Associate Director Public Policy & Corporate Engagement

Pahlé India Foundation (PIF); Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Pahlé India Foundation (PIF) Mumbai seeks an Associate Director – Corporate Engagement to build and manage relationships with companies, industry bodies and corporate foundations from the Mumbai office. The role focuses on partnerships for research, CSR funding, and linking industry with Maharashtra state policy, requiring a strong network, proposal-writing skills and experience in CSR ecosystems.

You will coordinate with the Director – Public Policy & Government Relations, travel within

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in corporate partnerships, CSR, business development, industry associations, public affairs or development consulting.
• A track record of securing corporate partnerships or CSR funding.
• Experience working with industry bodies, corporate foundations or government–industry platforms, preferably in Maharashtra.
• Experience managing client relationships, projects or small teams.
• Excellent writing: able to produce crisp proposals, concept notes and presentations for senior corporate leaders.

Responsibilities

• Build and deepen relationships with PIF's existing corporate donors, funders, and institutional partners.
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned accounts, ensuring consistent engagement and satisfaction.
• Be the point of contact for all Mumbai located partners
• Identify and pursue new partnership opportunities aligned with PIF's mission and sectoral priorities.
• Proactively reach out to and build relationships with prospective corporate and institutional partners in Mumbai
• Maintain a strong, current understanding of policy and regulatory developments relevant to assigned sectors.
• Apply policy insight to identify partnership angles, risks, and opportunities for PIF and its partners.
• Convert partnership relationships into concrete, funded projects — shaping proposals, negotiating scope and terms, and closing agreements.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure funded projects are well-designed and deliverable.
• Develop deep, sustained expertise in the policy and regulatory landscape of the assigned sector(s).
• Track emerging policy challenges and regulatory shifts, and position PIF as an informed, credible partner.
• Represent PIF at external forums, meetings, and events relevant to the sector.

Skills

Corporate partnerships

CSR fundraising

Relationship management

Policy insight

Proposal writing

English & Hindi communication

Education

Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies or a related field

Job description

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR – CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT (MUMBAI)

Position Title

Associate Director – Public Policy & Corporate Engagement

Employment Type

Full-time

Experience Required

10+ years

Pahlé India Foundation (PIF) is a leading public policy think-and‑action tank that works at the intersection of research, policy implementation, and partnerships to drive India's inclusive development agenda. PIF collaborates with government, industry, philanthropy, and knowledge partners to design evidence-based solutions that foster a Viksit Bharat.

Role Summary

The Associate Director – Corporate Engagement will build and manage PIF's relationships with companies, industry bodies and corporate foundations from the Mumbai office, working closely with the Director – Public Policy & Government Relations. This role has three main focus areas:

(1) Corporate partnerships: building partnerships with companies and industry bodies for research collaborations, sponsored studies and convenings.

(2) CSR & corporate funding: raising CSR and corporate funding for PIF's programmes, from first conversation to proposal, agreement and reporting.

(3) Industry–government bridge: bringing industry perspectives into PIF's state policy work through roundtables, consultations and engagement with the Government of Maharashtra.

The role requires an established network in Mumbai's corporate and CSR ecosystem, strong proposal writing and an understanding of how industry engages with policy.

Partnership & Relationship Management

• Manage and deepen relationships with PIF's existing corporate donors, funders, and institutional partners.
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned accounts, ensuring consistent engagement and satisfaction.
• Be the point of contact for all Mumbai located partners

Aligned Partnership Acquisition

• Identify and pursue new partnership opportunities aligned with PIF's mission and sectoral priorities.
• Proactively reach out to and build relationships with prospective corporate and institutional partners in Mumbai

Policy & Regulatory Acumen

• Maintain a strong, current understanding of policy and regulatory developments relevant to assigned sectors.
• Apply policy insight to identify partnership angles, risks, and opportunities for PIF and its partners.
• Convert partnership relationships into concrete, funded projects — shaping proposals, negotiating scope and terms, and closing agreements.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure funded projects are well-designed and deliverable.
• Develop deep, sustained expertise in the policy and regulatory landscape of the assigned sector(s).
• Track emerging policy challenges and regulatory shifts, and position PIF as an informed, credible partner.
• Represent PIF at external forums, meetings, and events relevant to the sector.

Educational Qualification

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience

• 10+ years of relevant experience in corporate partnerships, CSR, business development, industry associations, public affairs or development consulting.
• A track record of securing corporate partnerships or CSR funding.
• Experience working with industry bodies, corporate foundations or government–industry platforms, preferably in Maharashtra.
• Experience managing client relationships, projects or small teams.

Skills & Knowledge

• An established network across Mumbai's corporate, CSR and industry ecosystem.
• Working knowledge of India's CSR framework and how companies make CSR and partnership decisions.
• Understanding of how industry engages with state policy‑making in Maharashtra.
• Excellent writing: able to produce crisp proposals, concept notes and presentations for senior corporate leaders.
• Excellent English and working Hindi; proficiency in Marathi is preferred.

Other Attributes

• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, and comfort working with senior stakeholders.
• Organised and target‑driven, able to manage several partnerships and deadlines at once.
• Willingness to travel within Maharashtra and western India as needed.