Director - Social Innovation

Job description

The What: YOU, as the Director of Social Innovation (DSI), you will work closely with the Chairperson to provide strategic leadership to DA and its initiatives, including Daayitwa, Governance Lab, Nepal Leadership Academy and Nepal Rising. You will oversee the development and execution of long-term strategic goals, foster innovation, strengthen partnerships, and enhance DA’s impact on building an enterprising Nepal. The DSI will lead with vision, adaptability, and an entrepreneurial spirit to drive social change through evidence-based interventions and collaborative governance. Strategic Organisational Growth Shape and guide the strategic direction of DA in alignment with its vision and mission. Lead the development of annual plans, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, and guide teams to achieve measurable results across programs. Identify resource needs, develop and execute funding strategies, and secure resources through proposals, partnerships, and innovative revenue streams. Engage field staff outside Kathmandu to ensure effective program delivery and gather insights for continuous improvement. Collaborate with the Chairperson to seek strategic guidance, report progress, and identify growth opportunities. Plan and implement activities to enhance coordination and collaboration across all DA entities by working closely with Daayitwa, Governance Lab, Nepal Leadership Academy and Nepal Rising to harmonize efforts and foster synergies across initiatives. Ensure optimal allocation and management of resources to achieve strategic goals effectively. Partnership and Outreach Build and strengthen strategic relationships with local, national, and international stakeholders, including government agencies, universities, think tanks, donors, and private sector partners. Spearhead internal and external learning engagements at sub-national, national, and international levels by organizing and leading knowledge-sharing activities such as dialogues and symposiums to disseminate DA’s research and insights to internal teams and external audiences. Lead outreach efforts to expand DA’s partnerships, including writing compelling proposals and fostering collaborations with donors, sponsors, and strategic allies. Serve as a key spokesperson and advocate for DA’s mission, building relationships that support organizational goals. Program Innovation Design new programs and initiatives with an innovative lens, addressing complex challenges with creative, actionable solutions. Offer strategic guidance to teams during project implementation, fostering an adaptive approach to problem-solving. Introduce innovative frameworks and tools that enhance project effectiveness and drive impact. Improve organizational processes to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration that encourages team members to contribute to institutional growth and development. Requirements: Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, social development, economics, or a related field. Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in a senior leadership position, preferably in social innovation and governance, or development sectors. Proven ability to provide strategic direction, with a track record of effectively interacting with senior leadership and guiding organizational growth. Demonstrated experience in rural development, community engagement, government collaboration, private sector development, and fostering innovation. Proven experience managing large teams, overseeing complex projects, and handling significant grants or budgets effectively. Capacity to address complex challenges in a dynamic environment with creativity, independent judgment, and strategic thinking. Familiarity with international development institutions, government agencies, or private sector organizations focusing on social impact. Exceptional client orientation and diplomatic skills, with the ability to build and sustain partnerships with diverse stakeholders. Proven ability to lead teams in high-pressure, diverse, and uncertain environments. Experience with start-up or entrepreneurial teams is a plus. Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks within tight deadlines. Exceptional willingness to take calculated risks, adapt to challenges, and work hard to drive results. Excellent oral and written communication skills in both Nepali and English. Strong interpersonal and managerial abilities to inspire teams, foster collaboration, and drive innovation. Compensation: Daayitwa will provide compensation on a monthly rate basis. The rate will be mutually agreed upon, commensurate with the level of the required deliverables, the qualifications and experience of the candidate. If you're keen on this position, kindly complete the form below by 20th May 2025. To access the page, please click on the provided link and right-click to go to the link. In the subject line, put “Job Title followed by your first and last name (e.g., “XXX – Sabina Nepali )” and attach the following documents. All documents must be compiled in a single file, in the same order and saved in PDF format: Cover letter (one page max) CV Academic transcripts/certificate for most recent qualification Deadline: 20th May 2025 . Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The vacancy may be closed prior to the deadline if a suitable candidate is found. Daayitwa is committed to promoting workforce diversity and actively encourages applications from individuals belonging to marginalized and discriminated groups, including women, Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi/Terai, and other minority communities. The organization values inclusive representation and strives to create a diverse and equitable working environment. **Only shortlisted candidates will be notified** The Why: NEPAL aspires to graduate from least developing country to a lower middle-income country by 2026. However, the development community’s excessive focus today on socio-political empowerment has not yielded the desired economic transformation. In reaching the 2026 national target, shall we wait for institutions of power to become accountably productive or shall we bolster innovations of people to bring inclusive prosperity? And, shall we strengthen grassroots-government collaboration in shaping an equal and enterprising future? The How: DAAYITWA, with a focus on economic empowerment, envisions an enterprising Nepal where every youth has opportunities for a prosperous future. Daayitwa is a part of the Daayitwa Abhiyaan (DA) which consists of four organizations: Daayitwa, Governance Lab, Nepal Leadership Academy based in Nepal and Nepal Rising (Daayitwa-US) based in the U.S. Inspired by shared values of innovation, collaboration, and service, it promotes the socio- economic development of Nepal. The movement fosters inclusive and equitable economic growth by accelerating grassroots innovations, strengthening government institutions, and revitalizing a virtuous cycle of democracy and development through grassroots-government collaboration. Our focus Areas: 1. Enterprise-led employment creation 2. Design evidence-based policies for improved decision-making 3. Build state capability for effective policy implementation 4. Foster stakeholder collaboration for governance innovations Growth Entrepreneurship and Employment Program (GEEP): GEEP accelerates rural enterprises for boosting employment and income growth in rural Nepal. GEEP is executed through a partnership among Daayitwa, Gandaki and Koshi provincial governments, 10 local governments and the Nepali diaspora. GEEP’s objectives are to accelerate growth-oriented rural enterprises, build state capability for effective policy implementation and foster stakeholder collaboration for governance innovation. GEEP builds on Daayitwa’s decade-long experience in governance innovation and accelerating growth-oriented enterprises in rural Nepal to create jobs and amplify income through the Rural Enterprise Acceleration Program (REAP). Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Policy Fellowship Program: Daayitwa supports bureaucrats and parliamentarians in making policy decisions by conducting policy research, building capability of government and strengthening research ecosystem. Through the Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship (DNPPF) Program and Daayitwa Nepal Public Administration Fellowship (DNPAF), Daayitwa identifies service-minded talented Nepali youth, capacitates them to conduct policy research, connects their policy recommendations with government actions and builds an evidence-based policy ecosystem. Since 2013, DNPSF has supported 189 talented Nepali youth trained in 32 countries to conduct research projects for 28 parliamentarians and 74 government organizations in all 7 provinces (42 municipalities). Leadership for Economic Governance Program: Daayitwa enables local governments to promote local economic development by enhancing their policy leadership capability and fostering trustful collaboration with other municipal ecosystem stakeholders. Through the Leadership for Economic Governance (LEG) program, a joint initiative of Daayitwa, Governance Lab and Nepal Leadership Academy, we run an executive policy leadership course for local governments, supports them to identify major economic challenges, and facilitates them to implement innovative policy pilots using the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) and Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) approaches. So far, LEG has supported 3 municipal governments of Lumbini province to promote youth employment and women’s economic empowerment. Policy and Governance Dialogues: Daayitwa has been organizing policy and governance dialogues and The National Governance Symposium (NGS) to enhance the governance ecosystem of the country. These dialogues and Symposiums aim to foster greater shared clarity, commitment, and capacity among key stakeholders such as the Federal Parliament of Nepal, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Through such dialogues, Daayitwa aims to bring together stakeholders on crucial policy matters related to Nepal's economic development. Daayitwa also brings together local leaders, national and international experts, and development practitioners from various fields to gather unique insights and perspectives.