Are you interested in working with the social sector to create a positive impact in the lives of millions of people across India? Have you explored opportunities in the social sector, only to pull back because the leap felt too risky? Perhaps you wished there was a way to test the waters first, to see if this path truly aligns with who you are.
The Tech Leadership Development Cohort aims to offer exactly that opportunity. This program serves as a bridge for talented technologists currently working outside the development sector to transition to the social sector. We’re creating an on-ramp for those who want to transition into impact work but haven’t found the right entry point.
Building on What Works
Technology has become central to how nonprofits deliver, monitor, and scale their impact. From data systems and digital service delivery to AI-enabled decision-making, organisations are increasingly adopting a technology-first approach. Yet a persistent challenge remains: access to strong technology leadership.
Our Fractional CxO (fCxO) program embeds seasoned tech leaders inside NGOs for a few months to craft strategy, guide implementation, and build internal capacity. It has shown what’s possible when NGOs have the right tech leaders in place: organisations move faster, make better decisions, and build systems that last. But we’ve hit two constraints:
- Nonprofits struggle to hire and retain mid- and senior-level tech leaders
- The fCxO model doesn’t scale
That’s why we’re launching this cohort: a structured pathway for you to lead digital transformation in the development sector while determining whether this work is your calling.
Why This Matters
For You as a Technologist
- Work full-time, hands-on with a high-impact non- profit organisation
- Find out whether impact work is the right long-term fit for you
- Get mentorship from experienced tech leaders in the ecosystem
- Build relationships with peers navigating the same transition
- Stipend: 1.5L / month for 8 years of experience or less, for others, 2L / month
For the NGOs you will work with
- They get a dedicated technology leader for 12 months
- You will tackle critical priorities: data systems, AI use cases, automation
- The NGOs build some digital capacity without the usual hiring struggle
How It Works
The Experience
- One-week in-person orientation to immerse you in the development sector
- You will work with one NGO full-time, working closely with their senior leadership
- Most of your learning happens on the job, with mentor support when you need it
The Commitment
- Full-time for 6–12 months, with a strong preference for a 12-month commitment.
- Primarily remote work, with one week on-site each quarter
Is this for you? (Job description)
We’re looking for people who:
- Have technical depth: You’ve spent 5+ years working in software development, data science, or AI/ML. You can build production-ready solutions and translate unclear ideas into working prototypes. Ideally, you have a background in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or AI.
- Want to make a difference: You’re genuinely curious about development challenges and motivated to apply your skills to social impact.
- Considering making a career shift to social sector. You’re currently working outside the nonprofit world, in tech companies, startups, corporate roles, or academia, and you’re looking for the right way to transition.
- Communicate well across teams: You can explain technical concepts to people without technical backgrounds and work effectively with diverse teams.
- Believe in sharing knowledge: You are willing to document your work, build capacity in others, and share what you learn for the benefit of the broader sector.
- Have hands-on coding experience to prototype and validate ideas and solutions.
Are you ready to take the next step?
This cohort is your chance to transition into meaningful work, help organisations move faster, and shape the future of digital transformation in the development sector.
Applications are open till 15th March, 2026. Apply here.
Please reach out to ashana@projecttech4dev.org if you have any questions.
