Reports to: Manager, Accelerator & Investments

Salary Range: INR 12L to 14L

Perks & Benefits: allowance for health benefits and generous PTO

Time Commitment: Full-time, with occasional evening meetings with our US colleagues is required throughout the year

Location: Bangalore, India

Expected Start Date: Immediate 

Summary:

Since 2017, Upaya has run the Dignified Jobs Accelerator (DJA), a growth and investment-readiness program for mission-aligned businesses. Our current strategic focus is to run sector-focused or thematic cohorts. Our 2024 program was focused on the Allied Sector of Agriculture and our upcoming accelerator focuses on Waste Management & Circularity. 

The DJA is run in collaboration with strategic and program partners. 

We are seeking a dynamic, self-starter to drive the program's activities and partner management. This exciting opportunity involves working on scouting, selections and program implementation. You’ll also have an opportunity to learn how to design capacity building programs and work with social businesses. This position involves coordinating with various internal and external program partners and other stakeholders to meet the desired outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

Scouting & Outreach

• Identify, outreach and work with relevant ecosystem partners.

• Coordinate with the marketing & communications team to develop collaterals and outreach documents.

• Explore new channels and avenues for outreach and brand visibility amongst entrepreneurs, investors and funders.

Selections

• End-to-end delivery of the selections cycle.

• Coordinate with internal team and applicants as required.

Program

• Plan and deliver workshops and sessions through the course of the program. This includes managing logistics, coordinating with cohort entrepreneurs and following-up where necessary.

• Coordinate with external facilitators and stakeholders to ensure smooth delivery of the sessions.

• Liaison between the cohort and Communications team to deliver on content and collaterals.

• Create documents and other collateral relevant to the program.

Partner Management

• Be the liaison between Upaya and program partners. This includes managing all communications, expectations and activities as per the scope of the program.

• Coordinate with program partners throughout the program duration to ensure deliverables to the cohort.

• Support partners as required.

• Support and drive any other workshops and events conducted for the cohort and other entrepreneurs in the Upaya network.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a candidate with 4-5 years of relevant experience. Graduates / Post-graduates with relevant degrees and experience are welcome to apply. Desired skills include:

• Prior experience of working in incubation/accelerator programs, with impact driven start-ups

• Demonstrated experience in program/project management and liasoning with multiple stakeholders 

• A background in finance and/or management, an understanding of business models and the social business ecosystem

• Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal language

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, self-motivated environment

• Great at execution and demonstrated ability of building and managing relationships

• Highly organized, attention to detail and an ability to prioritize and multitask

• Willingness to adapt and execute based on changing needs

• Proficient in MS Office and/or Google docs applications

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and your resume to hr@upayasv.org. Make sure you include “Senior Associate - DJA” in the subject line. Tell us what interests you the most about Upaya’s work, what excites you about this role and one social business or entrepreneur that inspires you (and why). Please keep it brief. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About Upaya Social Ventures:

Upaya Social Ventures is building a dignified economy by providing investment and support to early-stage businesses creating sustainable livelihoods for people living in the most extreme poverty.

Upaya’s award-winning impact-first model seeks out and supports oft-overlooked companies creating work that is safe, stable, inclusive, and rewarding — generating a transformative impact on families, communities, and economies.

Till date, Upaya has accelerated 73 companies, and the portfolio of 40 companies have created over 42,000 dignified jobs across India.