Chief Executive Officer

**About Vahani Scholarship Trust

Vahani Scholarship today stands as one of the leading education scholarships in India. Vahani was founded in 2015 on a simple but radical belief: that education is a basic human right. We find the brightest students from the most under-resourced corners of the country, young people with the grades, the grit and the hunger to change their worlds, and we give them what they need to do it. Every Vahani Scholar receives a fully funded undergraduate degree at one of India's top universities, alongside a structured programme of mentorship, leadership development, English and digital literacy, internships, and personal support with the world-leading mentors and institutions.

A decade in, Vahani has built a renowned and unique model that goes beyond a traditional non-profit. We have supported scholars from 31 states and union territories with 87%. in their Class 12 boards and a household income averaging ₹70,967 a year. They have gone to AIIMS, IITs, NITs, NIDs, NIFTs and leading law, humanities and management institutions. They have become software engineers, data analysts, doctors, and lawyers in leading organisations such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Deloitte, KPMG, Accenture, Samsung. Our alumni are already strengthening the organisation and giving back, mentoring the next cohort, raising funds, and carrying the Vahani mission into their own communities.

Vahani's next decade is about creating India's next generation of leaders and the most prestigious leadership scholarship whose method others can follow to scale the impact. The new CEO will be the central architect of that next chapter.

The Role

Vahani is looking for a Chief Executive Officer who is, at heart, a builder of institutions. You will take a high-impact, values-driven organisation that has proven its model and lead it through its next stage of growth, deepening programme quality, strengthening operational infrastructure, and expanding Vahani's reach and reputation.

This is first and foremost an operational leadership role. You will run Vahani day-to-day with the discipline and systems-thinking of someone who has built and managed teams, designed scalable processes, and held an organisation accountable to both its mission and its metrics. You will be based in Delhi, working closely with the Founder . Chairperson, the Board, and a passionate small team.

You will also be the external face of Vahani with the Vahani board, university partners, corporate sponsors, and the broader education and social impact ecosystem in India.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership . Team Management

• Own the day-to-day operations of Vahani end-to-end: scholar intake, programme delivery, mentor management, finance, HR, and administration.

• Define clear roles, ownership, and KPIs for all team members; with quarterly OKRs and annual planning with rigorous tracking.

• Manage and develop the core team: recruiting, retaining, and building a high-performing, mission-aligned team.

• Build internal culture, invest in team development, and upskill the team including in AI tools and workflows.

• Ensure robust financial management: budgeting, forecasting, audit compliance, and board reporting.

• Oversee the Vahani portal: one system for scholars, mentors, advisors, and alumni.

• Champion AI and technology integration across Vahani's programmes and team workflows to improve team coordination and efficiency.

• Manage Vahani finances and scholar payments and expenses.

2. Scholar Leadership Building

• Take full ownership of Vahani's leadership development model: mentorship, workshops, programmes, internship facilitation, and alumni engagement.

• Build a unified Vahani programme with a clearly defi ned curriculum, accredited, and delivered with consistency and quality.

• Drive continuous improvement in programme quality by tracking scholar outcomes and using data to evolve the model.

• Deliver world-class conferences and meet ups: best speakers, high-quality workshops, meaningful activities, important guests, and strong value and engagement.

• Scholar outreach . selection ensuring the best scholars across the country are selected.

• Scholar day-to-day management including annual reviews and pastoral care.

3. University . Corporate Partnerships

• Build tie-ups with top Indian and international universities for scholar admissions support and brand recognition.

• Develop relationships with tier-1 corporates for scholar internships and graduate placements, ensuring all scholars.

• Collaborate with global universities on scholar admissions; invite university founders or chancellors to Vahani events and conferences.

4. Brand, Communications . Alumni Growth

• Grow the Vahani brand through case studies, testimonials, website and strong internal brand assets.

• Develop Vahani's public relations including press, thought leadership, awards and events.

• Form government tie-ups, and policy influence.

• Build the Vahani Alumni Association.

5. Stakeholder Management

• Manage board relationships and report quarterly to the Vahani Chair and patrons on goals, budget, and progress.

• Represent Vahani publicly at conferences, panels, and media opportunities to build profile and credibility.

• Manage tier 1 speakers, mentors and advisors of Vahani

Who You Are

Essential Experience . Skills

• 10. years of professional experience, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.

• Proven track record of building or scaling an organisation or large vision.

• Strong people person: you build trust, develop others, and hold teams accountable with both care and rigour.

• Financial literacy: you proficiently handle owning a budget, accounts, and making astute resource decisions.

• Experience working in or with the education, or social impact sector in India.

• Based in Delhi, or willing to relocate.

Highly Valued Experience

• Background in education, scholarship management, youth development, or leadership programmes.

• Exposure to global best-practice leadership programmes.

Personal attributes

• Mission-driven: you care deeply about educational equity and India's next generation of leaders. That shows in how you work.

• An operator: you love building systems, solving problems, and making things run smoothly. You are energised by process as much as by vision.

• A relationship builder: scholars, team, board, and partners trust you quickly and naturally.

• Data-informed and humble: you learn from outcomes, from scholars, from failure, and from your team.

• High growth, high excellence mindset: you have a high bar on quality, rigour, executional excellence and a fast-paced, just do it mindset

• Strong communicator in English and Hindi, written and verbal.

How to Apply

We're looking for someone who sees this not just as a job, but as a calling. If that is you, we'd love to hear from you.

Please send the following to Vipin Sachdev at vipinsachdev@gmail.com

• Your CV

• A cover letter including why Vahani's mission resonates with you, your vision for the scholarship and what specific experience you bring