Head of Growth Corporate Relations

Some work stays with you!

At Educational Initiatives (Ei), we have spent the last 25 years helping children move beyond memorisation to genuine understanding. Along the way, many of us discovered that the work changes us too!

It happens during visits to government schools, in conversations with teachers, and in moments when children achieve what once seemed impossible. These experiences stay with you long after the work is done.

We are looking for a Head of Growth – Corporate Relations for Ei Shiksha, someone who can help bring these opportunities to millions more children across India.

Ei Shiksha is Ei's government and social impact vertical, providing research-backed assessments and personalized learning solutions to India's public education system. With strong growth momentum, our ambition is to reach more than 10 million students over the next five years.

Ei Shiksha manages a portfolio of over USD 10 million, operates across 17 states, and is supported by a team of more than 100 professionals.

This is a leadership role for someone who has driven strong revenue growth by building strategic partnerships and managing complex stakeholder relationships. We are looking for someone who understands that the most meaningful partnerships are not transactional; they are built on trust, shared purpose, and long-term commitment.

About the role

As Head of Growth: Corporate Relations, you will own Ei Shiksha's CSR and Corporate foundation revenue line and lead the strategy, execution, and team management required to grow it. You will report to the Head of Ei Shiksha and manage a team of professionals focussed on enhancing revenue from these segments across India.

Corporate sponsors are expected to contribute 60%+ of Ei Shiksha's future growth and sustainability. Your role will therefore be central to expanding both our impact and revenue.

Key Areas of Focus

• 40% – Fundraising & Revenue Growth: Lead major sponsor conversations, build strategic pipelines, and close multi-year partnerships.
• 20% – Strategic Partnerships: Develop collaborations and consortiums that unlock large-scale implementation and funding opportunities.
• 20% – Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and enable a high-performing team focussed on revenue growth from CSR and Corporate Foundations.
• 10% – Growth Strategy: Shape funding priorities, identify emerging opportunities, and maintain a forward-looking pipeline.
• 10% – Systems & Representation: Strengthen fundraising systems, sponsor stewardship, and represent Ei at sector forums and conferences.

What you will do

In this role, you will build and manage a portfolio of India's most strategic CSR sponsors and Corporate foundations aligned to Ei Shiksha's mission. You will lead or oversee the full fundraising lifecycle, from prospecting and outreach to pitching, proposal development, budgeting, negotiation, closure, legal documentation, and onboarding.

You will sit across the table from CSR leaders and Corporate foundation decision-makers, understand their business and social impact priorities, and translate Ei Shiksha's work into a compelling case for partnership. A key part of the job will be developing multi-year, multi-crore

commitments rather than one-time grants.

You will work closely with internal program, finance, and leadership teams to build customized proposals and partnership models for prospects. You will also contribute to ambitious strategic collaborations that can help Ei Shiksha scale faster and deepen its impact in public education.

Team leadership and growth

A major part of this role is building the team around you. You will set clear expectations, define ownership, and create systems that support stronger execution and better planning. You will coach team members to independently manage mid-sized relationships and close meaningful deals.

You will also help develop the next layer of leadership within the team, ensuring that the function is not only productive today but scalable for the future. This role requires someone who can balance high standards with empathy, and performance management with respect and clarity.

What success looks like

Success in this role will mean:

• Sustained year-on-year growth in the corporate sponsor/funder base.
• Strong and predictable revenue/fundraising performance, with high-quality long-term partnerships.
• A team that can independently manage a substantial share of the portfolio.
• Strategic collaborations that strengthen Ei Shiksha's scale and sustainability.
• A stronger external presence for Ei as a credible thought partner in the education and impact ecosystem.

Who We're Looking For

Essential Experience

• 15+ years of experience in fundraising, business development, enterprise sales, or strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated success in raising ₹10 crore+ annually through CSR and corporate foundation partnerships or similar.
• Experience managing high-value sponsor portfolios with average deal sizes of ₹80 lakh or more.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams of five or more people.

Capabilities

• Ability to quickly establish credibility with senior corporate and their foundation stakeholders.
• Strong proposal writing, presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate complex educational challenges into compelling funding opportunities.
• Comfortable representing the organization in high-profile external forums.

Personal Attributes

• Strong commitment to educational equity and social impact.
• High integrity and intellectual honesty.
• Resilience and persistence in navigating long fundraising cycles.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort operating in evolving environments.
• Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills.

Preferred

• Existing relationships with CSR leaders and corporate foundations.
• Familiarity with education, EdTech, or learning-outcomes-focused organizations.
• Experience contributing to sector thought leadership through speaking, writing, or public engagement.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

This Role May Not Be Right If

• You are more comfortable delivering programs than building partnerships and raising funds.
• You prefer working within a narrow sponsor/donor category rather than developing a diversified portfolio.
• You require highly structured environments and are uncomfortable creating new systems.
• You are unwilling to travel regularly.

Compensation & Logistics

• Competitive compensation aligned with senior leadership roles in the education and social impact sector. We are open to discussing the range based on experience.
• Location: Bengaluru.
• Travel: Approximately 30–40% across India.
• Expected joining: Within 1–2 months of offer.

This is an opportunity to help grow Ei Shiksha into something significantly larger while making it stronger in purpose and execution. If you are energized by building lasting partnerships with Corporate sponsors that improve learning outcomes for children from underserved communities across India, we would love to hear from you.