Vice President - Operations

CARPE EcoSattva is a hybrid social enterprise headquartered in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). Our vision is to build sustainable inclusive and climate resilient cities, towns and villages. We do this by identifying and implementing partnerships enabled and research and data driven solutions to pervasive civic challenges. With a team strength of 58, we offer services in Solid Waste Management, Green Cover Management and Water Body Restoration

We have worked in multiple Urban Local Bodies in India and internationally, including in Buenos Aires in Argentina and Denpasar in Indonesia. Our work has recently won prestigious prizes like WRI Ross Center Prize for cities, St. Andrews Prize for the Environment.

The recent MoU signed by Hon. CM Devendra Fadnavis in Davos marks a critical milestone in Maharashtra’s commitment to climate resilience. With the state’s backing, Sambhajinagar now has a unique opportunity to lead the way in implementing a robust district climate action plan. The Kham River Restoration Mission stands as a testament to the power of collaborative, data-driven climate action. Our district can set a precedent for developing proof of concepts, standards, processes, and ultimately the blueprint for integrating wetlands into climate readiness strategies. We are helping CSN stand as a model for the state’s positioning in building climate resiliency—showcasing how governance, industry, and citizen-led efforts can be replicated, scaled, and sustained to create significant environmental impact.

The VP - Operations will lead and scale EcoSattva’s project implementation, ensuring operational excellence, stakeholder alignment, and impact delivery. This role demands expertise in managing large-scale environmental projects, optimizing processes, and fostering high-performing teams.

1. Strategic Stakeholder Engagement
2. Develop and sustain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, including the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Collector, Zilla Parishad, Municipal Corporation, Aurangabad
3. Cantonment Board, state and national ministries, corporate sponsors, academic institutions, and local community groups.
4. Serve as the primary liaison for corporate partners, ensuring alignment with their CSR objectives and delivering regular, data-driven progress updates.
5. Seek additional partnerships with vision aligned organisations
6. Advocate for the mission at the state and national levels to secure policy and financial support, leveraging government schemes such as MGNREGS, Social Forestry, Finance Commission allocations, Majhi Vasundhara, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
7. Facilitate effective community engagement by integrating local perspectives into project planning and fostering grassroots participation through awareness campaigns and capacity building initiatives.
8. Financial Management and Resource Mobilization
9. Oversee financial planning, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to achieve project objectives within budget constraints.
10. Identify and secure funding opportunities by developing compelling proposals and building partnerships with potential funders, including public and private sectors.
11. Keep an eye on climate finance opportunities in the space and build proposals
12. Drive financial convergence by aligning project activities with existing government schemes and programs to maximize resource utilization and sustainability.
13. Operational Planning and Execution
14. Guide a team of APMs, Field Trainees, and ground staff establishing a practice of daily accountability tracking, approx 20 direct and indirect reportees
15. Lead the development and execution of detailed operational plans for the District Climate Action Plan Anchored in Wetlands, focusing on:
16. Sewage diversion and establishment of decentralized sewage treatment systems.
17. Solid waste management strategies, including public sensitization and infrastructure development.
18. Creation of blue-green spaces, including agroforestry initiatives, urban plantations, and biodiversity enhancement.
19. Flood risk mitigation through targeted interventions like desilting and embankment reinforcement.
20. Ensure alignment with global best practices in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable urban planning.
21. Anticipate potential challenges and proactively implement mitigation strategies to ensure uninterrupted progress.
22. Document operational challenges, write SOPs to refine the BOTRAM framework and come up with the most efficient and replicable model
23. Building a campaign for river restoration
24. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
25. Design and implement comprehensive monitoring frameworks to track project performance against defined indicators (eg. water quality, vegetation cover, biodiversity, and community engagement metrics)
26. Compile high-quality reports and case studies for diverse audiences, including funders, government bodies, and international stakeholders, showcasing measurable outcomes and long-term impacts.
27. Leverage advanced tools such as GIS mapping and IoT sensors to enhance real-time tracking, analysis, and visualization of project data.
28. Present project outcomes and insights at national and international forums to position the Kham River Restoration Mission as a model for urban water body rejuvenation.
29. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing
30. Lead capacity-building initiatives for municipal staff, community leaders, and project teams, enhancing skills in ecosystem restoration, waste management, and stakeholder engagement.
31. Partner with academic institutions to integrate the project into research programs, internships, and student projects, fostering local expertise and innovation.
32. Develop toolkits, training modules, and best practice guidelines to empower communities to sustain restoration efforts independently.
33. Compliance and Governance
34. Ensure strict adherence to environmental regulations, corporate standards, and municipal guidelines across all project activities.
35. Stay abreast of regulatory developments and adapt project strategies to maintain compliance and operational excellence.
36. Build data and case studies for advocacy
37. Community Engagement and Media Outreach
38. Design and implement targeted communication strategies to enhance public awareness and drive community participation in restoration efforts.
39. Serve as a spokesperson for the mission, representing its vision and achievements to media outlets, at public events, and in high-level stakeholder meetings.
40. Collaborate with local and national media to highlight project milestones, fostering widespread recognition and replicability of the initiative.

1. Minimum 12 years of experience in program management, preferably in environmental or social impact projects.
2. Proven ability to manage large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders.
3. Domain specific qualifications (architecture, civil engineering, management, geology, ecology etc) is appreciated, but not mandatory

1. Working with municipal corporations and corporate CSR teams.
2. Experience in river restoration or similar large-scale ecosystem projects. (Preferred)
3. Experience in managing complex socio-environmental projects spanning cities and districts.
4. Familiarity with tools for project monitoring, impact assessment, and stakeholder management.
5. Proficiency in AI tools, Microsoft Office etc.
6. Ability to use GIS, Auto CAD is preferred