Job Openings Lead - Scale Up Strategy

About the job Lead - Scale Up Strategy

Title:Lead- Scale-Up Strategy

Location: Flexible within India, with frequent travel to rural project sites across cotton-growing or distressed agricultural regions
Engagement Type: Full-time consulting contract (12 months, with possible extension)
Compensation: A competitive annual salary aligned with industry standards, commensurate with experience and qualifications, negotiable based on experience
Reports to: Director Climate and Livelihoods, Arthan

About the Role

Arthan is seeking a Lead Scale-Up Strategy to lead the strategic design field implementation, and institutional strengthening for a portfolio of regenerative agriculture and sustainable livelihoods programs.

The lead will anchor a high-impact scale-up engagement currently underway and concurrently manage at least 23 other active rural transformation projects. Together, these projects span regenerative cotton, FPO strengthening, SHG-based micro-enterprise development, and climate-resilient farming.

This role is ideal for a systems-thinker and doer, someone with the ability to navigate grassroots realities while shaping credible scale pathways, influence policy spaces, and align ecosystem stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Scale Pathway Development

  • Lead the development of scale-up roadmaps across regenerative agriculture programs, integrating field learning, stakeholder priorities, and operational viability

  • Define growth milestones, cost envelopes, institutional transitions, and funding pathways for long-term sustainability

  • Embed clear exit logic and community ownership frameworks

2. Pilot Design, Testing & Iteration

  • Design and oversee pilot interventions (e.g., regenerative methods, digital tools, input supply chains, credit linkages) with FPOs, SHGs, and smallholder farmers

  • Use agile methods to iterate pilots based on feedback, M&E data, and user experience

  • Ensure all pilots are rigorously documented and aligned with scale logic

3. Field Engagement & Diagnostics

  • Coordinate field diagnostics, participatory rural appraisals, and community consultations across program sites

  • Map operational processes, identify system inefficiencies, and co-create process enhancements with local stakeholders

  • Maintain strong relationships with farmers, field teams, and implementing partners

4. Ecosystem Engagement & Partnerships

  • Identify and cultivate partnerships with agri-tech platforms, certification bodies, government schemes, research institutions, and market actors

  • Facilitate MOUs, joint planning, and multi-stakeholder dialogues to embed programs in the broader ecosystem

  • Represent Arthan’s regenerative work in sectoral convenings, working groups, and forums

5. Monitoring, Learning & Influence

  • Oversee the setup and refinement of M&E systems across projects, ensuring high-quality data on inputs, yields, incomes, and soil health

  • Conduct quarterly learning cycles and reflection sessions with partner teams and communities

  • Lead the development of evidence products (case studies, briefs, field notes) to influence donors, policy actors, and peer funders

6. Team & Systems Strengthening

  • Guide recruitment, onboarding, and mentoring of project teams including Program Managers, M&E staff, and technical advisors
    Support institutional capacity building of farmer organizations (FPOs, SHGs), with a focus on governance, record-keeping, and financial sustainability

  • Develop and share toolkits, SOPs, and handbooks to codify and scale effective practices

Ideal Candidate Profile

Must-Have

Desirable

  • 10-15+ years of leadership experience in sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods, or development consulting
  • Prior experience in regenerative cotton, sustainable agri-value chains, or community-owned agri-enterprises
  • Track record of designing and implementing scale-up strategies in multi-stakeholder environments
  • Familiarity with agri-tech pilots, traceability systems, climate-smart practices
  • Proven ability to lead rural implementation and strategy simultaneously
  • Knowledge of schemes like NRLM, NMNF, or exposure to policy engagement
  • Master’s degree or higher in Agriculture, Rural Development, Environment, or related field
  • Multilingual (English + at least one regional Indian language)
  • Excellent communication, facilitation, and adaptive leadership skills
  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, equity, and gender-responsive programming

Compensation & Logistics

  • Annual Compensation: A competitive annual salary aligned with industry standards, commensurate with experience and qualifications, negotiable based on experience

  • Travel Requirements: Frequent travel to field sites (rural/semi-urban geographies)

  • Tools Provided: Field logistics support, stakeholder facilitation, M&E toolkits

  • Performance Framework: KPIs linked to blueprint delivery, pilot execution, partner traction, and field adoption metrics

How to Apply

Submit the following to swati.singh@arthancareers.com & aarohi.punj@arthancareers.com :

  • A CV detailing relevant experience

  • A brief cover note describing your interest and relevant projects managed (including budgets)

  • A sample of authored work (e.g., strategy plan, operational roadmap, published article)

Deadline to apply: 31st October, 2025
Subject Line: Lead- Scale Up Strategy 



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