Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Company Overview

Founded by visionary entrepreneurs Dr. Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande and Jaishree Deshpande, the Deshpande Foundation is a global catalyst for scalable social and economic impact. With an established footprint across the United States, Canada, and India, the Foundation operates on a core philosophy: true societal transformation occurs when you empower local communities to become proactive problem solvers.

Job Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Deshpande Skilling will lead the strategic growth and operational excellence of one of India’s most promising skilling organizations. The role requires an institutional builder committed to systemic and mindset change, with a unique combination of corporate operational excellence and a deep-seated passion for social impact.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Vision Expansion:

  • Formulate, refine, and execute a multi-year strategic roadmap for scaling Deshpande Skilling.
  • Position the organization as a thought leader in the education and employment sector.
  • Identify new opportunities for partnerships and innovation to drive impact.

• Operational Excellence & Institutional Scale:

  • Oversee all aspects of program delivery, operations, finance, technology, and human resources.
  • Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary workforce of 500+ staff aligned with the mission of social transformation.

• Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement:

  • Engage with global and national leaders across education, industry, and public policy for systemic solutions.
  • Strengthen relationships with existing corporate partners and onboard new employers.

• Financial Stewardship, Fundraising & Compliance:

  • Manage the organization's profit and loss (P&L) for optimal budget utilization.
  • Cultivate high-value partnerships with CSR donors and multilateral philanthropic organizations.
  • Ensure compliance with legal and statutory obligations for non-profit entities in India.

Qualifications

• Experience:

  • 15+ years of progressively increasing leadership responsibility.
  • Proven experience in leading large-scale organizations or educational institutions.
  • Track record of managing P&L and complex stakeholder environments.
  • Experience in scaling organizations from a regional to a national level is highly desirable.

• Leadership Competencies:

  • Visionary yet execution-oriented with a strong ability to build institutions.
  • Exceptional people leadership skills and strategic thinking with an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Strong partnership and ecosystem-building ability.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in workforce development organizations and high-growth startups.
• High integrity and mission orientation.

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years in a leadership role, preferably within educational or non-profit sectors with substantial operational exposure.

Environment

This position is based in Hubballi, Karnataka, in a culturally rich and intellectually vibrant community, offering a balanced and high-impact lifestyle.

Salary

Estimated salary range is not provided.

Growth Opportunities

The role offers a unique chance to lead a respected skilling entity and the potential for significant professional autonomy and board-level visibility.

Benefits

• The opportunity to operate with significant autonomy and entrepreneurial freedom.
• A balanced, impactful lifestyle within a close-knit intellectual community.
• Commitment to diversity as an equal opportunity employer.