About Arghyam
Arghyam is a charitable organization set up in 2005 with an endowment from Rohini Nilekani with the vision of Safe Sustainable Water for All. Over the last 18 years, Arghyam has supported Govt and civil society organizations in 140 projects in 22 states across the country in diverse areas of groundwater, springs, water quality and rural sanitation. The work and body of knowledge generated by partnerships has shaped policy narratives, launched national and state level programs while directly impacting the lives of over 10 million people. Arghyam also runs the India Water Portal, an open knowledge bank for the sector with over 8 million readers.
Arghyam’s approach for achieving its vision is to work on strengthening government systems using technology to implement participatory water security programs at scale.
There is an exciting opportunity to participate in affecting societal impact at scale! We are working on designing a unified, national technology infrastructure for the Government of India’s National Jal Jeevan Mission. A Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) approach with common registries, common standards and open interoperable Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) will allow for innovation and choice of digital tools for states while allowing them to leverage the existing infrastructure and observability of on ground processes to all the stakeholders from the communities to the center.
About the Position
Arghyam is looking for a motivated, passionate and hands on Manager to work with actors in the water ecosystem to enable the scale of solutions to solve the water crisis in India. She / he will have to work closely with a cross section of actors such as civil society members, experts, governments, donors, design thinkers and others.
Positioned within the Ministry in Delhi, this role offers a rare chance to closely engage with the senior leadership of various departments while driving a high-impact technology initiative forward. Specifically, the person is responsible for evangelizing the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) thinking within the sector to solve water issues at scale, build engagement and partnerships for co-creating solutions and influence public policies/ programmes and investments on water through advocacy and communications.
Be at the forefront of a transformational journey that not only aims to do something meaningful for society but also offers an unparalleled learning experience in emerging technology domains. Embrace the opportunity to leave a legacy on a national scale, shaping the future of digital infrastructure in India.
Role of Relationship Manager & Government Partnerships
1. Government Partnership Management
- Act as the primary contact between Arghyam and the departments.
- Understand and navigate government processes and protocols.
- Ensure alignment of objectives with government policies and goals.
2. Evangelization
- Advocate for the adoption for building solutions on top of digital public infrastructure and adoption of the JJM Infrastructure by the states.
- Organize and participate in workshops, seminars, and conferences to raise awareness and support for the mission.
3. Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, technology partners, and community leaders.
- Building consensus between stakeholders through a consultative process.
4. Documentation & Reporting
1. Gathering Requirements: Collect requirements from various stakeholders, including government officials, users, business analysts, domain experts and even existing documentation. Formalizing the requirements into a written document (e.g., a Software Requirements Specification (SRS) or a Product Backlog).
2. Understanding Stakeholder Needs: It’s not just about what they say they want, but understanding the underlying business problems and user needs that drive the requirements.
To effectively fill the role of Relationship Manager & Government Relations for the Jal Jeevan Mission, a candidate should possess a blend of technical, managerial and interpersonal skills.
Technical Skills
- Managerial & Interpersonal Skills
- Ability to navigate government processes and build strong relationships with officials.
- Skills in engaging and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including community leaders.
- Ability to negotiate and manage partnerships effectively.
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Proficiency in preparing and presenting reports and proposals to various audiences.
Qualifications
- Minimum 8 years partnership building experience, at least some of this in the not-for-profit sector
- Master’s degree or equivalent in public policy, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field.
- Proven track record of managing government relationships and understanding of government protocols.
- Excellent project management, communication, and leadership skills.
- Rural Development experience and understanding of the water sector is a bonus
Join us in our mission to make a lasting impact on India’s water security landscape. Your expertise and dedication will be pivotal in driving positive change and improving the lives of millions. If you are a dynamic leader committed to driving transformational change, we encourage you to apply for this role and be part of our journey towards a water-secure future for all.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Compensation: Competitive and commensurate with experience and abilities.
Location: Delhi
Reporting: Director
Last Date of Application: 31st March 2025
To apply for this post, please email your updated resume to: jobs@arghyam.org with a mandatory subject line “Application for the post of Relationship Manager and Government Partnerships.”
Job Email ID: jobs(at)arghyam.org
