RobotexIndia
Website:
robotex-india.in
Job details:
About Robotex India
Robotex India is a non-profit on a mission to make future skills (robotics, coding, AI, IoT and STEAM) accessible to every child from government schools and colleges in India.
Founded in Pune in 2018, Robotex India brought one of the world’s largest robotics festival, Robotex International, to Indian classrooms. Our focus has been on children who rarely get this opportunity: students in government, rural and tribal schools/colleges, majorly first-generation learners.
What we’ve built so far
- Scale: 1.5 million+ students reached across 15 states and 500+ schools
- Teachers: 300,000 teachers training in progress on AI in pedagogy with Microsoft
- Girls in STEM: 520,000+ girls brought into robotics, coding, STEM and AI
- Robotex for Rural: a CSR-funded programme, launched in 2019, that teaches coding, programming, AI and robotics to students from marginalised communities
- Government partnerships: we work directly with state governments and Zila Parishads so that programmes reach the most underserved communities
- India’s first digital hackathon: organised during the pandemic with FICCI FLO Pune and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, keeping learning alive when schools shut
- National Championship: the Robotex India National Championship is one of the country’s largest grassroots technology platforms. So far 250+ government school students won podium places and represented India at Robotex International in Estonia. All from government, rural and tribal schools.
- STEAM and robotics labs: set up in government schools and colleges through CSR sponsors
- Innoveda: our future-skills programme for schools and colleges, now expanding to new cities
The Role
This is the most important hire we’ll make this year.
You’ll be directly working with the Founder: a senior leader who shares the load across fundraising, grants, operations, growth and outreach, and who owns outcomes end to end. You’ll be handed goals and trusted to get there.
This role suits a seasoned AVP or senior manager from the NGO, CSR or development sector. It also suits an exceptional, qualified Executive Manager or Chief of Staff who is ready to step up and grow into a leadership position. What matters most is ownership, judgement and drive.
You’ll report directly to the Founder & Director and work closely with the programme, finance, outreach and digital teams.
What You’ll Do
- Fundraising & CSR Partnerships
- Build and manage a pipeline of prospective CSR partners, foundations, HNIs and institutional donors
- Research companies’ CSR priorities and Schedule VII alignment, and match them to Robotex India programmes
- Lead pitches from first meeting to signed MoU, with tailored proposals, decks and budgets
- Grow existing partnerships through renewals, expanded scope, multi-year commitments and new geographies
- Manage donor relationships with regular updates, impact stories, site visits and event invitations
- Keep the funding pipeline, forecasts and partner database up to date in a CRM or tracker
2. Grant Management
- Track grant opportunities from CSR, government, multilateral and international funders
- Lead applications from research and concept note through to full proposal and submission
- Own the post-award cycle: deliverables, timelines, milestones and funder commitments
- Prepare progress, impact and financial reports with the programme and finance teams
- Ensure compliance with funder requirements, including utilisation certificates, audit support and CSR-1 / 12A / 80G documentation
- Build a clean, audit-ready grant documentation system
3. Operations
- Oversee programme delivery across states, schools and districts to time, budget and quality
- Coordinate with trainers, coordinators and volunteers for workshops, labs and competitions
- Support the Robotex India National Championship: planning, logistics, partners and team travel for the international finals
- Build SOPs, trackers, dashboards and reviews that let the organisation run without bottlenecks
- Coordinate with finance on budgets, vendor payments, procurement and cost control
- Support hiring, onboarding and performance rhythms for the team
4. Growth & Innoveda Outreach
- Drive Innoveda’s expansion to new schools and cities, from outreach to onboarding
- Open partnerships with school groups, universities, state education departments and Zila Parishads
- Identify new programme and revenue opportunities that strengthen long-term sustainability
- Represent Robotex India at conferences, CSR forums, education events and government meetings
5. Digital Footprint & Communications
- Oversee our social media, website and digital presence with the digital team
- Make sure donors, schools and partners consistently see credible, up-to-date impact stories
- Build impact communications: case studies, annual reports, partner decks and newsletters
- Strengthen Robotex India’s and the Founder’s visibility in media, LinkedIn and sector platforms
6. Founder’s Office
- Manage the Founder’s priorities, calendar, meetings, travel and follow-ups
- Prepare briefs, notes and documents for partner, donor and government meetings
- Track key decisions and commitments, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks
- Act as the Founder’s representative with partners, donors and the team when needed
- Bring fresh thinking: spot problems early, propose solutions and run with them
What Success Looks Like
In your first 30 days: you know every programme, partner and grant in our portfolio, and you’ve taken ownership of the funding pipeline and grant calendar.
In 90 days: you’ve closed or renewed CSR partnerships, submitted new grant applications, and put working systems in place for reporting and operations.
In 12 months: Robotex India has a significantly larger donor and CSR base, Innoveda is in new cities, and the Founder’s time is freed up for vision, strategy and relationships.
What We’re Looking For
Must-haves
- [7–12] years of experience in NGO, CSR, development sector, EdTech, a founder’s office or a high-growth organisation
- A proven track record in CSR fundraising, donor partnerships or grant management, with funds raised or partnerships closed that you can speak to
- Strong understanding of CSR in India: Schedule VII, CSR-1, 12A / 80G and funder reporting requirements
- Excellent written and spoken English; you can write a proposal that gets funded and an email that gets a reply
- Strong project management and follow-through across many moving parts
- Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, PowerPoint/Canva and CRM or tracking tools
- An owner’s mindset: proactive, resourceful and comfortable with ambiguity
- Ability to join immediately and work from our Pune office
Good to have
- Postgraduate degree: MBA, MSW, Development Studies, Public Policy or similar
- Existing network among CSR heads, foundations or corporate leaders
- Experience with government partnerships or education programmes
- Familiarity with STEM, future skills, disruptive technologies, robotics or EdTech
- Hindi or Marathi fluency
Who you are
- You think in systems but act fast
- You’re as comfortable in a boardroom pitch as in a government school visit
- You bring ideas nobody asked for, and then make them happen
- You care about children’s education and want your work to show up in their lives
How to Apply
Apply directly on LinkedIn, or email your CV to [hr@robotex-india.in] with the subject line:
“Application – AVP Partnerships & Operations – [Your Name]”
Please include:
- Your CV
- A short note (5–6 lines) on why this role, and one partnership or grant you’re proud of, with the result
- Current CTC, expected CTC and the earliest date you can join
This is an immediate-joining role based in Pune. We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis, and candidates available to start right away will be prioritised.
Robotex India is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and especially encourage women and first-generation professionals to apply.
Click on Apply to know more.
