Description:

Role Overview:

A leading social impact organization working at the intersection of public policy, systems reform, and on-ground implementation is seeking a Director - Policy Advocacy. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for shaping and driving national and state-level policy outcomes through evidence-based advocacy, deep institutional engagement, and strategic execution.

The role combines policy strategy, parliamentary engagement, project execution, and team leadership, and requires strong political acumen, credibility with government stakeholders, and the ability to translate research into actionable reform.

Key Responsibilities:

Policy Strategy & Advocacy Leadership:

- Design and lead national and state-level public policy advocacy strategies

- Translate program evidence and research into policy positions, reform agendas, and legislative asks

- Align advocacy priorities with political economy realities and policy windows

Execution & Program Management:

- Drive end-to-end execution of advocacy initiatives using structured project management tools

- Develop workplans, timelines, milestones, and accountability mechanisms

- Track progress, risks, and outcomes through dashboards and review processes

Parliamentary & Government Engagement:

- Build and sustain relationships with Members of Parliament across parties and Houses

- Engage with Standing Committees, Ministries, and senior government officials

- Track legislative developments (Bills, Questions, Debates) and identify influence opportunities

State-Level Policy Engagement:

- Lead advocacy efforts across priority states

- Position the organization as a credible policy and technical partner to State Governments

- Support adoption, notification, and implementation of policy reforms at state level

Research, Policy Translation & Media Engagement:

- Oversee policy research and manage external consultants and institutions

- Convert complex research and legal analysis into policy briefs, decks, and decision-ready materials

- Act as a trusted policy resource for national and regional media; support op-eds and briefings

Team Leadership & Capacity Building:

- Lead and mentor a high-performing policy and advocacy team

- Build a culture of accountability, strategic thinking, and execution excellence

- Foster cross-functional collaboration with programs, research, legal, and communications teams

Candidate Profile:

Must-Haves:

- Postgraduate degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Law, Economics, Public Administration, or related fields

- 15+ years of experience in policy advocacy, government relations, or public policy strategy

- Demonstrated experience engaging with Parliamentarians and senior government stakeholders

- Strong understanding of Indias Parliamentary system and state governance structures

- Proven leadership experience managing teams and multi-state initiatives

Preferred:

- Experience in evidence-based advocacy and policy research

- Background in development sector, public interest consulting, or social impact organizations

- Familiarity with Theory of Change, systems reform, or large-scale institutional change initiatives

Why This Role:

- Lead policy reform at national scale with real-world impact

- Influence systems, legislation, and government action across India

- Work in a high-performance, mission-driven environment

- Opportunity to shape policy outcomes that save lives and improve public system