that every major initiative contributes both to societal impact and to the development of high-quality research.

Project and Portfolio Management

• Lead multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring high standards of execution.
• Coordinate diverse stakeholders across academia, government, industry and civil society.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, reporting and partner communication.
• Monitor programme performance and continuously improve implementation based on evidence and learning.

Institution Building

Contribute actively to the long-term growth of SRITNE by helping establish:

• flagship programmes
• strategic partnerships
• funding opportunities
• institutional processes
• technology platforms
• research datasets
• national and international visibility

Support the development of a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture within the Centre.

Team Leadership

• Work closely with Research Fellows, Product Leads, student teams and external collaborators.
• Mentor junior colleagues and create an environment that encourages experimentation, collaboration and continuous learning.
• Support the recruitment and development of future members of the Technology for Impact portfolio.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first two years, the successful candidate is expected to contribute towards:

• Building a portfolio of long-term partnerships with leading development organizations, governments and technology companies.
• Launching multiple flagship Technology for Impact initiatives.
• Securing external funding through grants, sponsored research and strategic collaborations.
• Developing reusable research, technology and implementation assets.
• Establishing SRITNE as a trusted partner within Indias technology-for-impact ecosystem.
• Building strong multidisciplinary teams capable of sustaining long-term impact.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should possess:

• A Masters degree or higher in Management, Public Policy, Engineering, Technology, Development Studies or a related discipline.
• Approximately 8–12 years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex programmes involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working with governments, nonprofits, research institutions, technology firms or philanthropic organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building abilities.
• Proven ability to independently manage initiatives from concept through execution.

Experience in fundraising, grant management or partnership development will be an advantage.

Desired Areas of Expertise

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be valuable:

• Technology for Development
• Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact
• Digital Public Infrastructure
• Entrepreneurship Development
• Livelihoods
• Financial Inclusion
• Digital Adoption
• Innovation Ecosystems
• Public Policy
• Research Management
• Impact Measurement

Personal Attributes

We are looking for individuals who are:

• Entrepreneurial and comfortable building new initiatives from the ground up.
• Curious about the role of technology in solving complex societal challenges.
• Able to think strategically while executing operationally.
• Comfortable working across disciplines and sectors.
• Excellent collaborators with high levels of integrity and professionalism.
• Motivated by creating long-term institutional impact rather than short-term project delivery.

Why Join SRITNE

Joining SRITNE offers a unique opportunity to help shape one of Indias most ambitious research and innovation centres focused on technology-enabled growth and societal transformation.

As a member of the Founding Team, you will work alongside leading faculty, researchers, governments, industry leaders and development organizations to build programmes that combine academic rigour with measurable real-world impact.

If you are excited by institution building, interdisciplinary collaboration and the opportunity to create lasting societal value through technology, we would be delighted to hear from you.