Partnerships and Communications Manager

About Urban Collective Action Network

At U-CAN, we believe in the power of organisations working together and committed to improving urban problem-solving through a systems approach, and a commitment to citizen inclusion in the policy-making process. We believe that we need to develop and adopt problem-solving approaches that look at our cities as complex interconnected systems.

U-CAN was seeded by Omidyar Network India (ONI), and is currently helmed by the CEO, who manages the work with the ONI team and a secretariat composed of external project management professionals. We work in partnership with our member organisations to shape the agenda and help drive our programming through research, policy engagement, communication and outreach, implementation support and capacity building. U-CAN leverages the strengths of its member organisations to amplify the need to inclusively invest in, sustainably develop and efficiently manage Tier II and TIer III Indian cities.

Our long term intended objectives as a collective are

1. Convening: To build a safe space and an intentional form of multi sector collaboration amongst civil sector organisations, think tanks, civic leaders and individual experts that make up the diverse urban sectoral landscape in India.
2. Capacitating: To emphasise systems building, citizen empowerment and policy change as necessary governance interventions for better urban service delivery.
3. Communicating: To increase the urgency for highlighting issues faced by Tier II and Tier III Indian cities and showcase their potential as growth engines thereby attracting more resources to this relatively underserved space within the broader urban sector.

Position Overview

The Partnerships and Communications Manager will be an integral part of the team, will report to the Program Lead and have the opportunity to work with the CEO on strategic areas. In this role, they will develop, implement and manage strategies to advance the organisation's programs and partnership goals. The Partnerships and Communications Manager will have the opportunity to manage people and projects with U-CAN member organisations and partners.

Key Responsibilities

●       Partnerships management:

1. Identify potential partners for U-CAN and build a repository of such organisations, spanning across think tanks, donors, foundations, implementing organisations etc. and work with the team to operationalise U-CAN’s membership strategy.
2. Prepare for events and conferences, webinars and other relevant external partnerships that advance U-CAN’s programmatic, impact, and partnership goals in collaboration with the CEO, Program Lead and the secretariat.
3. Cultivate close relationships with journalists, writers and media professionals who have an interest in the urban ecosystem, particularly U-CAN’s focus areas.
4. Work closely with the CEO to assist in outreach to domestic donor and philanthropic organisations, and prepare any relevant content material for such interactions.
5. Serve as a thought partner to internal stakeholders as they explore external amplification strategies for U-CAN’s work.

●       Communications:

1. Develop and implement strategies to grow U-CAN’s presence across social media platforms (currently LinkedIn), focusing on increasing influence, engagement, and impact. Lead the planning, strategy, delivery and analysis of social media campaigns.
2. Develop and deliver a customised communications strategy targeted at varying audiences, including members, donors and the broader ecosystem.

●       Knowledge management:

1. Oversee the management of U-CAN’s website, ensuring it remains an effective and engaging platform for audiences. Manage the relationship with our website agency and work closely with members and partners to create and update web pages, improve functionality and ensure accessibility.
2. Brainstorm, develop and deliver different kinds of content from existing and ongoing knowledge created by U-CAN to aid outreach efforts.
3. Ensure integration across website, social media, and email marketing for a consistent and impactful digital presence.

●       Other:

1. Create and manage an effective project management system to ensure that key activities, milestones, and deliverables are being tracked and managed, ensuring the team delivers timely and effective results.
2. Work closely with the CEO, Program Lead and the secretariat to ensure organisational operations (steering committee meetings, secretariat management, hiring, program management) are carried out smoothly.

Education, Experience and Skills

• Generally expected to have 5 years of professional experience in related fields across non-profit, private sector (consulting) and working with the government/public sector
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant field (public policy, journalism, communications, international development, urban/regional planning or related fields)
• Experience in working with and managing multiple stakeholders is preferred
• A liking towards engaging with stakeholders with empathy and patience as anchors of deepening relationships across all stakeholders
• Experience working on issues related to the urban ecosystem, including familiarity with governance structures, funding ecosystem and civil society, and immersive knowledge of 2-3 sectors such as housing, mobility, land use planning etc. in an urban context
• Exceptional writing and verbal skills and the ability to quickly synthesise complex information from diverse sources on a range of topics and think creatively about how to use that content to tell U-CAN’s story to an external audience
• An honesty to reflect and learn from difficult situations, to admit lack of knowledge in  particular areas and to subsequently engage with them so that knowledge is not anecdotal or broad but grounded in first principles and fact-based specifics
• An ability to engage with complex issues patiently, a problem solving approach to unravel the complexity into manageable tasks, a curiosity to deliver a “+1” to any solution and an unwavering commitment to quality
• Experience with engaging with the donor ecosystem, and with email marketing, social media and managing websites is preferred
• Ability to travel domestically as required

Motivated applicants who are driven by the purpose to achieve social impact are encouraged to apply, even if they might not have all of the above criteria.

What we Offer

• An entrepreneurial opportunity to build an unique collective that aspires to be the big tent for all interested in urban development in India. An opportunity to combine growth in sectoral knowledge with organisational development.
• An opportunity to work closely with the leading urban think tanks in India.
• A hybrid work environment, preferably in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai or Pune.
• A compensation package that is competitive with industry standards and focuses more on outcomes than on processes.

To apply, send us your resume to connect@urban.org.in with ‘Application for Partnerships and Communications Manager’ in the subject line. Please include details which speak to the requirements listed above. In addition, provide a response to the following questions in no more than 2 pages:

1. What motivates you to work at U-CAN, and how does this align with your past experience and future goals?
2. Highlight your familiarity with urban issues in India and how you believe U-CAN can address them.

Candidates may be asked to provide any additional information in support of their application, and may be asked to complete a short assignment relevant to the role’s requirements.

We will consider applications on a rolling basis and the deadline to submit your application is 30th November 2024.

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