Special Assistant

**Reports to: Director**

**Location: New Delhi**

**Experience (in years): 4-6 years of experience in similar role**

**Nature of work**:Full Time Contract

**About Ashoka University**:
11 years ago, we embarked on a journey to establish a world-class, multi-disciplinary, liberal arts and sciences university
in India. Built on the finest global best practices of institution and university governance, Ashoka has truly transformed
Indian higher education in India with its unique pedagogy, governance and best practices.

Ashoka is today India’s #1 liberal arts and sciences university that is home to the most diverse student body, a hub for
impactful research and a magnet for best-in-class faculty and staff.

Ashoka has been ranked in the top five among private Universities in India by QS Asia and has also secured top rank

among all Indian Universities in the ‘International Faculty’ indicator. The University was earlier awarded Diamond
rating by QS I.GAUGE as a recognition of its continuous focus on academic rigour, inter-disciplinary pedagogy, world
- class faculty, academic research, innovative modules of engagement with the community and teaching methods.

We aim to co-create a nurturing space for our students, faculty, staff, donors and community positively through
universal values:

- **Be Mission-Driven**
- **Think Strategically**
- **Act Authentically**
- **Take Accountability**
- **Build Collaboration**
- **Deliver Excellence
**About Department/Centre**:
**Centre for Social and Behaviour Change (CSBC)** is a leading Indian behaviour science institution, driving

behavioural change measures for people and communities in need. CSBC advances the science and practice of

behaviour change, harnessing cross-disciplinary expertise in the areas of nutrition, sanitation, maternal health, family

planning, and financial services. The Centre executes this vision through behavioural change programmes, foundational

**Overview of the Role**:
Leaders cannot do it all themselves. Steering the ship requires ceaseless levels of effort, energy, and ingenuity, and even
the most experienced leaders know their limits. For this reason, the Center for Social and Behavior Change (CSBC) is
seeking an energetic and resourceful **Special Assistant** to support our director and help coordinate - and, at times,
lead - the execution of strategic initiatives and priorities throughout the organization. This is an all-encompassing
position. From managing key strategic initiatives and analysis to engaging with key stakeholders, to the development of
high-priority board and donor content, the Special Assistant will keep a pulse on all important issues within CSBC. This
is a highly visible role that provides an up-close perspective on what it takes to establish a global organization. It is a
very dynamic role (no two days will look the same) that requires superior organizational and people skills, as well as
comfort with ambiguity and frequent change.***

**Role and Responsibilities**:

- Internal engagements: Shadow and support the Director in all internal engagements including team meetings,

keeping track of key issues discussed and action points, and follow up to ensure all deliverables discussed are
met.
- External engagements: Shadow and support the director with all external engagements including with

government and key partners; curate any material, slide deck etc. as required reaching out to relevant program
teams; record minutes and key action points; support the director in any follow up.
- Strategic anchor: Oversee and manage the strategic priorities of the Director, senior leadership teams, and the

organization, by serving as a trusted support to the Director and senior leadership.
- Executive-level presentations: Create materials for key donor discussions, board meetings, and organization
- wide conversations
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- Team coordination: Build trusted relationships within the organization and lead a rhythm of internal

communication to enable effective collaboration across the organization.
- Overall support: Support the director in managing the calendar and scheduling. Dynamically provide cross
- functional support, gap-filling, and process management to ensure the operational rhythms of the organization
are running smoothly.
The above responsibilities will be carried out by working closely with the Director, the Deputy Directors and other team
members.

**Eligibility**:

- Past experience in working with Senior Leadership
- Outstanding organizational and time management skills

**Education Qualification**:

- Bachelor’s degree required***

**Competencies**:

- Extraordinary attention to detail with an ability to track and execute multiple work streams at once
- Demonstrated ability to self-start, work cross-functionally, and manage multiple stakeholders
- Excellent people skills with an ability to quickly earn trust and credibility with senior leaders/board members

as well as team members
- Strong project repo