Director, Health and Nutrition Programs (EAII Advisors)

This position is with EAII Advisors, Evidence Action's technical partner in India.

The search is being conducted by The Taplow Group (www.taplowgroup.com). Interested applicants may submit their resume via email to [email protected].

Please include “Application for the role of Director - Health & Nutrition Programs, EAII ” in the subject line.

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 9 countries, our team of 800+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains.
• Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children.
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

About EAII

EAII Advisors, Evidence Action’s technical partner in India, supports state governments in delivering evidence-based public health programs, including safe drinking water initiatives and school and Anganwadi-based National Deworming Day and iron and folic acid supplementation. Operating across 11 states, EAII Advisors provides technical assistance to ministries of health, education, water, and women and child development, reducing health burdens in impoverished communities and improving the long-term wellbeing of children and families.

The Role

EAII is seeking a seasoned leader to provide strategic, people, and operational leadership for Evidence Action’s expanding health and nutrition portfolio in India. This role will be critical in shaping the direction of government partnerships, guiding the expansion of high-impact health programs, and ensuring strong outcomes and organizational alignment across states.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of public health systems, a proven track record of engaging government and development partners at senior levels, and demonstrated experience leading large, diverse teams to drive growth, collaboration, and measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

• Serve as a member of the EAII Senior Leadership Team (SLT), contributing to country strategy, cross-functional collaboration, and organization-wide decision-making.
• Represent EAII’s Health & Nutrition portfolio in key internal and external forums, ensuring strategic alignment and visibility across initiatives.
• Provide strategic inputs to Evidence Action India’s long-term priorities and ensure the Health & Nutrition portfolio contributes meaningfully to organization-wide goals.
• Collaborate closely with the global team to ensure alignment between country priorities and Evidence Action’s global strategy.
• Lead new program development and resource mobilization efforts, including developing strategic pitches, identifying opportunities, and supporting pilot projects that demonstrate scalable impact.

Strengthening Government Engagement (State & National)

• Serve as the primary representative of Evidence Action’s health and nutrition portfolio with government counterparts at both national and state levels.
• Build and sustain high-trust, strategic relationships with senior government stakeholders, policy makers, and technical agencies.
• Participate in and contribute to the design and direction of new government-led initiatives in health and nutrition, ensuring alignment with Evidence Action’s strategic priorities and technical expertise.
• Position Evidence Action as a thought leader and trusted partner in the health and nutrition sector through participation in key forums, conferences, and policy dialogues.
• Represent the organization in national and state-level working groups, task forces, and partner networks to advance evidence-based policies and programs.

Expanding the Health & Nutrition Portfolio

• Identify and lead opportunities for strategic program expansion in the health and nutrition domain, including maternal and child health, adolescent health, and nutrition interventions.
• Lead the conceptualization and design of new programs, in collaboration with global leadership.
• Develop and make pitches to donors and government partners to advance new and existing initiatives.
• Support pilots and scale-up initiatives, ensuring learning and results are captured to strengthen future proposals.
• Partner with India and global program teams to develop high-quality proposals and donor engagement strategies.

Leading Strategic Partnerships

• Build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with donors, research institutions, multilateral organizations, and implementation partners.
• Position Evidence Action as a thought leader and trusted partner in the health sector through participation in key forums, conferences, and policy dialogues.
• Foster a collaborative and solutions-oriented culture within the team and across partner organizations.

Strengthening Program Delivery

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure high-quality program delivery and operational excellence across the Health & Nutrition portfolio.
• Strengthen planning, coordination, and prioritization mechanisms across teams to ensure timely and effective execution of program objectives.
• Promote integration and collaboration across program teams to leverage learnings, resources, and innovations.
• Foster a culture of problem-solving and ownership, empowering managers to make data-informed decisions and continuously improve delivery.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (including M&E, operations, and finance) to ensure alignment and effective resource utilization.

Team Leadership and Engagement

• Lead and inspire a large, multi-level team distributed across multiple states.
• Foster a culture of openness, trust, and shared accountability within the Health & Nutrition team.
• Ensure clarity of purpose, communication, and ownership at all levels by setting clear expectations and reinforcing organizational values.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline by identifying and nurturing emerging leaders within the team.
• Model collaborative leadership and empathetic people management, promoting well-being, inclusion, and professional growth.
• Lead structured mechanisms for feedback, performance discussions, and recognition to strengthen engagement and retention.
• Develop, mentor, and empower high-performing managers and leaders across the H&N team.
• Foster a learning-oriented, inclusive, and feedback-driven culture aligned with Evidence Action’s values.
• Lead workforce planning to ensure the team is equipped to meet current and future program demands.

Requirements:
• Advanced degree in Public Health, Development Studies, Management, or a related field
• Significant progressive leadership experience, including managing large, multi-tiered teams in complex, multi-state health or development programs
• Strong track record in government engagement, strategic partnerships, and program scale-up
• Proven ability to inspire, develop, and manage senior leaders
• Deep understanding of India’s public health ecosystem and policy landscape
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Passion for Evidence Action’s mission and alignment with its core values of evidence, transparency, and impact

Position Location

This position is based in New Delhi, India. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an India employment visa at this time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in India for roles based in India.

Benefits:
EAII provides a comprehensive benefits package for employees . Benefits include:

• Comprehensive health insurance with IPD and OPD provisions,
• Life and Accidental insurance,
• PF, ESIC and Gratuity as per statutory requirements,
• Generous leave,
• Mental and physical wellbeing benefits
• Learning & Development benefits
• Avenues for engagement and recognition