Head - Urban Policy - NGO

What will the Head- Urban Policy really do?

Taking forward legacy of urban policy reforms in key areas of urban governance (what we refer to as "city-systems"). Setting the agenda for city-systems reforms and evidence building in areas of:

- Municipal Laws & Policies affecting different areas of planning, decentralization of powers and devolution of 3Fs and empowering Cities; Participatory democracy, Hyper-local governance, transparency and accountability; Organizational Development and other areas

- Brainstorming to set Objectives, arrive at Research Questions, and Methodology with Program Heads for Field and Secondary research

Surfacing newer areas for exploration in terms of:

- Intersectional areas in Climate, Health and Equity with City-Systems approach

- Emerging Tools and techniques for research and means of engagement

- Research eco-systemin public policy, urban governance, and models of partnership

- Thinking & Planning around Janaagraha's flagship event around 'ASICS' report, Urban Conclave and other Research Roundtables; and representing Janaagraha at similar high-level events at Centre, State and with eco-system partners

- Write regularly and encourage Team Leads to write & publish regularly on research topics, ASICS, Climate-Health-Equity Systems intersections and newer ideas

- Work closely with Head, Policy Advocacy and Head, Participatory Governance for advocacy on key transformational agendas with governments, wider political economy and other platforms

Leading CDAP (City Data and Analytics Platform):

Launching CDAP and development into later phases with areas of work under:

- Engagement with NITI Aayog and State/City Government

- Project Management, Implementation, and Reporting

- Platform Development with entities within and outside Janaagraha

- Convening Communities of Practice that will build & sustain CDAP

Incubating Equity City-Systems work at (starting with Gender):

- Working with Advisory Group for Gender to build Gender program

- Guiding and coordinating work of Research teams and Civic Teams in Gender work

- Handholding for Gender to emerge as intersectional area in State Program work

Organizational andleadership areas:

- Coordinating with Development team for developing proposals for long-term funding and for particular inputs / expectation in proposals or open approaches

- Exploring ideas from triangle of impact, execution & funding potential, to best / highest degree; focussing on critical Thought Leadership work

- Holding charge of the Results Framework of, and helping CPIO with planning, budgeting & MIS for teams under Urban Policy interacting with teams, as required.

- Developing synergies and cross-subsidization in resources - interfacing with individual teams as required

- Developing a strong data-base of like-minded organizations with convergence in values/thinking and complementarity in strengths / sectoral or services action / geography - for each team.

Qualifications and Experience:

- Relevant Master's degree (related to Urban Governance) with 15+ years overall experience, with 5+ in leadership roles relevant to the work, and 5+ years in Policy Research with leading organizations.

- Robust understanding of urban policy and governance in the Indian context is necessary and will be basis of consideration

- Basic understanding of research methodologies, involving public datasets and/or field surveys preferably in urban development.

- Previous team and program management experience of leading complex multi-stakeholder projects and diverse teams is desired.

- Work in either urban development or research organizations dealing with governments would be necessary

- What competencies does it take to be Head - Urban Policy

- Excellent project plan formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation skills.

- Excellent ability to manage a diverse set of stakeholders, in and outside of government.

- Excellent team management and communication skills.

- Good command over written and spoken English is necessary and further Indian languages desired.