Location: India (Hybrid, with travel across states)
Experience: 15–20+ years
Reports to: Co-CEO
Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience
Ek Kutumb is a research organisation working to strengthen the legitimacy and adoption of climate action in India. We conduct deep, values-based research to understand how people think about responsibility, development, fairness, and change — moving beyond surface opinions to uncover enduring value systems that shape behaviour and public acceptance.
We translate this research into human intelligence for institutions — supporting governments and other systems-shaping actors in designing climate policies, programs, and investments that are socially grounded, politically viable, and realistically implementable.
The Lead – Government Engagement & Advisory will anchor Ek Kutumb’s senior engagement with state governments and other institutions that shape policy, capital allocation, and large-scale program design.
This role combines institutional relationship-building with substantive advisory leadership. You will work at the intersection of policy substance and citizen intelligence — integrating Ek Kutumb’s research into high-level decision-making processes, stress-testing institutional assumptions, and strengthening the social and political grounding of climate action across states. As a member of the senior management team, you will help shape Ek Kutumb’s advisory philosophy and long-term institutional trajectory.
1. Government & Institutional Engagement
Build and sustain trusted relationships with state-level departments, climate cells and senior public officials
Engage other systems-focused actors influencing policy, investments, and programs
Position Ek Kutumb as a credible, non-advocacy strategic intelligence partner
Navigate political and institutional contexts with discretion and maturity
2. Lead 1:1 Advisory Work
Shape and lead senior-level advisory engagements
Integrate citizen intelligence into policy design and institutional decision moments
Strengthen policy grounding, feasibility, and adoption alignment
Co-develop structured outputs that enhance institutional clarity and implementation realism
3. Build Advisory Capability Across States
Build and mentor a small advisory team to support multi-state engagements
Refine Ek Kutumb’s operating model for government and institutional advisory
Ensure advisory work remains rigorous, politically aware, and grounded in research
Feed lessons from advisory engagements back into research and strategy
We are seeking a senior professional with 15–20+ years of experience operating within or closely alongside public institutions.
You may have:
Served in state government (e.g., former IAS or equivalent senior leadership roles)
Held senior positions in public policy or governance-focused think tanks
Led public sector advisory engagements within consulting or multilateral institutions
Worked at the intersection of climate, development, and institutional reform
You bring:
Deep understanding of how state governments function in practice
Credibility with senior public officials
Strong judgement in politically sensitive environments
Experience shaping policy or institutional decisions at scale
Ability to build and lead small, high-quality teams
A serious commitment to strengthening public decision-making in India
