The Association of People with Disability (APD) is a pioneering organization committed to empowering individuals with disabilities across India. With a legacy of creating impactful programs and initiatives, APD continues to enhance lives through education, rehabilitation, and skill development to name a few. As part of our ambitious growth plan for 2025-2028, we are looking for a Director of Scale to lead the expansion of our operations, foster strategic partnerships, and ensure the highest standards of compliance and quality across all initiatives.
This role is a high-impact position, offering the opportunity to shape the future of disability inclusion in India. Based in Bangalore, the position demands extensive travel and a strategic mindset to fulfil APD's mission of scaling our reach and influence.
Key Responsibilities
1. Realizing Our Growth Ambitions
To drive the expansion of APD’s presence across India by setting up at least two new centres, one in the north and the other in the east. Responsibilities include:
Location Identification: Identify new states and locations aligning with APD’s vision and mission, leveraging demographic and needs-based analysis.
Feasibility Studies:
Conduct socio-economic and cultural assessments to ensure alignment with APD’s goals.
Evaluate potential challenges such as accessibility, regulatory requirements, and availability of local resources.
Budgeting and Financial Planning:
Develop detailed budgets covering setup costs, operational expenses, and contingencies.
Partner with the Finance Director to ensure financial approvals, tracking, and adherence to budgets.
Leasing and Infrastructure Setup:
Secure office spaces that comply with accessibility and safety standards.
Coordinate the procurement of furniture, technology, and other operational essentials.
Regulatory Compliance and Licenses:
Obtain necessary licenses and clearances from local authorities, ensuring adherence to labour laws and operational regulations.
Maintain comprehensive documentation for compliance audits.
Talent Acquisition and HR Alignment:
Work with the HR Director to develop hiring plans for key roles.
Conduct market analyses to assess talent availability, salary benchmarks, and onboarding timelines.
Timelines and Project Management:
Establish clear timelines for each phase of the setup process.
Implement a project management framework to track milestones and address roadblocks proactively.
Stakeholder Coordination:
Liaise with local government bodies, community leaders, and partners to ensure smooth integration.
Organize community awareness campaigns to introduce APD’s mission and services.
2. Growing Our Footprint Through Partnerships
To accelerate scaling efforts by establishing and nurturing partnerships with aligned organizations and entities. Responsibilities include:
Strategic Partner Identification:
Map potential partners such as NGOs, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and government programs.
Identify organizations with shared values, complementary strengths, and scalability potential.
Due Diligence:
Conduct thorough background checks, including financial stability, legal compliance, and programmatic impact.
Assess cultural alignment and capacity to meet APD’s quality standards.
Partnership Development:
Design partnership models (e.g., joint ventures, funding collaborations) to achieve mutual objectives.
Negotiate clear terms and expectations, formalizing agreements with measurable KPIs.
Implementation and Support:
Collaborate on co-branded programs, ensuring alignment with APD’s operational practices.
Provide technical support and capacity-building sessions to strengthen partner capabilities.
Impact Assessment:
Develop metrics to monitor partnership effectiveness.
Conduct periodic reviews to refine strategies and maximize outcomes.
3. Audit & Compliance of Our Partners
To ensure consistency and quality in the way APD and its partners operate. Responsibilities include:
Standardized Operational Frameworks:
Create detailed compliance checklists covering HR policies, financial management, and program delivery.
Develop templates for consistent documentation and reporting.
Periodic Reviews and Audits:
Schedule regular audits to verify adherence to APD’s standards, with reports shared with leadership.
Implement corrective action plans for non-compliance and follow up on their execution.
Principal Employer Accountability:
Ensure APD’s role as the Principal Employer is upheld, particularly in labour law adherence and ethical practices.
Training and Program Alignment:
Oversee the delivery of partner training programs to maintain uniformity in execution.
Monitor the implementation of schemes and initiatives to ensure fidelity to APD’s design.
Continuous Improvement:
Use audit findings to identify gaps and provide recommendations for process improvements.
Foster a culture of accountability and transparency among partners.
Strategic Planning (Scale and Expansion)
Drives the development and execution of APD’s multi-year expansion roadmap.
Leads market mapping, program replication strategies, and scale-readiness diagnostics.
New Projects (Greenfield)
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Operationalizes the greenfield expansion by managing end-to-end setup of new centres.
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Ensures readiness in terms of infra, regulatory compliance, onboarding local teams, and community engagement.
