If you are a passionate changemaker in your forties with a vision to create an educated and empowered India we have a position for you.
Sshrishti Trust
Position: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Reporting to the CEO and Trustees, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the execution of the organization’s mission. The COO will serve as the operational backbone of the organization and will ensure institutional sustainability, compliance, and growth at scale.
Organisation’s profile
A 23 years old not-for-profit organisation registered in India, implementing CSR-funded programmes and foreign contribution–supported projects under FCRA, working in areas such as Foundational and Remedial education, Digital literacy and Digital skilling for employability, livelihoods and community development across multiple states of India.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
• Advanced degree such as MBA, MSW, or equivalent postgraduate qualification.
• Minimum 10 years of senior management experience in the development or social sector, with significant experience managing CSR-funded projects.
• Proven track record of leading and scaling outcome-driven programmes at regional or national levels.
• Strong experience in organisational management, budgeting, and financial oversight.
• Demonstrated success in working with Boards and senior leadership.
• Strong fundraising, partnership development, marketing, and public relations experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong interpersonal abilities.
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative mindset.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders and multicultural teams.
• Passionate, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, idealism, and commitment to mission-driven work.
Responsibilities:
1. Leadership & Management:
• Provide strong leadership and oversight of programme delivery, statutory compliance, donor reporting, financial discipline, and internal controls.
• Foster a collaborative, ethical, inclusive, and mission-driven organisational culture.
• Translate Board-approved strategic plans into annual and multi-year operational plans with clear KPIs and milestones.
• Ensure alignment between mission, programmes, fundraising, communications, and operations.
• Act as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and Trustees, supporting both day-to-day operations and long-term institutional growth.
2. Programme M&E and Scale:
• Ensure high-quality programme implementation and adherence to donor MOUs.
• Strengthening monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems.
• Institutionalise learning loops using M&E findings to continuously improve programme quality.
• Develop SOPs, replicable programme models, and regional/state hub structures to support scale.
• Network with local NGOs, government bodies, academic institutions, and ecosystem partners to enhance programme reach and impact.
• Pilot innovative programme models and lead scale-up based on evidence and learning.
3. Financial Oversight & Internal Controls:
• Work closely with the Finance Head to develop programme-wise and donor-wise budgets.
• Track fund utilisation, burn rates, and financial projections.
• Ensure segregation and compliant utilisation of domestic, CSR, and foreign funds.
• Strengthen internal controls, approval workflows, and documentation.
• Ensure strict adherence to FCRA 2010 and related rules, including:
– Proper receipt and utilisation of foreign contributions
– Maintenance of designated FCRA bank accounts
– Timely preparation and filing of Annual FC-4 returns
• Ensure readiness for statutory, CSR, and donor audits.
• Oversee procurement, vendor management, asset utilization.
• Compliances: Act as the primary internal point of accountability for donor
4. Compliance, Governance & Risk Management:
• Act as the primary internal point of accountability for donor and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure full compliance with CSR Act requirements, including Schedule VII alignment, utilisation timelines, and reporting.
• Serve as a key liaison between management and the Board of Trustees.
• Prepare board dashboards, compliance updates, impact reports, and action trackers.
• Strengthen governance systems including ethics policies, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and institutional due diligence readiness.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, compliance, reputational, and programmatic risks.
• Establish and monitor a risk management framework and escalation matrix.
• Ensure data protection, donor confidentiality, and safeguarding of beneficiary information.
5. Resource Mobilisation, Partnerships & Communications:
• Build and nurture strategic partnerships to support national expansion.
• Establish and maintain relationships with corporates, foundations, institutional donors, political and community leaders.
• Actively guide and support the fundraising team by providing strategic inputs, donor connects, and programme ideation.
• Explore public–private partnerships (PPPs), consortium grants, and co-funding opportunities.
• Represent the organisation at national and international forums, conferences, and policy platforms.
• Ensure timely and effective online and offline communications, supported by analytics.
• Ensure donor dashboards are updated weekly and donor reports and outreach communications are sent on time.
• Oversee regular website updates, SEO optimisation, and consistent brand positioning across platforms.
6. Human Resource Management & Culture:
• Ensure compliance with HR policies, POSH guidelines, labour laws, and statutory requirements.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and retain a high-performing and values-driven team that promotes organizational culture and values.
• Build second-line leadership and succession plans for critical roles.
• Organise regular trainings and upskilling initiatives for staff.
• Oversee annual performance appraisals and feedback mechanisms.
• Actively engage volunteers, Board members, alumni groups, and funders.
7. Impact, Learning & Knowledge Management:
• Oversee documentation of best practices, case studies, and impact stories.
• Support development of knowledge products such as white papers, policy briefs, and toolkits.
• Ensure effective systems to track scaling progress and measure outcomes.
• Communicate organisational impact clearly and credibly to the Board, funders, and stakeholders.
8. Systems, Technology & Digital Transformation:
• Lead digitisation and optimisation of organisational systems including:
– Programme MIS and dashboards
– Financial reporting and donor compliance tracking
– HRMS management.
• Ensure data accuracy, analytics, and real-time reporting for informed decision-making.
• Promote technology-enabled monitoring, learning, and remote programme oversight.
Remuneration: Competitive and negotiable, commensurate with experience and achievements