TOP CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SOCIAL SECTOR

Over the last five to eight years, the Social Sector has evolved at a rapid pace. The sector is now much more diverse in terms of providing opportunities to people from different backgrounds, with different hopes, aspirations, skill sets and visions for change.

Making a successful career in the Social Sector

If you’re reading this, then it's evident that you are considering working in the Social Sector. Whether you’re a student or have work experience, the Social Sector now offers numerous exciting opportunities and many interesting job roles.

The job definition has changed

In a recent study by Kohl, it was found out that ‘4 things that make a job fulfilling’ for Millenials are:

Engagement: leadership or management that wants to make a difference in your life and in the world around you

Integrity: having the quality of adhering to moral and ethical standards

Community: a company that is recognized by industry peers as a thought leader or the standard of achievement

Giving back: a job that encourages to impact the lives of others. Getting involved in the community, fostering relationships at work, or just being passionate about positively contributing to the pressing problems of society. To increase the job value and make it meaningful.

Source: 4 Things That Make Your Job Fulfilling - Work It Daily

The shift from success to success and fulfilment

Today Gen Zers are focussing more on finding jobs that make them feel fulfilled—not just ones that will help them pay the bills.

The Social Sector is now the place to be:

Young job-seekers crave meaning and purpose and fulfilment in their jobs, rather than just the pursuit of money. That is a significant shift from their predecessors. To be conscious of where we are going as a global society. So they are choosing to have a purpose in life, seeking roles that facilitate achieving a higher purpose through new ideas, creativity, and innovation

Changing philosophies and mindsets have also helped usher in educational courses that cater to training individuals to become enduring catalysts for change.

So if you’re planning a career in the Social Sector then this would be the right time and you can definitely be at the right place too, by doing a Post-Graduate Course in Development Management from ISDM.

A successful career in the Social Sector must be backed by the best training and education

The Social Sector no longer entails employing traditional development administration principles but needs to deliver an accelerated, responsive and customized approach to complex situations and conditions. And, that is the reason why the Post Graduate Program in Development Management from ISDM is the course that will train you to become a global change-maker.

See what students of ISDM have to say:

While Simran was working in a Fortune 500 company as an Auditor, Shrikantha Raipurkar has a BSc in Hospitality. Both of them are a testament to the fact that people from different backgrounds and diverse educational qualifications are making the switch successfully with PGP DM from the Institute of Social Development Management (ISDM).

In fact, many students of ISDM are defying the myth of ‘you can only enter the Social Sector after college and not later’ and breaking the mould of ‘being a certain kind of person with a certain educational background’.

Understanding why the Social Sector needs Development Management

Development is often construed to be about growth, and political, and social ambitions put together. However, Development Management goes a step further.

1. It is a continuous process that looks at societal development to measure how productivity can be increased, and economic and social freedom can be achieved.

2. It is an ongoing process, it is also key to have a thought process that is not project-based but process-based.

3. It is the application of pure management principles to the running of development activities through a process-based management system that removes stagnation in the public service systems.

Post graduate Programme in Development Management is a vital key to becoming a future-ready manager in the Social Sector

The Development Sector no longer comprises grassroots NGOs alone - India’s Social Sector today is a vibrant mix of civil society organisations, social entrepreneurs, technologists, activists, donors, philanthropists, policy-makers, researchers, academics and scientists. The impact, sustainability and scalability of development sector work require leaders and managers who are able to respond to the specific needs of the sector.

*Mr Ravi Sreedharan, Co-founder of ISDM explains in this TED talk:

*Ravi worked for 24 years in the corporate sector, most of which was at HSBC where he was the Regional Marketing Head for the Middle East and Africa, Head of Consumer Products for Asia Pacific, Consumer Banking Head of Indonesia, CEO and President Director of Bank Ekonomi (a local bank in Indonesia that was acquired by HSBC). He quit his corporate career and switched to the social sector in 2011, joining the Azim Premji Foundation where he was the Head of Education Leadership & Management. Ravi has an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and a B. Tech. from IIT-BHU.

Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) is a pioneer institution built through synergistic wisdom and collective philanthropy.

ISDM has built an identity that is synonymous with excellence. Designed to impart an education that will train individuals to become change-makers of the future. ISDM has developed a first-of-its-kind curriculum and pedagogy that is best suited for students wanting to excel in Development Management.

ISDM was established to educate students in the art of leadership and make them future-ready with relevant leadership skills, strong ethics, and a social conscience, to lead and manage organisations with a social mission.

Post Graduate Programme in Development Management is the most sought-after Management Course for the Social Sector

The Post Graduate Programme in Development Management is a first-of-its-kind Programme in Development Management globally, that blends ideas of development with management theories. PGP DM is ISDM's flagship initiative and has been meticulously designed by leading academicians and practitioners and blends development values with management concepts along with in-class sessions.

This course aims to create impactful, committed management professionals who can deftly navigate non-linear complexities and processes, geographies and cultures.

The PGP DM creates high-calibre management professionals for Social Purpose Organisations (SPOs). This course prepares professionals to grapple with the complex context of social change, and design interventions, build, lead and manage organisations for sustainable social impact.

PGP DM is a highly sought after Programme:

“Besides the strong alumni base and a welcoming faculty, PGP DM gave me a global perspective and has equipped me with knowledge of Design & Systems Thinking, nurtured and enhanced my leadership skills.”

Shreya Verma, Class of 2021
Before ISDM: Graduate and Fresher
After ISDM: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, State Coordinator, J & K

Having the choice to work in a variety of organisations

The choices are many depending on the interest and inclination of the student:

1. CSR Fund/Foundation: a company that engages in grants and the funding process to get financial assistance from the corporate sector.

   Rama Krishna Teja, PGP DM, Class of 2019
   Educational background: B.tech from K.L University
   Current work profile: CSR Lead at Tata Consultancy Services

   Viswanathan V, PGP DM, CLass of 2017
   Educational background: Bachelor of engineering electronics and communication from Jeppiaar Institute of Technology
   Current work profile: Assistant manager CSR at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.

2. Social Welfare Organisations: promotes social welfare to further the common good of the people of the community

   Nilanjan Panda, ISDM, Class of 2019
   Educational Background: BSW from Visva -Bharti and MA in Development from Azim Premji University
   Current work profile: PRADAN - Professional Assistance for Development Action

   Akshay Jha, PGP DM, Class of 2020
   Educational background: B.Pharm. & M.Pharm.-Pharmacy from Guru Nanak College of Pharmacy, RTMN
   Current work profile: Programme Manager Aftercare at M.A.D (Make a Difference)

3. Policy Consulting Firms: organisations that work with government agencies, and NGOs to develop and implement public policies in healthcare or environmental issues.

   B SHRIJA, PGP DM, Class of 2018
   Educational Background: B Sc Agriculture from Banaras Hindu University
   Current work profile: Project Manager at Egov Foundation

   Ashish Manjunath, PGP DM, Class of 2020
   Educational background: B.E.-Arts from M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology (now RIT),
   Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum
   Current work profile: Innovation Officer at Water Aid India

4. For-Profit Social Organisations: has a social purpose but operate for profits.

5. Social Advocacy: defending and upholding the rights of people in the community who have been deprived due to a disadvantage or discrimination.

   Swati, PGP DM, Class of 2017
   Educational background: B.Sc from St. Joseph's College & MA Rural Development from IGNOU
   Current work profile: Project Manager at Janaagraha

   Sanket Sunil Aher, PGP DM, Class of 2019
   Educational Background: BS in Physics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
   Current organisation: Swades Foundation

6. Not for Profit/NGOs: curate projects that include providing aid to the needy and underprivileged communities of underdeveloped and developed countries.

7. Impact Investing Firm: focuses on investing in companies or organisations to address a social issue, such as poverty or education, or an environmental issue, such as clean water.

   Arpit Jain, PGP DM, Class of 2017
   Educational Background: B.tech from NIT Karnataka, PG Diploma in Liberal Studies from Ashoka University
   Current work profile: Consultant at Dalberg

   Abhishek Tyagi, PGP DM, Class of 2019
   Educational Background: Political Science Hons from Delhi University
   Current work profile: Senior Associate at CSR Box

8. Social Impact Consultancy: focuses on creating social improvements for several stakeholders involved in the organisation.

   Grishma Kajbaje, PGP DM, Class of 2021
   Educational Background: B.COM from R A PODAR COLLEGE OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMICS (UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI)
   Current organisation: Samhita

9. Social Enterprise: seek to maximize profits to fund social programmes while maximising benefits to society and the environment

   Priyanka Nalawade, PGP DM, Class of 2018
   Educational Background: B Tech in Computer Science and Technology from Usha Mittal Institute of Technology, Mumbai.
   Current work profile: Programme Associate MNE at Under The Mango Tree

   Supreeth V Kashyap, PGP Dm, Class of 2019
   Educational Background: B.E (Computer Science & Engineering) from The National Institute of Engineering, Mysore
   Current organisation: Wellbi

10. Education/Think Tanks/ Research: Independent organisation dedicated to working to raise academic standards and graduation requirements, improve assessments, and strengthen accountability

    Abinaya Rangarajan, PGP DM, Class of 2018
    Educational Background: B tech Industrial Biotechnology from Sastra University Thanjavur Current work profile: Officer - Skill Education at Lend - A Hand India

    Tenzin Chorran, PGP DM, Class of 2021
    Educational Background: B SC CHEMISTRY from MIRANDA HOUSE (Delhi University), MSC CHEMISTRY from IIT Hyderabad
    Current work profile: Consultant at Think Through Consultancy

11. Bilateral Agencies: Agencies that finance projects that contribute to the economic and social development of the recipient countries.

    Radhika Nair, PGP Dm, Class of 2017
    Educational Background: BA in Communication from Amrita School of Communication
    Current work profile: Consultant at Women's Fund Asia

Multi-faceted career roles available to students of PGP DM

PGP DM students have many options to build their careers in a multitude of roles and responsibilities:

Programme Operations and Management

• Understand the overall strategy of the organisation and translate it into program design

• Manage implementation, evaluation, monitoring and review of the programme

Communications and Engagement

• Define and help build the overall organisational brand

• Design, implement and manage the overall communications strategy

Fund Raising (Retail and Corporate)

• Define and help build the overall organisational brand

• Build a fundraising strategy and raise organisational and programmatic funds

• Engage with Donors/ Funders to ensure regular

Strategy & Data-based Decision Making

• Help chart out the overall strategy and positioning of the organisation

• Map all data flows; analyse and present data for effective decision making

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Work with the Board level CSR Committee to define the overall CSR strategy

• Design, implement and review the interventions; ensuring good governance and compliance

Government Relations and Advocacy

• Build collateral, submit proposals for specific areas of work with the government

• Build and manage relationships with relevant wings of the government

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

• Identify potential partners based on the collaboration needs of the organisation

• Bring partners on board after due diligence and manage the relationship

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Translate the theory of change into an M&E Framework and bring on board technical partners

• Ensure collection and analysis of relevant data sets to present the overall impact of the work

EA to CEO

• Help the CEO implement all the areas of work being done by the organisation

• Map all data flows; Analyse and present data for effective decision making

Co-Founders

• Collaborate with individuals who have started organisations in the development sector

What makes PGP DM different and unique?

• The ISDM faculty brings together ‘pracademics’ - a unique combination of practice and academics - with varied, robust and rich experience of the social sector and an academic bent for teaching and learning.

• Students are mentored by a select group of experienced professionals who guide students in making career decisions, provide sustained guidance, and he;p to enhance their experience.

• ISDM has over 150+ placement partners in the development sector and, as a result, was able to assure 100% placements in the previous batches. The placement process at ISDM is unique in that it is student-centric, and not organisation-centric.

• ISDM has access to 200+ placement partners and 200+ alumni working in top-tier companies. Ex-students are getting 2.5x more than the average salary in the social sector, the highest salary being 16 LPA.

Click on this link if you want to get full details on how to apply for the PGP DM Course, its curriculum details, eligibility criteria, financial aid schemes and much more.