Job Description

Department
DSI
Job posted on
Jul 04, 2025
Employment type
Full Time
Manager - Cohorts & Training

About Dasra:

Dasra's bold aspiration is a transformed India where a billion thrive with dignity and equity. Established in 1999, Dasra is India's leading strategic philanthropy foundation, working with philanthropists and high-impact social entrepreneurs to bring together knowledge, funding, and talent as a catalyst for social change. Dasra was founded on the simple premise that supporting non-profits in their growth will scale their impact on the vulnerable lives they serve. Beginning with incubating NGOs like Magic Bus and Villgro and enabling them to scale, two decades later this theory of change continues to thrive at Dasra. It now encompasses strengthening leading NGOs, magnifying philanthropists' impact, and enabling government to better serve communities.
Dasra embraces diversity across people and communities through multiplicity in composition integrated with structures, culture and policies, enhancing inclusion and belonging for all in letter and spirit. We envision a team that includes people across caste, religion, gender, economic status, geography, disability and other underrepresented communities, supported by organizational structures that enable collective, transparent and fair decision making, guided by policies that facilitate growth and authenticity within an environment of openness and listening.
We believe that GEDI in our institutional and programmatic endeavours will enhance, drive and accelerate social impact and social change through an integration of the worldviews of the most marginalized, recognition of their vulnerabilities, rights and potentials and through prioritization of their needs.

About Cohorts and Training:

The Dasra Cohorts and Training team serves as a hub for learning, designing, and delivering cohort-based programs that empower non-profit leaders, funders, and ecosystem enablers with the skills, networks, and insights needed to drive scalable, impactful change. By fostering leadership, peer learning, and cross-sector collaboration, these programs help organizations strengthen their institutional foundations--people, processes, and systems--ensuring they are equipped to grow sustainably and contribute to Dasra's vision of impacting a billion lives by 2030. Over the years, the Cohorts and Training team has piloted and refined a diverse range of capacity building offerings ensuring our programs and curricula have continually evolved to keep the programs relevant and each cohort gains the maximum value from their learning experience

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About the Role:

This role requires someone who is both strategic and hands-on, has strong people skills, is highly organized, and brings both passion and execution focus to the work of strengthening the sector's leadership capacity. Managers at Dasra are responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing the design and execution of various projects. With over 10 years of experience and strong management skills, you will be responsible for ensuring effective project planning and delivey, driving impactful decision making, and nurturing talent within the organization

Job Title:

Manager, Cohorts and Training

Experience Required:

10+ years

Type of Role:

Full-time; Residential Cohort engagement programs

Location:

Dasra Office, Mumbai, India

Program Design & Delivery

Lead the design, planning, and execution of leadership development and other capacity-building programs (virtual and in-person), including curriculum, facilitators, and cohort engagement. Manage all aspects of program implementation including logistics, technology, participant communication, and knowledge capture.

o Regularly update and evolve program content based on feedback, trends, and needs in the sector. o Maintain quality standards and ensure strong learning outcomes and participant experience.

People & Team Management

Manage and mentor 2-3 team members, providing regular feedback, professional development support, and direction. Set and track team-level goals, work plans, and internal timelines. Support team wellness and performance through thoughtful planning, emotional intelligence, and creating a collaborative team environment. Handle difficult conversations and team conflicts with maturity and care. Planning, Reporting & Internal Coordination Lead team-level inputs for annual planning, budgeting, and quarterly progress reviews. Contribute to and prepare team decks, reports, documentation, and updates for leadership and funders. Collaborate with other Dasra teams (e.g., Communications, Operations, Finance) for cross functional coordination and alignment. Business Development & Partnerships Support and lead new program and partnership development, including identifying opportunities, pitching, preparing proposals, and customizing offerings. Build and manage relationships with external partners, funders, and sector stakeholders. Represent the Cohorts and Training Leadership team in external meetings and forums, as required.

Mindset, Values, and Ways of WorkingA hands-on doer with heart and hustle - comfortable with both strategy and execution.

o Emotionally grounded, mature, and able to navigate sensitive dynamics with empathy and clarity. o Strong ownership mindset - proactive, accountable, and solution-oriented.Curious and growth-oriented; stays updated on leadership and learning trends in the sector. Balances big-picture thinking with follow-through and action. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and getting things done in dynamic environments. Collaborative and committed to building a culture of learning and talent development. Entrepreneurial mindset- able to work independently, build systems, and think creatively within constraints.

Skills Required:

10+ years in the Indian development sector, ideally in L&D, capacity building, or leadership programs. Minimum 3+ years of experience managing a team and driving collaborative work. Experience leading teams, managing people, and driving collaborative work plans. Strong written and verbal communication; able to build trust with stakeholders including senior non-profit leaders, intermediaries, and funders. Solid project management skills -- from defining scope to managing teams, budgets, timelines, and quality. Openness to learn and flexibility to work collaboratively in a team to develop a culture of learning and a strong commitment to nurture talent.


Think you have what it takes but not sure you check every box? Apply to the role anyway. We'd love the opportunity to get to know you better. Whether you've worked with grassroots non-profits or foundations, we would love to explore synergies with our work and yours.

To apply:

Write to cohorts@dasra.org with a

Cover letter

and

CV