President, Management

Job Description:

President

Why this role matters now

As ISDM marks a decade of institution-building, it stands at an inflection point. What began as an ambitious idea has evolved into a nationally recognised institution shaping talent, knowledge, and practice in the social sector. The next phase calls for deepening academic excellence, expanding presence, increasing influence, building a globally respected institution in Development Management and having a wide-ranging impact across the country.

The President will play a defining role in shaping this next chapter, transitioning ISDM from a strong foundation to a scaled, enduring institution with national impact and global reputation.

About ISDM

The Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) is a pioneering institution established in 2016 to build the field of Development Management as a distinct and rigorous discipline for social development work. Conceived by leaders from both practice and academia, ISDM was founded on the belief that traditional management education does not adequately address the complexity, values, and realities of social impact work.

ISDM’s mission is to strengthen the leadership and management capacity in social development work across social purpose organizations and the government. It seeks to establish Development Management as both a recognized profession and a robust body of knowledge, enabling more effective, scalable, and sustainable social impact.

At the core of ISDM’s work is its flagship Post Graduate Programme in Development Management (PGP-DM) an intensive, practice-oriented programme designed to equip professionals with the skills to design, manage, and scale interventions in complex social contexts. Alongside this, ISDM is building a broader ecosystem through its work on building the discipline and knowledge assets for teaching and developing Development Management professionals, while simultaneously working to influence and build the acceptance and adoption of Development Management among senior leaders in the social sector and the government.

ISDM’s approach reimagines management through a development lens prioritizing equity, justice, collaboration, and long-term societal value. It brings together practitioners, academia, and institutions to co-create knowledge and practice that is deeply rooted in the realities of social development work.

As ISDM enters its second decade, it has aspirations to build a national grid composed of 5 regional campuses across India; a Virtual University that provides learning opportunities in Development Management in several languages in the country; and a strong partnership with some institutions within the government to take Development Management into the government in a structured and systemic manner. ISDM also aspires to make available the wisdom and experience it has to countries in the Global South

Location:

Delhi NCR, India (with travel within India and globally)

Reports To:

Chair of the Board / Founding President

Works Closely With

• Board of Governing Trustees and Founders

• Deans, Faculty, and Senior Leadership Team

• External partners: funders, government, universities, civil society organisations, and media

Role Overview

The President will serve as the chief executive of ISDM, leading the institution into its next phase of growth, influence, and institutional maturity. The role spans academic leadership, institution building, partnerships, and financial sustainability.

This role requires a seasoned institution builder who can translate vision into execution, mobilize resources, develop strong leadership teams, and build the systems and culture required to scale ISDM’s work and influence.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the execution…