AI Advisory and Governance Lead

About the job

ABOUT IDINSIGHT

We're a global data and evidence advisory, working with governments, philanthropies, and non-profits to improve lives at scale, using technology and AI where they can deliver the most impact.

IDinsight is a global nonprofit that equips leaders with the data, evidence, and technology to improve lives at scale. We partner with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and funders to support decisions at every stage of their impact journey – from bold pilots to nationwide scale-ups. Our teams bring rigorous evidence and practical insights so leaders can make informed decisions that truly change lives. With our partners, we are pioneering the next frontier of social impact, where data and technology accelerate progress for millions. We help leaders overcome the three main barriers to impact:

1. Figuring out what works

2. Learning and improving

3. Reaching and operating at scale

We work in multiple countries across Asia and Africa. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact, we:

- Support our partners with the full ‘data and evidence’ value chain – from primary data collection to data systems, monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools, and data science

- Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches

- Create cutting-edge AI-for-good products that make the delivery of social interventions and learning tools more cost-effective and scalable

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org http://www.IDinsight.org.

JOINING IDINSIGHT AT THIS MOMENT

IDinsight is entering an exciting new phase of growth. As demand for rigorous evidence and AI-enabled solutions accelerates across the sectors and geographies we work in, we are actively investing in our teams, deepening our regional footprint, and expanding the frontier of what data and technology can do for social impact. This is a moment of real momentum for IDinsight. We're looking for people who want to use data and evidence to improve lives at scale; who are energized by taking on problems without a playbook; and who want a hand in shaping what IDinsight becomes as we grow.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are hiring an entrepreneurial senior leader to strengthen and develop our AI Advisory practice for government and social sector clients in India. You will collaborate with IDinsight’s Senior Leadership, Executive, and Data Science teams to develop AI and technology aspects of current engagements, develop new engagements primarily with government partners, and support delivery of projects. Read more about our AI strategy https://www.idinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AI-Strategy.pdf.

The role is particularly suited to someone who understands technology transformation and policymaking in Indian government institutions. It combines client-facing advisory work with business development, and sits at the intersection of AI, governance, and public sector consulting. The role will ideally be based in Delhi, or require substantial time spent in Delhi.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Lead policy advisory and AI support for governments

Support IDinsight's current government partners navigate the intersection of technology, AI, and policy, and grow our portfolio by engaging new government departments/agencies in AI and policy advisory.

- Policy advisory on AI: Support current and new government partners in: - Design and deployment of tech-enabled systems, including AI-native tools, data systems, and digital platforms — with a grounded understanding of requirements and constraints in Indian government settings, including data governance, procurement constraints, interoperability, and the political economy of adoption. - Developing policies, regulations, governance and capacity building frameworks shaping AI use in India. - Translating broad questions around into concrete, impactful opportunities and recommendations

- Client engagement: Participate in high-level meetings, workshops, and consortium discussions with government officials, funders, and partner organisations as a credible voice on technology, AI, and AI policy in governance contexts.

- Government client development: Identify and develop new opportunities to support governments on AI and technology, through active origination of new AI advisory engagements, conversion of leads, and drafting and reviewing proposals, growing the practice's pipeline and revenue especially with government organisations

- Represent IDinsight externally through thought leadership and public communications (blog posts, conference presentations, sector convenings, and written outputs) that advance IDinsight's profile and influence on AI transformation.

Develop new AI advisory and evaluation engagements

Grow IDinsight's AI advisory and evaluation practice with NGOs, social enterprises, and foundations.

- Client development: Identify, scope, and structure new engagements. Build relationships with prospective partners and develop proposals that match IDinsight's capabilities to client needs.

- AI Transformation Advisory: Serve as the senior lead on advisory and evaluation engagements - identifying the right use-cases; building, testing and evaluating AI-based products; and integrating AI products responsibly into client systems and workflows.

- Thought leadership: Represent IDinsight in sector conversations on AI in the social sector through writing and external engagement.

- Training and workshops: Design and deliver executive workshops, workflow redesign sessions, and training programs that build lasting client capability.

Financial management

- Demonstrate a strong understanding of IDinsight's business model and contribute to a financially sustainable practice through sound strategic decision-making and resource stewardship.

- Review budget design and resource allocation, ensuring financial planning supports quality delivery, funder expectations, and growth of the practice.

- Build trust with clients and funders through timely, accurate, and strategic financial reporting.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qualifications

- Commitment to IDinsight's values and mission https://www.idinsight.org/about-us/our-values/

- 6-10 years of professional experience, with significant time in consulting, digital transformation, product management, or technology implementation, ideally serving governments, foundations, or social sector organizations.

- Technical fluency: Strong understanding of LLM capabilities and limitations, AI agent architectures, and the practical realities of deploying AI in organizations. Ability to credibly direct a technical team. The role does not require production coding skills.

- Direct experience working with Indian government: Ideally ministries, national commissions, or large national programmes, with a strong understanding of how decisions get made and how change actually happens in these institutions, and the requirements that technology and AI systems must meet in government settings

- Client-facing consulting: Experience leading complex advisory engagements, managing senior client relationships, and delivering results against defined success metrics.

- People management: Track record of building, managing, and developing high-performing teams that include both technical and non-technical roles.

- Demonstrated experience in client development: identifying opportunities, scoping engagements, developing proposals, and building relationships with senior stakeholders.

- Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with limited structure

- Entrepreneurial- can identify an opportunity and build from it without waiting for a fully defined brief.

- Strong communicator who can adapt between technical, bureaucratic, and donor audiences.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy, and have been noted highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsighters receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and are given considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen a variety of skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture and formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to utilize to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

NUTS & BOLTS

LOCATION

This position is based in IDinsight’s Delhi office. Candidates should be willing to relocate to Delhi or travel substantially, often on short notice.

START DATES

We would prefer for the candidate to start immediately and in light of the urgency would be evaluating applications on a rolling basis.

REFERENCES

Applications should include three references, including email, phone, and title. Briefly state in what capacity you worked with each reference.

WORK AUTHORIZATION

If you’re not willing to sponsor work authorization: IDinsight is not able to sponsor work authorization for this role. Successful candidates will not require IDinsight to sponsor their work authorization in the office in which they'll be based.

If you’re willing to sponsor work authorization: IDinsight is able to sponsor employment visas for all nationalities in these locations; however, we will prioritize candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in the aforementioned countries. All candidates who are not currently located in our country offices listed above will be expected to relocate to their office locations at the onset of their employment.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for, and competitive within the global development sector. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer including comprehensive international health insurance, including mental health coverage; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; relocation benefits; a travel stipend; technology and work from home stipends; a professional development budget; and more.

Please note, as a non-profit, we are unable to provide compensation similar to leading private sector organizations.

HOW TO APPLY

This application includes several questions and requires a CV (one to two pages) covering your professional and personal experience as well as academic qualifications. Please omit headshots, parental details, birth dates, marital status, and similar personal information — these aren't relevant to our review.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process https://www.idinsight.org/about/careers/the-idinsight-hiring-process/ and frequently asked questions http://idinsight.org/about/careers/frequently-asked-questions/, can be found online at IDinsight Careers https://www.idinsight.org/about/careers/. Any questions should be directed to india.careers@IDinsight.org india.careers@idinsight.org.

IDINSIGHT’S COMMITMENT TO REDUCING POWER ASYMMETRIES

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector https://www.idinsight.org/about/careers/reducing-power-asymmetries-in-the-social-sector-an-idinsight-organizational-priority/. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of internati