Director – Global Trade Development

ContractKen Inc.; India; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

ContractKen Inc. is seeking a senior association leader to support the Global Trade Development function. Your role will focus on driving industry thought leadership, facilitating international market opportunities, and shaping policy advocacy for the Indian IT sector.

With a master's degree and over 12 years of experience, you will enhance global stakeholder engagement and build strategic coalitions to improve the competitive landscape for Indian IT firms. This role requires excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in technology, consulting, or industry association environments.
• At least 5 years in senior roles in thought leadership and public policy.
• Experience in high-level public speaking and negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Drive industry thought leadership and promote India as a tech innovation hub.
• Map market opportunities and facilitate trade for Indian IT firms.
• Advocate for regulatory improvements and ease of doing business.
• Engage with members and build strategic alliances.
• Collaborate with government and monitor operational bottlenecks.

Skills

Thought leadership

Policy advocacy

Market development

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking

Negotiation

Education

Master's degree in economics, business, public policy, or related field

MBA or advanced degree in technology-policy or digital-economy

Job description

Support Global Trade Development (GTD) function of NASSCOM to position the collective Indian IT industry as a competitive, innovation driven, and policy responsive partner in global markets, while driving reforms that reduce friction and improve the ease of doing business for member firms worldwide. The role is responsible for driving industry thought leadership, enabling international market expansion, shaping policy and regulatory advocacy, and improving ease of doing business for member companies across the digital and technology ecosystem.

Reporting To: Vice President - Global Trade Development

Basic Functions/ Job Responsibility

1.Thought Leadership & Sector Positioning

• As part of GTD leadership team, work on a thought‑leadership roadmap (innovation, AI, talent) that highlights the economic impact for the industry in key markets globally.
• Work in close coordination on member contributions while ensuring focus on building India as the leading tech innovation ecosystem globally.
• Represent the association at various forums, and policy dialogues and support the Vice President to shape narratives on India’s digital services, data‑governance approaches, and AI strategy.

2.Global Market Development & Trade Facilitation

• Map priority markets and sectors for Indian IT exports (e.g., US, EU, UK, APAC, GCC, emerging digital‑economies) and designjoint‑go‑market initiativestailored to member capabilities.
• Coordinate with embassies, our missions globally, trade missions, multilateral agencies, and foreign regulators to open doors for Indian IT firms and reduce barriers to cross‑border services trade.
• Monitor and advise on rules that affect member firms’ global operations including visa regimes, and procurement.

3.Ease of Doing Business & Policy Advocacy

• Support industry‑wide working groups with government (India and overseas) to identify and remove regulatory, compliance, and operational bottlenecks for Indian IT exporters.
• Draft and champion policy recommendations, model contracts, and standard positions on topics of focus, ensuring they reflect the collective country and member interest.
• Track and benchmark global “ease of doing business” and digital‑trade indicators, feeding insights into advocacy and member‑support programs.

4.Stakeholder Engagement & Membership Development

• Engage with member firms, sub‑committees, and special‑interest groups to surface common pain points, align on positions, and co‑create solutions.
• Build strategic alliances with other global trade associations, standards bodies, think tanks, and multilateral platforms to amplify the Indian IT industry’s voice.

5.Team & Reporting

• A key position within the GTD leadership team, the position reports to the Vice President & Head GTD. The role entails working with peers and internal and external teams to achieve mutually agreed goals.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Education:Master’s degree in economics, business, public policy, international relations, or a closely related field; MBA or advanced degree in technology‑policy or digital‑economy is preferred.
• Experience:12–15+ years in technology, consulting, orindustry association / trade‑body environments, with at least 5 years in seniorroles cutting at the intersection of thought leadership, market development and public policy
• Skills:
  • Strong ability to synthesize complex policy and market trends into clear, actionable positions acceptable to a diverse membership.
  • Excellent written and oral communication; experience in high‑level public speaking, negotiation, and consensus‑building across competitors.
  • Familiarity with trade‑association governance.

Desired Attributes

• Deep understanding ofglobal stakeholder engagement (governments, associations, think tanks, analysts), experience of working with various departments of Government of India (Dept of Commerce, MEA, MeitY) and understanding of cross border issues including global digital trade, mobility and procurement.
• Demonstrated track record of buildingcoalitions, consensus‑based positions, and successful advocacy campaignsacross multiple companies.
• Strategic, diplomatic, and politically astute, with a bias for execution and a clear focus on measurable outcomes for the organisation.

This role is designed for asenior association leaderwho can bridgemember companies, government, and global stakeholdersto enhance the competitiveness and ease of doing business for theentire Indian IT ecosystem