Job Description

Summary:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India.

MacArthur has been active in India since 1990. Since 2016, the Foundation’s key focus in India has been to support interventions that seek sustainable solutions to challenges India faces from climate change. Prior to the Climate Solutions work, we partnered directly with a diverse set of individuals and institutions that played a remarkable role in the field of maternal and reproductive health and in promoting the participation of girls in accessing quality secondary education in the country. 

We are seeking a Deputy Director to function as the “second in command” for the India Office. This position has three distinctive roles: management and administration, program officer, and the office’s representative in the Country Director’s absence. Working closely with the Country Director, this person will oversee the administration of the India Office, including personnel and budget management, legal and banking issues, matters pertaining to the premises, leases and grants administration, and reporting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Management and Administration

• Manage the general administration for the India Office including personnel management; may supervise staff and consultants
• Draft annual administrative budget for the India office
• Manage contracts for outside consultants, oversee monthly reporting of expenditures, ensure budgetary compliance, and approve expenditure of funds
• Oversee the updating of country office related information for the website

Programmatic Work

• Manage and partner with the Country Director on the design and implementation of new grantmaking strategies and initiatives
• Make and manage grants as well as assist in oversight and monitoring of the portfolio of grants
• Collaborate with other grantmakers and relevant government agencies
• Examine and evaluate ongoing work in the fields where grantmaking is active or where the Foundation has future grantmaking interests

Other Duties as “Second in Command”

• Partner with the Country Director on developing and implementing the Foundation’s strategic plans and policies and on providing leadership and direction to other employees
• Support the Country Director with statutory, fiduciary and compliance responsibilities
• Serve as a representative of the Foundation with tact and diplomacy
• Partner with Chicago office staff, governmental bodies, academic and policymaking communities in the region and collaborate with relevant grantmakers
• Manage a portfolio of grants assigned by the Country Director and serve as the area expert in program areas of the Foundation
• Stay up-to-date on office activities and be ready to step in as needed
• Work with the Country Director to co-manage communication flow to and from the office 
• Manage public relations by serving as the spokesperson for the program areas in India and as the point person with the Communications team in Chicago
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree in social sciences, public policy, law, or related field preferred
• Significant experience in nongovernmental organizations or in government policymaking
• Expertise on broader social sector issues, focus on youth leadership, AI, governance preferred.
• High level of fluency (spoken, written, and presentational) in both English and Hindi
• Five or more years of management experience, including budgetary and supervisory experience
• Experience in a non-profit or grantmaking organization preferred
• Excellent writing skills, proven analytic skills; well-organized and efficient at managing multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines
• Able to work collaboratively with colleagues in a transnational institution where cross-program and interdisciplinary cooperation is encouraged
• Demonstrated commitment to the beliefs and goals of the Foundation
• Able to manage priorities and own time, staff, and to execute work activities
• Excellent judgment and decision-making ability

The position is hybrid and based in New Delhi, India.

Annual salary for this role will start at 6,300,000 INR . We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting.  Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours.  Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process. 

Application Process:

Thank you for your interest in the Deputy Director position in our India Office. The deadline to submit your application is January 31, 2026. In the spirit of transparency and respect for your time, should we need to reopen the posting, we’ll issue a new announcement.