Head Developmental Programs

1. POSITION VACANT: Head Developmental Programs, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat India, Mumbai

2. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) India was established in 2016 with the vision of creating habitats that allow communities to be resilient to disasters, adapt to climate change, and thrive. With a focus on urban resilience, various initiatives of AKAH work to reduce vulnerability to climate change and disasters through community-led efforts with a strong synergy between traditional knowledge, innovation, and technical integration. AKAH is a Section 8 nonprofit organization and a member of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Headquartered in Mumbai, AKAH works in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana. The organization has directly impacted 2.5 million individuals.

AKAH is dedicated to enhancing habitat conditions through building safety and community resilience to natural hazards and disasters. The organization ensures that these settings are connected to water and energy services and are conducive to developing economic opportunities and access to social services.

For more information about AKAH, please visit https://the.akdn/en/how-we-work/our-agencies/aga-khan-agency-habitat

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the CEO, the Head – Developmental Programs (HDP) will lead the conceptualization, design, execution, and monitoring of large-scale developmental initiatives with a strong focus on water security, climate change mitigation/ adaptation, urban resilience, and energy-efficient urban development. The role requires strategic thinking, multi-stakeholder engagement, and proven expertise in managing climate and environment-related programs at the regional and national levels. The incumbent will steer cross-sectoral programs, strengthen partnerships, mobilize resources, and ensure impactful on-ground outcomes.

Key Job Responsibilities:

(A) Program Strategy & Leadership:

(1) Develop and execute the overall strategy for developmental programs aligned with organizational goals on water, climate resilience, and sustainable urban development.

(2) Identify emerging priorities in climate change, water resource management, urban cooling, and GHG mitigation to guide program planning.

(3) Lead innovation, research, and adoption of new technologies and best practices relevant to climate and environmental sustainability.

(B) Water Security & Water Resource Development:

(1) Design, implement, and scale comprehensive water security programs focused on watershed development, integrated water resource management (IWRM), groundwater recharge, urban water conservation, and climate-adaptive water systems.

(2) Collaborate with municipal bodies, communities, and technical partners to ensure sustainable and community-led water solutions.

(3) Oversee the development of tools, models, and frameworks to assess water availability, risk, and long-term sustainability.

(C) Climate Change Mitigation/ Adaptation:

(1) Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of climate mitigation/ Adaptation strategies across thematic areas.

(2) Promote renewable energy adoption, low-carbon solutions, circular economy interventions, and sustainable infrastructure practices.

(3) Develop frameworks and roadmaps for emission reduction across organizational and program portfolios.

(D) Urban Energy Efficiency & Cooling Solutions:
(1) Drive programs focused on energy-efficient urban buildings, green building standards, and passive cooling techniques.

(2) Promote scalable solutions for heatwave management, climate-friendly cooling, and thermal comfort in low-income and vulnerable communities.

(3) Engage with city administrations, architects, planners, and energy specialists to embed climate-adaptive design principles in urban development.

(E) GHG Management & Measurement Frameworks:
(1) Establish robust systems for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, reporting, and verification for projects and partners.

(2) Build capacity among internal teams, government bodies, and partner organizations on GHG inventories and carbon foot printing.

(3) Lead development of dashboards, monitoring tools, and ESG-aligned metrics for measuring program impact.

(F) Urban Climate Resilience:
(1) Spearhead urban resilience programs concerning climate risks such as heatwaves, flooding, water scarcity, and air pollution.

(2) Facilitate development of city-level climate adaptation plans, resilience scorecards, and risk-reduction frameworks.

(3) Work with government agencies, urban planners, disaster management authorities, and NGOs to build systemic urban resilience.

(G) Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:
(1) Forge strategic partnerships with national and state governments, multilateral agencies, donors, research institutions, and implementation partners.

(2) Lead fundraising, proposal development, and donor engagement for climate and sustainability projects.

(3) Represent the organization at national and international platforms, conferences, and task forces.

(H) Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL):
(1) Establish impact measurement systems to track program outcomes across water, climate, and urban sustainability.

(2) Ensure continuous learning, documentation, and dissemination of best practices and program innovations.

(3) Oversee periodic evaluations, audits, and reporting to donors and leadership.

(I) Team Leadership & Capacity Building:
(1) Lead a multidisciplinary team of technical experts, program managers, field specialists, and consultants.

(2) Build capabilities in emerging areas such as climate finance, carbon markets, water risk assessment, and integrated urban planning.

(3) Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture focused on innovation and impact.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification

(1) Master’s degree in Environmental Science, Climate Studies, Water Resource Management, Urban Planning, Sustainability, or related fields.

Experience

(1) 12 to 18+ years of progressive experience in climate, water, sustainability, or development sector programs, with at least five years in a leadership or strategic role.
(2) Strong understanding of climate policies, IPCC frameworks, NDCs, National Water Mission, urban climate governance, and ESG reporting.
(3) Proven ability to lead complex, multi-location programs with large budgets and diverse partners.

Skills and Competencies

(1) Strong analytical, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

(2) Climate and sustainability expertise.

(3) Fundraising and donor management.

(4) Policy advocacy and government liaising.

(5) Team leadership and capacity building.

(6) Strong analytical and program management capabilities.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

The salary and benefits package budgeted for the position is attractive and shall be commensurate with qualifications, experience and salary history.

6. LOCATION: Mumbai

7. REFERENCE: HDP-AKAH

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar 
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011-4081 9900; 4165 3612

9. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in this position are requested to apply online at https://www.samsstc.com/Jobs/job-description/head-developmental-programs-aga-khan-agency-for-habitat-india-mumbai/338 at the earliest.