Head of Organization, Lucknow

Role: Head of Organization, Lucknow Experience: 10-16 Years Salary: Up to 24 LPA Note: We are seeking a candidate with strong entrepreneurial skills who can take complete ownership of managing and leading the entire organization. _________________________________________________________________ Role Overview: After years of building the organization, the co-founders are ready to step back from daily operations and hand over the strategic and operational reins to a passionate, visionary leader. This role offers the autonomy to shape the future direction and vision of the organization. While the founders transition into supportive, non-imposing advisory and coaching roles, the incoming leader will assume end-to-end ownership of the organization. Key responsibilities include driving fundraising and proposal development, managing domestic and FCRA financial compliance, and operationally leading our flagship youth and sports-for-development initiatives. This is a highly entrepreneurial, "hands-on" leadership position. It requires balancing high-level strategic vision with direct, day-to-day execution alongside a passionate, young team. Key Responsibilities 1. Fundraising & Donor Management Lead the fundraising strategy and actively build a robust pipeline to sustain and scale existing programs. Manage relationships with existing institutional donors, CSR partners, and High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs). Drive the end-to-end creation of high-quality grant proposals, concept notes, and pitch decks, ensuring alignment with donor expectations and organizational goals. 2. Strategy & Program Oversight Translate long-term strategic goals into clear, achievable quarterly and annual operational plans for core programs. Oversee program delivery to ensure high-quality outcomes, maintaining a strong focus on monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) metrics. Represent the organization at development sector forums, networks, and conferences to elevate its institutional profile. 3. Financial Management & Compliance Oversee the organization's financial health, ensuring strict budget adherence, optimal cash flow management, and cost-effective operations. Collaborate with external financial and secretarial partners to ensure total compliance with Indian non-profit regulations (including Section 8/Trust/Society mandates, 12A, 80G, FCRA, and timely filing of returns). 4. Team Leadership & Culture Manage, mentor, and inspire a tight-knit team of 10, fostering a culture of high accountability, psychological safety, and collaborative problem-solving. Optimize internal workflows and role structures to ensure the team remains efficient, motivated, and closely aligned with the mission. Candidate Profile & Competencies Required Qualifications 10–12 years of professional experience, with at least 4–5 years in a leadership or senior managerial role within the Indian development sector or social enterprise ecosystem. Demonstrated experience in securing funding from CSR grants, domestic foundations, or retail donors in India. Prior experience in small or mid-sized non-profits is highly preferred. Comfort with ambiguity, entrepreneurial drive, and a proven willingness to work hands-on are essential. Fluency in both English and Hindi (essential for community and stakeholder engagement). Core Attributes of the Ideal Candidate Child-Centric Focus: Anchors every decision, strategy, and action in the absolute best interests of the children and the community served. Hands-on Entrepreneurial Mindset: Ready to roll up sleeves across all functions—equally adept at corporate CSR pitches, budget spreadsheets, legal reviews, and grassroots field visits. Resource Optimization: Optimizes a 1 Cr budget through lean operations and creative partnerships rather than heavy infrastructure. Empathetic Leadership: Inspires a small team through high empathy and shared decision-making, keeping everyone deeply aligned with the mission. Hiring Note : Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis. This job is first posted on 31st July, 2026 on Ground Zero For any questions, ping us on WhatsApp chat: +91-8058331557