DIRECTOR
SAHAY
Kolkata
SAHAY is a charitable society working in Kolkata since 1989. We believe that investing in children and youth and empowering them to be agents of change in their communities, is the single best answer to breaking generational poverty. We are currently working with 3769 children from vulnerable communities in Narkeldanga area, providing them with sessions on essential life skills and extracurricular activities to ensure their holistic development. Through this initiative, we aim to equip children with the mindset, skills and tools to become confident young adults who can achieve their dreams.
THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY:
SAHAY is seeking to hire a dynamic and result oriented leader as Director. You are expected to spearhead strategic initiatives, enhance operational effectiveness, develop, and augment organizational funds and funding sources as well as forge and nurture strategic partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders.
As an innovative leader, you will cultivate a high-performance culture aligned with the organization’s values, champion staff development, accountability, collaboration, efficiency and adherence to our policies, including child safeguarding.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Director is expected to be passionate for the cause of the marginalized children and youth of SAHAY, as well as possess proven operational and fund-raising expertise and a deep understanding of child and marginalized community development.
We are looking for a self-motivated and proactive individual with a high level of compassion, empathy, and integrity. The aspirant should be believer as well as practitioner of diversity, equity and inclusivity principles.
REPORTING TO:Executive Board
Place of ASSIGNMENT: Kolkata
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
a. Governance and Risk Management
- Engage directly with the Executive Board on all governance and compliance matters effectively. Conduct official correspondence with Statutory authorities on behalf of the Executive Board as well as jointly with the Executive Board as appropriate.
- Coordinate meetings with the Executive Board and relevant donors in accordance with policies established in the Memorandum of Association and guidelines; maintain minutes and statutory records.
- Work closely with the Executive Board and relevant donors to identify, evaluate, and mitigate the risks to the organization's people (clients, staff, management, volunteers), property, finances, goodwill, and reputation.
- Supervise and manage design and implement appropriate systems and controls to minimize potential business, financial, compliance, reputational and other significant risks face.
- Liason with the donors on all project, compliance, organizational development issues
- Ensure all office bearers and other senior members are in the loop of all major decisions.
- Ensure that project management decisions are informed to the respective donors.
b. Fundraising, Partnerships and Stakeholder Management
- Oversee and advance the development of new funding for the organization, broadening the donor base with corporates, CSRs, High Net worth individuals, international and national funding organizations.
- Proactively generate and cultivate fundraising leads to support program expansion and institutional development.
- Network and build alliances with external partners, government and other NGOs.
- Represent the organization effectively. Ensure the mission, programs and services are consistently presented to portray strong image to relevant stakeholders including volunteers, beneficiaries, and sponsors to enhance the organization's community profile.
- Deepen and refine all aspects of communications—from web and social media presence to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand.
- Handle donor visits, accompany donors on visits and promote adequate execution and timely quality focused reporting to donors.
c. Planning, execution, and reporting
- In consultation with the Executive Board, staff and other relevant stakeholders, define the overall strategic vision and plan of SAHAY.
- Lead development of short-term, medium-term, and long-term implementations plans and budgets aligned to the overall strategic direction and ensure adherence of the same.
- Oversee daily operations of the organisation, drive performance and productivity aligned to agreed organizational annual goals and results.
- Actively identify, analyze, and optimize existing operational processes to improve services to constituents.
- Ensure organizational stewardship, key performance metrics, impact results and outcomes.
- Drive growth in programs, partnerships, and budget outlay.
- Contribute to thought leadership, including managing self-reflection efforts to ensure that the organization is continuously iterating, learning and improving in program delivery.
- Develop and implement systems for impact measurement and timely reporting.
- Provide timely and accurate analysis and routine reporting on the impact and performance of the programmes/ projects supported by different donors.
- Proactively participate in developing effective systems and processes to ensure seamless execution.
d. Policy oversight, Financial Management and Compliance
- Ensure SAHAY’s organizational structure, operational policies and other processes are in place. Undertake periodic reviews, recommend updates as well as oversee implementation of approved changes as needed.
- Drive adherence to all organizational policies, business ethics, code of conduct, statutory regulatory guidelines, local laws, and regulations. This includes key financial controls, auditing, purchasing and the segregation of duties.
- Develop budget optimization plan to ensure complete utilisation.
- Assure the accuracy and integrity of the Organization’s financial reporting and disclosure requirements.
- Oversee internal controls and ensure sound bookkeeping and accounting procedure.
- Coordinate with Accounting and HR team as required.
e. People Management
- Identify, hire, lead, develop, coach and retain a high-performing team that is best fit for the organization in terms of skills, competencies and leadership behaviours.
- Promote a results-oriented learning culture characterized by alignment to values, ethics, diversity, equity, inclusivity, and integrity that addresses challenges and solves problems.
- Drive capacity building to create and sustain a competitive advantage through strong governance, innovation, impact measurement and strategic partnerships.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Post Graduate diploma/ degree, with a minimum of 10 years of sector relevant leadership, management, operations experience, having built, inspired and managed cross-functional teams leading them to succeed.
- A proven track record in raising and managing funds, working with multi-disciplinary teams, information systems, financial management, networking with external agencies, multiple donors and working with an Executive Board.
- Demonstrated skills in NGO operations. Ability to execute strategic objectives and implementation of work plans and outcomes within available resources.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a history of inspiring collaboration across various functions and ability to effectively interact with diverse stakeholders - Executive Board Members, staff, beneficiaries, funders and donors, media, government etc.
- Excellent verbal communication and advance report writing skills in English.
- Tech savy with high level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
ATTRIBUTES
- Ability to adapt critically and strategically to address an ever-changing work environment.
- Self-motivated and proactive with a high level of compassion, empathy, and passion to work on complex social causes specially the cause of SAHAY and youth, a commitment to making a difference in the world.
- Comfort working in multiple environments from our implementation centers to the neighbourhoods where our SAHAY and youth live, to the Executive Board Room.
- Actively pursues learning and self-development. Willingness to constantly update themselves with the latest development in their field of expertise; seeks feedback; modifies behaviour considering right feedback.
- Believes in collaboration and teamwork.
- Promotes diversity and inclusion, values other cultures, and demonstrate respect while relating with all organizational constituents, irrespective of their race, color, faiths, gender, sexual orientation, age, caste, disabilities, experiences, beliefs, and ethnicity.
- Ability to project and maintain a calm work atmosphere while concurrently operating in a time and deadline intensive, customer-driven environment.
- Exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity reflective of a leader within an outstanding organization.
- Ability to articulate information in a comprehensible manner especially for reports and proposals.
DESIRABLE:
- Working knowledge of Hindi and Bengali.
- Demonstrated innovation in fundraising strategies.
TIME Requirement: 40% of time in NGO operations and 60% of time in fundraising component.
Fees: The gross compensation will be around Rs. 20 lakhs per annum, based upon skills, past experience & achievements.
Interested candidates can send her/his updated resume and cover letter to:
Last Date of Application: 14th March 2026.
Please mention the last drawn salary and the notice period in the resume.
Please apply as early as possible, since applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We are an equal opportunity employer. Our talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to promote diversity within the organization. We also promote and protect the welfare of children and youths from abuse and exploitation.