State Lead - Assam GATI Foundation

The Convergence Foundation; Kamrup Metropolitan; On-site; INR 2,800,000 - 4,600,000; Full time

Job summary

The Convergence Foundation, via its GATI initiative, seeks a State Lead – Assam to own and drive engagement in the state. You will set strategy, build senior government relationships, and lead a team to deliver mobility outcomes in Assam.

As the senior-state representative, you will design talent mobilization and readiness programs for priority corridors, coordinate with state stakeholders, and ensure high-impact program delivery with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Over 8 years of experience in government partnerships, development-sector programs, livelihoods, skilling, or migration/mobility initiatives.
• Proven ability to navigate state and district government machinery and to build trust with senior officials and institutional leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with execution, capable of moving from high-level strategy to on-the-ground delivery.

Responsibilities

• Own the state strategy, roadmap, and delivery targets for Assam.
• Serve as the primary representative for GATI in Assam, aligning skilling and migration initiatives with state plans.
• Identify and pursue partnerships and expansion opportunities across Japan and other markets.
• Develop and operationalise state institutions and schemes for overseas mobility (e.g., CM Flight scheme).
• Negotiate MoUs and joint program structures with government partners.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Facilitation

Government liaison

Travel readiness

Job description

Location: Guwahati (with extensive travel across districts)

Reports to: Vice President, State Programs

Experience: 8 years and above

Joining: Immediate joiners preferred

About GATI Foundation

The world is facing a severe labour shortage. High-income countries are projected to experience a cumulative workforce gap of 40–50 million people by 2030, expanding to 120–160 million by 2040. This shortfall spans healthcare, education, industrial labour, and other key sectors.

Meanwhile, India's migrants generate over $125 billion in remittances annually, equivalent to 3% of GDP, surpassing any single sector of India's merchandise exports. Yet India's migrant share (1.3% of the population) lags countries like Mexico, the Philippines, or Bangladesh, showing vast untapped potential.

GATI (Global Access to Talent from India) Foundation is a non‑profit dedicated to advancing global labour mobility and positioning India as a leader in skilled overseas employment through ethical and structured circular mobility, while empowering local talent. Incubated by The Convergence Foundation, GATI serves as an ecosystem enabler — bringing together governments, businesses, and non‑profits to create an enabling environment for circular mobility. GATI works in close partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and with State Governments to align national skilling priorities with state‑level implementation.

Our priority areas include developing high‑impact overseas mobility corridors, aligning accreditation of prospective Indian workers to global standards for key job roles and destinations, unlocking financial support for workers, and strengthening worker welfare and protection. By facilitating international mobility pathways through strategic public‑private partnerships, GATI aims to enable seamless and responsible mobility, driving both individual prosperity and national economic growth.

Role Overview

We are seeking a State Lead – Assam to own and drive GATI's engagement in the state end-to-end. As GATI's senior‑most representative in Assam, you will be instrumental in setting the state strategy, build and steward high‑level relationships across government and institutions, and lead the state team to deliver ambitious mobility outcomes.

The State Lead is a field‑anchored leadership role that combines strategy with hands‑on execution. You will translate GATI's vision into a coherent roadmap — building the institutional architecture for overseas mobility, designing talent mobilisation and readiness programs for priority corridors (notably Japan), and ensuring seamless coordination between state stakeholders and the other GATI teams.

This is an opportunity for a seasoned professional who is passionate about building sustainable livelihoods, and who wants to contribute directly to India's position as a trusted global mobility partner. You will be accountable for outcomes in the state, for the performance and growth of your team, and for the quality of GATI's partnerships on the ground.

Key Responsibilities

Own GATI's overall strategy, roadmap, and delivery targets for Assam, translating priorities into a state‑level execution plan.

Serve as GATI's primary representative in the state, positioning its work within Assam's skilling, employment, and migration landscape.

Identify and pursue new opportunities for program expansion, institutional partnerships, and corridor development across Japan and other markets.

Government & Institutional Partnerships

Build and steward senior relationships across state departments, skilling institutions, and district administrations — engaging effectively with senior officials up to the Secretary / Principal Secretary level.

Support the design and operationalisation of state institutions and schemes for overseas mobility, including the CM Flight scheme, Global Skills Mobility Unit etc.

Negotiate and manage MoUs, working agreements, and joint program structures with government and institutional partners.

Program Design & Delivery

Oversee end‑to‑end delivery of talent mobilisation, skilling, language, and readiness programs — from mobilisation and training through placement and post‑placement support.

Map district‑wise talent pools and link them to global employment opportunities in priority corridors.

Pilot and scale new skilling and mobility models, bringing fresh, market‑driven ideas to prepare talent for global demand.

Design culturally resonant campaigns that inspire youth and families to see overseas mobility as an aspirational, credible pathway.

Build, lead, and mentor the Assam state team (including Program Managers and Associates), setting clear priorities and enabling high performance.

Run regular reviews, remove blockers, and ensure the team has the resources and clarity to deliver.

Ecosystem, Reporting & Representation

Coordinate with private, non‑government, employer, and recruitment‑agency stakeholders to drive programs and placements.

Track progress against outcomes, capture learnings, and contribute insights that help scale successful models across states.

Work closely with the other GATI teams to ensure timely, high‑quality updates, and represent GATI at state forums, reviews, and events.

Candidate Profile

More than 8 years of experience in government partnerships, development‑sector programs, livelihoods, skilling, or migration/mobility initiatives, including experience leading teams and owning outcomes.

Proven ability to navigate state and district government machinery and to build trust with senior officials and institutional leaders.

Strong strategic thinking paired with an ease in execution — comfortable moving between high‑level strategy and on‑the‑ground delivery.

Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and facilitation skills, with strong reasoning and analytical ability.

Energetic, entrepreneurial, and process‑driven, thriving in ambiguity and in the field — you see the field as your workplace.

Open to travelling extensively across districts within Assam.

Readiness to practice the values of empathy and collaboration. Build a positive & nurturing work culture.

Proficiency in Assamese or other local dialects, and prior experience working in Assam are an advantage, but not deal breakers.