Over the past 25 years, Praja Foundation has worked to enable accountable urban governance in India. We partnered with the Mumbai Corporation to develop its first Citizen Charter and revamp the citizen grievance mechanism, including Complaint 1916. Praja’s pioneering study on urban governance reforms led to the creation of the Urban Governance Index (UGI), a tool used by MoHUA, NITI Aayog, and NIUA to inform policy. In 2024, UGI 2.0 mapped governance across 31 cities, strengthening transparency and service delivery. Praja also collaborates with state and city governments to drive reforms and build capacity that improve council deliberations, leadership skills of elected representatives, financial management, and citizen participation in local decision-making.
The Role
The Manage - Strategic Communications will shape how Praja's work enters the public conversation - in the media, digital platforms, policy circles, and beyond. This is not a role about amplification alone; it's about framing, timing, and audience. You will work closely with researchers and programme teams to surface the stories that are already there, and make sure they reach the people who can act on them.
Main Responsibilities
1.Strategic Communications Planning
Own and drive the communications calendar across reports, campaigns, and events.
Develop and execute an overarching communications strategy that positions Praja Foundation as the thought leader in urban governance.
Identify high-impact opportunities to insert Praja's research and voice into ongoing civic, policy, and media discourse.
2. Content Development and Editorial:
Write and edit long-form and short-form content - including op-eds, newsletters, press notes, and report summaries.
Work directly with researchers and programme teams to translate findings and impacts into compelling public-facing narratives.
Ensure all content reflects Praja's voice: direct, data-led, and accessible
3. Media relations and outreach:
Manage proactive media outreach and build sustained relationships with journalists covering governance, urban affairs, and policy.
Develop press materials, story pitches, and briefing documents that go beyond standard press releases.
Track media coverage and maintain a clear picture of how Praja's work is being reported and received.
4. Digital & Social Media:
Oversee Praja's social media presence across platforms, ensuring strategic, impactful communication.
Guide the creation of platform-appropriate content - from data visualisations and infographics to threads and video.
Track performance metrics and lead honest, evidence-based conversations about what is resonating and what is not.
5. Brand and Narrative Stewardship:
Maintain and strengthen Praja's brand voice and visual identity across all external communications.
Ensure coherence in how Praja's mission, programmes, and impact are communicated to diverse audiences - from policymakers and donors to citizens and media.
Coordinate with designers and vendors to produce high-quality collaterals for reports, events, and campaigns.
6. Team and Stakeholder management:
Manage and mentor the communications team.
Collaborate closely with programme and research leads to stay ahead of upcoming events.
Support donor communications and reporting as required.
Qualification, Experience and Competencies
6-8 years of experience in communications, journalism, policy writing, or an adjacent field.
Strong written English is non-negotiable. Proficiency in Hindi or Marathi is a significant advantage.
Strategic Thinking - Ability to develop and execute a communications strategy, not just produce content.
Editorial Judgement - Instinct for what makes a story work, and the confidence to push back when the framing is wrong.
Research Translation - Comfortable working with data-heavy material and researchers without needing a translator.
Media Savvy - Existing relationships with journalists and a track record of effective media outreach.
Digital Fluency - Familiarity with social media strategy, analytics, and digital content formats.
Sector Orientation - Genuine interest in Indian civic and political discourse; familiarity with urban governance is a plus.
Comfortable working in a scrappy, impact-first, resource-constrained environment.
Location
Mumbai (Only city residents eligible)
Compensation
The annual compensation will range from 12 lakhs to 13.5 lakhs, depending on qualification and experience.