Role: Senior Associate - Policy, Research & Strategy
Nature of employment: Full-time
Reporting to: Principal Lead
Location: New Delhi, India
About ChangeInkk
ChangeInkk is a non-profit organization on a mission to unlock the potential of 200 million Indians with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) to accelerate growth and innovation. It works at the intersection of government, education, tech, skilling, entrepreneurship & innovation through collaborative action to sensitize and strengthen the ecosystem to achieve this mission. ChangeInkk’s mission is to create pathways of success for individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, impacting an estimated 200 million Indians.
We believe their contributions are vital for India to reach a $5 trillion economy. After all, despite struggles with language processing, dyslexics have shaped the world, constituting 40% of self-made millionaires and pioneering inventors.
Our mission is to establish inclusive ecosystems that not only support these individuals, but unlock their true potential, enabling them to successfully transition from classrooms to careers.
Engaging with diverse stakeholders, including individuals, parents, educators, employers, policymakers, and industry leaders, our interventions include:
•ChangeInkk the narrative through sensitization and advocacy
•Strengthening public policy and governance for systems transformation
•Building capacities of stakeholders
•Implementing catalytic lighthouse programmes to plug gaps, and showcase successful implementation models.
•Undertaking research and publishing toolkits and reports
Our work now spans 6 states and 5 government ministries in India, and we have had the distinct honor of presenting our vision to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. In less than four years, we are driving change at a scale no donor or policymaker should overlook:
- 50+ critical policies passed, unlocking ₹490 Cr+ for inclusive education for SLDs
- A national capacity-building program for higher education institutions with the Ministry of Education, strengthening over 130 centrally funded HEIs
- An 87% reduction in diagnosis time, 60% increase in teacher training for CWSN and over 1600 employers engaged in capacity building and adopting SLD inclusive policies.
- SLD inclusion embedded in national tech and AI missions, aligning education with workforce readiness
- Our #Speak4Dyslexia & #Act4Dyslexia campaign has been widely adopted by government and industry, with an organic reach exceeding a billion.
About the Role
We are actively seeking a highly motivated and passionate individual to join our Public Policy, Research, and Strategy Team as a Manager/Senior Manager.
We are looking for mid-career professional with a keen interest in:
• Influencing public policy and systems transformation
• Undertaking evidence-based policy action
• Strategy development.
• Implementation feedback and insights from program delivery
This role provides a unique chance to delve into diverse domains, including public policy and government, education, technology, skilling and employment, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as development and impact investing. This position is an exciting opportunity to actively contribute to shaping policies that directly impact the lives of individuals with learning disabilities. Individuals who are highly motivated and passionate about making a difference, are encourage you to apply and be part of our impactful journey.
Roles & Responsibilities
•Policy Research: Conduct thorough research and monitor policies that can impact persons with learning disabilities in India, identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities for interventions that can strengthen support and unlock their potential. Will also be required to identifying global best practices and trends that can accelerate implementation in India.
•Analyze data related to learning disabilities, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to derive insights that inform evidence-based policy recommendations.
•Coordination with Field Teams: On-ground insights from field teams will inform program design, ensuring interventions remain contextually relevant and aligned with goals, strengthening feedback loops, enabling more adaptive interventions for scale.
•Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with State and Central Government officials, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders to advocate for policy changes that enhance the inclusion of persons with learning disabilities. Collaborate with internal teams, including compliance, communications, and different project units, to align initiatives with project objectives
• Strategy Development: Work closely with senior team members to contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions that will gain buy-in from governments and other ecosystem partners, to meet organizational goals and objectives. Plan, conduct, and facilitate policy consultation meetings with bureaucrats, industry partners, civil society leaders, and other DEI stakeholders. Support the team in creating the framework for the project implementation.
•Documentation: Prepare clear and concise policy briefs, reports, and other documents to communicate research findings and recommendations to internal and external audiences. Capture learnings on success and failures, impact stories, lessons learned at regular intervals. Create knowledge products for internal and external facing documentation. Proactively identify and execute additional activities to advance the organization’s success and sustainability.
•Leverage Tech for Scale: Demonstrate an understanding of tech solutioning and its role in driving systems transformation, with the ability to support design, development, and deployment of the tech solutions while leveraging its utility to strengthen program interventions and enhance impact at scale.
Eligibility Criteria
•Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in a broad range of disciplines including but not limited to Public Policy, Political Science, Development Studies, Economics, Liberal Arts, Law, Business Studies etc. While Post Graduate degree is not mandatory, will be an advantage.
•3 to 5+ years of relevant work experience. Knowledge of public policies, government regulations, and their implications, and experience of working with government in relevant sectors is a must.
•Proficient in use of technology, including emerging AI.
Skills & Attributes
• Committed to learning, unlearning and relearning, and comfortable in working outside your comfort zone.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data to derive meaningful insights and recommendations. Proficiency in using various research methodologies to gather information and conduct policy analyses is preferred.
•Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address complex challenges in policy and strategy development. Ability to connect policy issues across different sectors for holistic analysis.
•Excellent written communication skills to prepare reports, policy briefs, and other documents. Ability to articulate ideas and findings effectively, both internally and externally.
•Capability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal teams, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and other partners.
•Adaptability to changing priorities and the ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment.
•Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
•Ability to meet aggressive deadlines and deliver high-quality work within specified timeframes.
Compensation Remuneration will be competitive within the development sector's pay scales and will depend upon your qualifications and relevant qualifications and experience.
Apply
Excited about this role, but don't meet 100% of the expected requirements listed above? We'd still love to hear from you. Please apply here !
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Individuals with learning disabilities and other neurodiverse conditions are encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to support the success of all our team members. If you require specific accommodations during the application process, please feel free to reach out to our hr team at hr@changeinkk.org