Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at CEGIS will be a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for operationalising the vision and strategy set out by the CEO and the Board. The COO will ensure the seamless functioning of the organisations internal systems, processes, and structures to drive high-impact governance reforms in collaboration with state governments. This role requires a strong organisation builder with strong execution skills, operational excellence, and the ability to align and drive change in multidisciplinary teams across diverse geographies. The COO will play a critical role in enabling CEGIS to scale its programmes, maintain operational efficiency, and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Partner with the CEO and collaborate with senior leadership to translate organisational strategy into operational plans. Ensure effective change management, organizational efficiency and financial sustainability Ensure alignment of all teams with CEGIS mission, Theory of Change, and strategic priorities. Develop frameworks and scalable models to support solution and delivery teams in driving governance reforms across states. Helps institutionalize these and manage change with rigorous follow up Continuously evaluate and refine operating models to align with strategic priorities and changing environment Operational Excellence Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient functioning of systems, processes, and infrastructure. Design and implement streamlined workflows and processes to inform how CEGIS delivers impact and enhance productivity and reduce inefficiencies. Build and refine operational frameworks to support projects, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives. Design and implement mechanisms to track and improve performance metrics across areas of operations including internal operations. Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational success and inform decision-making Establish and Supervise the efficient financial and grants management practices for CEGIS projects following receipt of the grants. Workforce Planning, Optimization, and Resource Management Oversee the development of funding priorities, annual plans, and strategic workforce planning activities. Monitor and track the execution of the operating plan to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Collaborate with the finance team to develop budgets, manage costs, and ensure fiscal discipline and operational sustainability. Ensure optimal use of human, technological, and financial resources to expand CEGIS operational capacity. Establish robust resource management processes and governance mechanisms to track time, cost, and schedule leakages on projects. Streamline team management processes, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance. Mentor senior leaders to ensure alignment across programmatic, operational, and enabling functions. Work closely with finance and fundraising teams to secure sustainable funding streams. Monitor and enhance the cost-effectiveness of CEGIS programs and ensure efficient resource allocation.

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 works with State Governments in India to enable a transformative improvement in their functioning. This vision and Theory of Change (ToC) is an outcome of extensive research done by Prof. Karthik Muralidharan (CEGIS Co-Founder and Scientific Director) and strategic philanthropic support provided by Mr. Ashish Dhawan (CEGIS Co-Founder).