Deputy CEO

About the Organisation

Our partner is a pioneering organisation dedicated to building inclusive, high-quality education systems for children and communities across India. 

They are looking for a Deputy CEO who will partner closely with their Founder/CEO to strengthen operations, academic delivery, and fundraising - while ensuring their work stays rooted in feminist and inclusive values.

Role Overview

The Deputy CEO will serve as second-in-command, providing strategic and operational leadership across the organization's diverse programmes. This role demands a leader with classroom credibility, large-scale operational experience, and strong fundraising acumen. They will directly oversee programme quality, staff performance, fundraising strategy, and stakeholder engagement while representing the organization with donors, government, and partners.

This is a full-time, on-site role, requiring a long-term commitment of 5+ years.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Executive Support

• Act as Deputy to the Founder/CEO, driving both operational and academic excellence.
• Support the CEO in setting and executing organizational strategy to achieve their mission and long-term goals.
• Act as a strategic partner to the CEO, providing operational and policy-level support, and deputizing in the CEOs absence when required.
• Drive innovation and ensure scalability and sustainability of programs.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Manage, mentor, and inspire large, cross-functional teams while building internal capacity for leadership and innovation.
• Oversee programme delivery, staff performance, budgets, and systems that enable scale (350-600 staff).
• Strengthen institutional capacity, build leadership pipelines, and foster a culture of inclusiveness, collaboration, and high performance.
• Coach and mentor senior staff to build a strong pipeline of future leaders.
• Model inclusive, feminist, and collaborative leadership.

Programme & Quality Education

• Oversee the design and implementation of innovative education programs that ensure measurable improvements in learning outcomes and system effectiveness.
• Champion the advancement of quality education that integrates academic learning with gender justice, social justice, and active democratic citizenship.
• Ensure academic quality and accountability frameworks are implemented effectively.
• Lead continuous improvement cycles using research, data, and field insights.
• Provide leadership in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs and curricula.
• Work hands-on in schools and communities to stay grounded in grassroots realities.

Fundraising & Resource Mobilization

• Shape and execute fundraising strategy, managing donor relations and institutional partnerships.
• Lead efforts to secure diverse funding streams, cultivate long-term donor partnerships, and drive financial sustainability.
• Lead fundraising and resource development efforts to diversify and strengthen financial sustainability.

Governance, Systems & Policy Engagement

• Strengthen organizational governance, compliance frameworks, and policy systems to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Advocate for policy reforms in education and gender equality at state, national, and global levels.
• Serve as spokesperson when required, maintaining a credible, politically neutral presence.
• Represent the organization with government agencies, donors, partner organizations, and national and international education forums to enhance visibility and influence, and maintain long-term relationships.
• Build partnerships with schools and education systems to promote equity, inclusiveness, and excellence in teaching and learning.

Operational Oversight

• Provide consistent, on-site leadership from the office to ensure smooth execution of all programs and initiatives.

Candidate Profile

Must-Have Qualifications:

• Classroom teaching experience (non-negotiable).
• 10+ years of leadership experience in education or mission-driven organisations.
• Proven track record of managing programmes/operations at scale (350-600 staff).
• Strong fundraising ability - donor cultivation, institutional fundraising wins, and strategy execution.
• Comfort with data, research, and program evaluation frameworks.
• Willingness to relocate to Lucknow and commit full-time, on-site.

Nice-to-Have:

• Women candidates will be preferred for this position.
• Academic research background or published work in education.
• Experience in both non-profit and for-profit education delivery models.
• Media presence or public speaking experience.

Mindset & Values

• We are looking for someone who:
• Brings a feminist and inclusion-first outlook into program design and leadership.
• Practices collaborative, coaching-based leadership rather than top-down management.
• Maintains a politically neutral public profile, safeguarding donor and stakeholder trust.
• Has demonstrated loyalty and long-term commitment in previous roles.