Strategy & Programme Lead- India

Overview

Lead Systemiq's Himalayan systems change programme and contribute to its wider advisory portfolio in India, including business development and senior stakeholder engagement.

What you'll do

• Lead strategic programmes and engagements, taking ownership of the Himalayan programme and contributing to other advisory projects across India, shaping priorities, analytical approaches, workplans and delivery.
• Drive business development and growth by identifying and developing new project opportunities across sectors, building relationships with potential clients and funders, leading proposals and helping convert opportunities into funded engagements.
• Provide strategic and analytical leadership by guiding complex research, economic and financial analysis, business cases and feasibility assessments, translating findings into clear recommendations and practical solutions.
• Build senior stakeholder relationships with government, businesses, financial institutions, funders and other partners, navigating complex institutional and commercial environments.
• Translate strategy into implementation by turning policy, sustainability and financing challenges into actionable programmes, partnerships and investment propositions that can deliver measurable impact.
• Lead and develop teams by providing direction, oversight and mentorship to multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring high-quality delivery, sound project economics and effective collaboration.
• Collaborate across platforms and geographies with Systemiq colleagues internationally, bringing together expertise across nature, energy, finance, materials and economic development.

What you'll need

• Typically 7+ years of relevant experience in management consulting, strategy advisory or an equivalent consulting-led environment, with seniority reflecting experience.
• A strong generalist consulting toolkit, including structured problem-solving, quantitative and qualitative analysis, strategic synthesis and executive-level communication.
• Proven experience independently leading complex consulting engagements or strategic programmes, managing teams and delivering high-quality recommendations.
• Strong commercial judgement, with experience identifying opportunities, developing proposals, winning work or building client relationships.
• The ability to work across different sectors and subject areas, quickly developing an understanding of unfamiliar challenges and translating analysis into practical solutions.
• Significant professional experience in India, with a strong understanding of its economic, policy, institutional and business environment.
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders across government, business, finance, development institutions or philanthropy.
• Relevant experience in sustainable development, climate resilience, natural resources, economic development, sustainable finance or related sectors.
• Sound economic and financial literacy, including experience developing business cases, investment propositions or financing strategies.
• An entrepreneurial, commercially minded leader who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery, confident operating independently and managing ambiguity.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the credibility to engage senior stakeholders.
• Adaptable and intellectually curious, able to move between different projects, sectors and challenges.
• Able to think across policy, markets, finance and environmental systems, recognising how they interact.
• A collaborative leader committed to Systemiq's mission and to advancing sustainable, inclusive economic development.
• Fluent English.
• Willingness to travel regularly across India, including field visits in the Himalayan region.

Nice to have

• Experience in the Himalayan region, mountain economies, rural livelihoods, sustainable tourism or nature-based economic development.
• Hindi and/or another relevant Indian language.

Details

• Location: India, with regular travel, including to the Himalayan region.
• Level: Senior Manager / Director, depending on experience.
• Contract: initially contractor set up, then depending on experience and programme needs, staff or fixed term arrangement.