Senior Leadership Role – Infrastructure & Sector Development

1. POSITION VACANT: Senior Leadership Role – Infrastructure & Sector Development, New Delhi

2. ORGANISATION OVERVIEW:

The organisation is a leading national institution in India’s industry and policy ecosystem, working at the intersection of business, public policy, knowledge and capability development. It works closely with business leaders, Government, academia, research institutions and international partners to promote industrial growth, competitiveness, innovation and sustainable economic development. With a long-standing presence in India’s economic and industrial landscape, the organisation contributes to shaping policy, strengthening industry capabilities and facilitating platforms for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Within this broader mandate, the organisation’s infrastructure portfolio spans policy and regulatory engagement, sector research, strategic programmes, industry platforms, knowledge exchange and stakeholder partnerships, with a strong focus on helping industry respond to evolving sector needs and opportunities.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION/ RESPONSIBILITIES:

The senior leader will provide strategic leadership to a major national infrastructure portfolio, helping infrastructure enterprises and stakeholders address the policy, regulatory, financing, technology, project-delivery and capability challenges affecting sector growth and performance. The role requires a grounded understanding of the infrastructure ecosystem and the ability to translate sector needs into practical interventions across policy, knowledge, innovation, partnerships, programme delivery and institutional development.

The ideal candidate will be a grounded, highly credible infrastructure leader who understands the sector from the inside, is trusted by senior business and Government stakeholders, can build consensus across diverse infrastructure constituencies, and can convert sector challenges into practical solutions. The role also offers the opportunity to build and lead an overarching infrastructure knowledge, innovation and capability platform, with specialist or thematic initiatives developed in response to evolving industry priorities.

The role is expected to cover the full infrastructure agenda.

Key Responsibilities:

(A) Infrastructure Sector Development & Industry Value:

(1) Maintain a close understanding of the operating, policy, regulatory, financing, technology and project-delivery challenges facing infrastructure enterprises and use these insights to shape the organisation’s priorities and interventions;

(2) Design sector-focused initiatives that strengthen project development and delivery, operational effectiveness, investment readiness, competitiveness and sector outcomes;

(3) Identify emerging opportunities and constraints across the infrastructure ecosystem and develop practical programmes, partnerships and platforms that respond to industry needs;

(4) Support industry in navigating evolving regulatory frameworks, standards, financing approaches, technology shifts and other factors influencing infrastructure growth and performance.

(B) Policy Engagement & Government Advisory:

(1) Set and lead the infrastructure policy agenda, with a focus on priority regulatory, investment, project-delivery and sector-development issues;

(2) Engage at senior levels with Union Ministries, Government institutions, regulators and policy bodies on infrastructure priorities, structural constraints and emerging opportunities;

(3) Lead preparation of evidence-based policy recommendations, position papers, consultation responses and policy inputs to Government, grounded in research and stakeholder perspectives;

(4) Anchor high-level dialogue between industry and Government, including consultations, expert groups and task forces, and ensure effective follow-through on priority issues.

(C) Infrastructure Knowledge, Innovation & Capability Platforms:

(1) Lead the development and strategic direction of an overarching infrastructure platform dedicated to knowledge, innovation and capability-building, with flexibility to develop specialist or thematic initiatives under it based on emerging industry priorities;

(2) Define the platform’s strategic focus, programme architecture, operating model, team and expert network, and position it as an authoritative national vehicle for infrastructure knowledge and sector transformation;

(3) Curate and disseminate national and international best practices, benchmarking, global learning, emerging technologies, innovative project-delivery models and other developments relevant to India’s infrastructure ecosystem;

(4) Build partnerships with leading companies, technology providers, research institutions, academia, financial institutions and international centres of expertise to bring cutting-edge knowledge and solutions to the sector;

(5) Translate knowledge into action through pilots, capability-building, advisory initiatives, benchmarking, standards, knowledge platforms and other scalable interventions;

(6) Build a sustainable portfolio of programmes, partnerships and revenue streams that secures the long-term institutional and financial viability of the platform and its initiatives.

(D) Research, Insight & Thought Leadership:

(1) Lead the infrastructure research and knowledge agenda, including sector studies, surveys, policy briefs, discussion papers and analyses on emerging trends, opportunities and challenges;

(2) Develop thought leadership on priority infrastructure themes, sector transformation, investment, project delivery, technology, resilience and other emerging issues;

(3) Build research and knowledge partnerships with think tanks, academic institutions, industry experts, financial institutions and international organisations;

(4) Position the organisation as an authoritative national voice on infrastructure development and sector transformation.

(E) Industry Convening & Strategic Partnerships:

(1) Conceptualise and lead flagship national and international convenings on infrastructure, including leadership forums, conferences, summits and roundtables, and curate their agendas with business and Government leaders;

(2) Ensure high-quality programme management and execution of large-scale engagements, including coordination with stakeholders, speakers and partners;

(3) Build strong, trusted relationships with infrastructure companies, senior industry leaders, regulators, institutional stakeholders, investors and relevant sector bodies;

(4) Facilitate structured consultations that convert sector perspectives into actionable policy, programme and knowledge priorities;

(5) Build strategic partnerships with national and international institutions that strengthen the infrastructure agenda and deepen the value delivered to industry stakeholders.

(F) Team Leadership & Portfolio Delivery:

(1) Steer senior industry advisory groups, expert forums, strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives with clear priorities, accountabilities and outcomes;

(2) Guide internal teams in executing research, policy engagement, sector programmes, publications, consultations and major platforms, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery;

(3) Build, lead and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team with strong sector capability, accountability and execution discipline;

(4) Strengthen the organisation’s institutional engagement with industry, Government and national/international partners.

(G) Financial Leadership & Resource Mobilisation:

(1) Share accountability with senior leadership for the financial performance and P&L of the infrastructure portfolio;

(2) Develop and implement an annual revenue and resource-mobilisation plan with clear revenue streams, targets, timelines and accountabilities;

(3) Build a diversified pipeline of programmes, projects, partnerships and strategic platforms that provides predictable, multi-year revenue visibility;

(4) Prepare business cases, budgets, pricing/revenue models and financial projections for significant initiatives, and oversee contribution margins, receivables, cost discipline and efficient use of resources;

(5) Monitor financial performance closely, identify potential shortfalls early and initiate timely corrective action;

(6) Balance financial sustainability with the quality, independence and credibility of policy, research and stakeholder-facing work.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Engineering, Economics, Public Policy, Infrastructure Management or a related discipline from a reputed institution.

Experience:

(1) Minimum 20+ years of professional experience in infrastructure, industry, consulting, policy, project development or related domains, with substantial senior leadership responsibility;

(2) Senior leadership experience in industry, infrastructure businesses, consulting, policy or knowledge institutions, or comparable organisations will be preferred;

(3) Demonstrated depth of engagement with infrastructure businesses and strong understanding of the commercial, regulatory, financing, technology and project-delivery challenges confronting the sector;

(4) Proven experience engaging senior Government stakeholders, industry leaders, regulators and multi-stakeholder platforms;

(5) Demonstrated ability to lead high-impact programmes, research/knowledge initiatives, industry platforms and large teams;

(6) Experience building or scaling an institutional platform, business unit, centre, practice or comparable initiative will be strongly valued, particularly where it involved knowledge partnerships, innovation and financial sustainability.

Skills and Competencies:

(1) Grounded sector judgement, strategic thinking, policy analysis and broad infrastructure perspective;

(2) Government, regulatory and industry engagement;

(3) CEO-level stakeholder management, convening and relationship building;

(4) Thought leadership, research and knowledge development;

(5) Institution building, technology/innovation orientation and global perspective;

(6) Business development, financial acumen and resource mobilisation;

(7) Strategic communication, influencing and public speaking;

(8) Team leadership, development and performance management;

(9) Collaboration, partnership building and execution orientation.

5. COMPENSATION OFFERED:

Annual salary for the role is attractive and aligned to market rates. The offer made to the selected candidate will be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and salary history.

6. LOCATION: New Delhi

The role will involve regular travel, as required for industry engagement, stakeholder interactions and key programmes and initiatives.

7. REFERENCE: SL-INFRA-CONF

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 the position are requested to apply through the SAMS recruitment platform using the link below by the prescribed closing date. All applications and enquiries will be handled on a strictly confidential basis. The precise designation and identity of the hiring institution will be disclosed to selected candidates at an appropriate stage of the process.