Job Description:
Special Assistant to Co-Founder and Scientific Director, CEGIS.
Reporting to: Co-Founder and Scientific Director, CEGIS Foundation.
Location: Remote
About CEGIS :
Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS pronounced See-Jis) aims to
improve lives by helping Indian state governments deliver better development outcomes.
Informed by cutting-edge research and evidence as well as a practical orientation toward implementable ideas, CEGIS provides Indian states with both an analytical roadmap for governance reforms as well as strategic implementation support to deliver on this vision.
The intellectual roadmap for CEGIS Theory of Change (ToC) and approach to governance reforms is provided by Prof. Karthik Muralidharan, the Founder and Scientific Director of CEGIS, and expanded upon in his recent book Accelerating Indias Development: A State-Led Roadmap for Indias Development (Penguin 2024).
About Prof. Karthik Muralidharan, Co-Founder and Scientific Director of CEGIS
Karthik Muralidharan is the Tata Chancellors Professor of Economics at the University of California San Diego. His research spans public finance and development economics, with a focus on improving education, health, welfare, and public service delivery, and has been published in many of the worlds leading academic journals. He has also actively engaged in policy advising and capacity building in India at both Central and state government levels and in public communication of research insights through several op-eds and podcasts.
Born and raised in India, he holds a Bachelors degree in economics from Harvard, an MPhil from Cambridge (UK), and a PhD in economics from Harvard. He founded CEGIS to help accelerate the translation of research-based ideas into practice through deep, long-term partnerships with state governments in India.
Role Summary:
The Center for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS) is seeking a highly skilled and versatile Special Assistant to support our Co-Founder, Professor Karthik Muralidharan. This critical role demands a proactive, organised, and dynamic individual capable of managing the fast-paced and evolving schedule, and work demands of a globally prominent economist, thought leader, advisor to governments and international organisations, and institution builder. The Special Assistant will serve as the primary point of contact for Professor Muralidharan, handling his global academic and CEGIS engagements; public events and lectures; teaching and capacity building; and various other day-to-day administrative tasks. We hope to find a long-term fit for this position, and the ideal candidate will become a trusted long-term partner to Prof. Muralidharan for many years to come.
Key Responsibilities:
Administrative Support and Schedule Management :
- Manage the Co-Founder's calendar, including scheduling meetings, ensuring the booking of tickets, and arranging transport, accommodations, and visas for his global and domestic engagements (the actual booking can often be delegated).
- Coordinate with academic institutions, government departments, and other stakeholders for seamless scheduling.
- Handle correspondence, filter communications, and prioritise tasks.
Book Dissemination and Other Events Management:
- Support the dissemination of ideas and content related to Prof. Muralidharans book.
- Assist in organising and coordinating the Professors public talks, lectures, and other events where he is a speaker or participant.
- Ensure all logistical arrangements are in place for smooth event execution
Research and Documentation:
- Coordinate the preparation of briefings and background notes to ensure the Co-Founder is well-prepared for all meetings and engagements.
- Conduct research and prepare reports on various topics relevant to the Co-Founder's work and meetings.
- Maintain and organise a ready repository of important documents and research materials.
Website and Social Media Management:
- Maintain and update Prof. Muralidharans academic and book web pages to ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest information and resources.
- Support content creation for his social media handles to share details of new research, writing, and public events
Other Duties:
- Undertake special projects and other tasks as assigned by the Co-Founder to support his work.
Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree required; advanced degree preferred, particularly in a related field such as public policy, economics, humanities, social sciences, communications and public relations or business administration.
- 6-9 years of experience in a similar role, preferably supporting senior executives or leaders with fast-paced multidimensional professional lives.
- Experience in managing websites, social media accounts, and other public-facing digital assets of leaders is desirable.
Skills:
- Excellent organisational and time management skills, demonstrating the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, ensuring clarity and professionalism in all interactions.
Proficiency in using digital tools for scheduling, social media management, and website maintenance. - Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently with minimal supervision, showcasing initiative and a strong work ethic.
- High level of discretion and confidentiality, with the ability to handle sensitive information with care.
- Experience with financial management, processing of reimbursements, compliance, and paperwork
- Strong interpersonal skills, capable of interacting with diverse stakeholders and building positive relationships.
- Creative and resourceful, with a keen eye for detail, ensuring high-quality outputs in all responsibilities.
- Adaptable and flexible, with a willingness to take on new challenges and adjust to changing priorities.
- Exceptionally high standards of work quality and reliability
Interested in a long-term role supporting Prof. Muralidharan across a wide range of tasks and functions
Pre-reads for the application process:
Please go through the following materials before sending in your application:
Podcast episodes with Prof. Karthik Muralidharan on the state of the Indian state, the bureaucrats burden, education, and healthcare in India.
You are also encouraged to read more of Prof. Karthik Muralidharans work here.
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