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Coordinator - Knowledge
and Fellowship

About Urban Collective Action Network

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:

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.

Capacitating

To emphasise systems building, citizen empowerment and policy change as necessary governance interventions for better urban service delivery.

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 ​

Position Overview

The Coordinator – Knowledge and Fellowship will be an integral part of the team, manage the knowledge assimilation of various U-CAN programs, anchor  the U-CAN fellowship and work with the CEO and the Lead – Programs on strategic areas. In this role, they will develop, implement and manage activities related to all aspects of the U-CAN Fellowship including fellow experience, mentorship and training activities, communications and outreach. The Coordinator will have the opportunity to manage people and projects with U-CAN member organisations and partners.

Key Responsibilities

  • Coordinate all aspects of the fellowship programs, including recruitment, selection, orientation, and ongoing support for fellows.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for fellows, members, and program leadership, addressing inquiries and providing guidance as needed.
  • Manage fellowship scheduling, including rotations, conferences, and other educational activities.
  • Collaborate with other departments and institutions to enhance the fellowship experience and foster networking opportunities for fellows.
  • Develop and implement an annual calendar of training in coordination with the U-CAN leadership and fellowship cohort.  Recruit trainers for delivering training programs to the cohort. 
  • Work with the cohort to produce the annual report on the fellowship including the monitoring and evaluation plan. 
  • Cultivate close relationships and work closely with fellowship host organisations on all aspects of the fellowship, including fellow experience, projects, review meetings etc. 
  • Work closely with the CEO to assist in any discussions on fellowship design and delivery, and with Program Lead on intersections with other programmatic areas of work.
  • Serve as a thought partner to internal stakeholders as they explore external amplification strategies for U-CAN’s work.
  • Brainstorm, develop and work with fellows to disseminate knowledge and insights from their fellowship experiences, including but not limited to blogs, videos, photo stories etc.
  • Ensure effective dissemination of reports, resources, and insights generated by the fellowship program to key stakeholders.
  • Design and maintain a knowledge-sharing platform where fellows can post updates, challenges, and learnings in real-time, fostering a collaborative online community.
  • Facilitate cross-program knowledge documenting and sharing from various U-CAN initiatives to inform decision-making.
  • Develop and oversee the creation of a knowledge hub on the U-CAN website for all U-CAN program outputs, ensuring accessibility and usability for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Work with the broader U-CAN team to organise workshops and roundtables to share program learnings with U-CAN members, partners, and donors, fostering dialogue and collaboration on pressing urban challenges.
  • 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.
  • 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 minimum 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 
  • Experience of managing a fellowship or similar programs 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 
  • 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
  • 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.

How to Apply

To apply, send us your resume to connect@urban.org.in with ‘Application for Coordinator  – Knowledge and Fellowship’ 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 10th December 2024.

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