Senior Project Leader ATHITHI Foundation

Theconvergencefoundation; Delhi; On-site; INR 1,400,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading non-profit organization in India is seeking a Senior Project Leader to drive the national tourism transformation agenda. This role requires 8-10 years of experience in public sector consulting and strong analytical skills. The successful candidate will engage with senior government officials and manage complex stakeholder relationships to develop impactful policy reforms. This position offers the chance to influence tourism development in India, promoting economic growth and opportunities for millions. Travel may be required for on-site engagements.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of experience in public sector consulting or related fields.
• Strong analytical ability with clear, actionable recommendations.
• Experience engaging senior-level officials in complex environments.
• Genuine interest in tourism as a lever for economic growth, employment, and regional development.
• Willingness to travel and engage deeply at the destination level when required.
• Prior experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead problem-solving efforts on tourism transformation.
• Engage with government stakeholders for governance and policy.
• Drive initiatives from concept to execution, including pilots.
• Drive select initiatives from concept to execution, including destination-level pilots, institutional frameworks (e.g., DMOs), and cross-cutting policy reforms.
• Work across diverse stakeholder groups - government, private sector, industry bodies, and civil society - while maintaining intellectual independence and integrity in recommendations.
• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to a team of project leaders and analysts, fostering a high-performance, mission-driven culture; contribute to building Atithi Foundation's thought leadership through high-quality outputs.

Skills

Public sector consulting

Analytical problem-solving

Stakeholder engagement

Written and verbal communication

Job description

Atithi Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation working to transform India’s tourism sector into a key engine of economic growth. We partner with government bodies, industry leaders, knowledge institutions and community stakeholders to design evidence-based policies and strategies to create livelihoods, safeguard heritage, and strengthen India’s position on the global tourism stage.

Our vision: To make India a $490 billion tourism economy by 2035, with inclusive growth, preserving heritage, and showcasing the nations culture and natural beauty to the world.

Tourism as an Economic Engine : Tourism plays a vital role in India’s economy, generating over $200 billion in 2023, accounting for 5.5% of GDP. More importantly, it is a major job creator, supporting nearly 40 million jobs (8% of national employment). Additionally, 54% of the tourism workforce comprises women, highlighting the sector’s role in fostering economic inclusion.

Indias Untapped Global Potential: Despite its diverse geography and rich cultural heritage, India attracts only 10Mn Foreign visitors. In contrast, China saw 66 million foreign tourists in 2019, while Vietnam and Thailand welcomed 18 million and 40 million, respectively. This gap presents a significant opportunity for Indias tourism sector to grow with the right strategies.

Key Challenges to Overcome

• Lack of Standardised Data: Tourism is mainly measured by footfall rather than economic impact, limiting effective decision-making
• Narrow Brand Image: India is often perceived as an exotic yet challenging destination. A broader appeal is needed to attract more diverse tourists
• Concentration of Tourism: Major revenues come from only six destinations, leading to overcrowding and overuse of resources in popular spots like Goa and Shimla
• Ease of Doing Business: Complex regulations and lengthy approval processes hinder the development of tourism infrastructure
• Cross-Cutting Governance: Developing new tourist destinations requires coordinated efforts across various government departments, which is currently lacking

ATITHI Foundation leverages philanthropy as a catalyst to unlock Indias tourism potential, driving economic growth and job creation.

Role Overview

• The Senior Project Leader will play a critical role in shaping and advancing AtithiFoundations national and state-level tourism transformation agenda. This role is suited for professionals who have worked on large-scale public or social sector programmes, or have a strong inclination to do so, and are excited by the opportunity to influence policy, institutions, and on-ground outcomes in Indiastourism sector.
• The role requires a combination of strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and hands‑on leadership, with the ability to operate across national policy conversations as well as destination-level implementation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex problem‑solving efforts on tourism transformation, including diagnosis of sectoral issues, development of coherent strategies, and articulation of policy and institutional reforms at national and state levels
• Engage closely with central and state government stakeholders to help shape agendas around governance, regulation, destination management, and tourism growth
• Develop clear, evidence‑based perspectives on what can create material impact in the tourism sector, balancing public interest with private sector realities
• Drive select initiatives from concept to execution, including destination‑level pilots, institutional frameworks (e.g., DMOs), and cross‑cutting policy reforms
• Work across diverse stakeholder groups - government, private sector, industry bodies, and civil society - while maintaining intellectual independence and integrity in recommendations
• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to a team of project leaders and analysts, fostering a high‑performance, mission‑driven culture; contribute to building Atithi Foundations thought leadership through high‑quality written outputs, presentations, and structured engagement with senior stakeholders

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 8–10 years of experience in public sector consulting, social sector organisations, policy institutions, or large‑scale transformation programmes (or having a strong inclination to do so)
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability, with comfort in structuring ambiguous issues and developing clear, actionable recommendations
• Demonstrated experience engaging senior government/CXO level officials and navigating complex stakeholder environments
• Genuine interest in tourism as a lever for economic growth, employment, and regional development
• Willingness to travel and engage deeply at the destination level when required
• Prior experience leading and developing teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

We aim to incubate an organisation dedicated to accelerating India's position as a premier global tourist destination. Atithi Foundation is committed to conducting deep, action‑oriented research, driving awareness at both national and international levels, and developing scalable pilot projects to unlock value in tourism.

Join us in this exciting journey to build India's tourism sector and unlock opportunities for millions of Indians!