Chief of Staff in Bengaluru | Centre for Wildlife Studies

Centre for Wildlife Studies

Centre for Wildlife Studies is a nonprofit based in Bengaluru that works to protect India's wildlife and the forests they live in. It combines careful scientific research with action on the ground and education for children and communities living near protected areas. It also supports families who live alongside wild animals, so that people and wildlife can share the land more safely. The organisation is growing quickly, and its work connects wildlife conservation with climate action and rural development. This role sits within Centre for Wildlife Studies' CEO Office, which works with the leadership team to set priorities and turn them into action.

Role

As Chief of Staff, you will work side by side with the Chief Executive Officer to turn plans into action across the whole organisation. You will spot gaps early, build simple systems that help teams work well together, and own important projects from start to finish. You will also be the link between the CEO, the leadership team, and donors and partners, making sure everyone is clear on priorities and that agreed work gets done. The role reports to the CEO and starts immediately.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO to set organisational priorities, and make sure they are clearly shared and carried out across teams.
• Turn strategy into clear plans with owners, milestones and accountability, and track progress on key initiatives.
• Lead high-priority work across operations, fundraising, HR, technology and communications, keeping teams aligned and on schedule.
• Spot gaps, bottlenecks and opportunities early, and design and drive solutions from start to finish, including special projects that span several teams.
• Build systems for project management, decision tracking and internal communication, and introduce tools such as CRMs, project management platforms, knowledge libraries and AI productivity tools that every team uses.
• Coordinate leadership processes such as annual planning, progress reviews and clearing cross-team blocks, working with the CEO, Directors and Program Managers.
• Represent the CEO Office in meetings with donors, advisors, partners and senior stakeholders, and follow through on what is agreed.
• Support fundraising through proposal writing, data gathering and donor communication, and help tell the story of the organisation's work and impact.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in a development sector organisation leading cross-functional projects, building systems or driving strategy in a growing organisation, with social enterprise, startup, consulting or climate and sustainability experience preferred.
• Strong project and operations leadership, with a record of bringing structure and accountability to complex settings and moving work forward with little oversight.
• Hands-on experience setting up and running digital systems such as CRMs, project management platforms and knowledge management tools, and comfort trying out AI tools to improve how work gets done.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, running meetings and presenting to senior leaders.
• Confidence working with donors, partners, advisors and senior stakeholders, and with diverse teams while handling several priorities at once.
• A real interest in wildlife conservation, climate action and rural development.

Benefits

• Work closely with the CEO and leadership team and shape how a growing conservation organisation runs.
• Lead high-impact projects with real ownership across every part of the organisation.
• Help protect India's wildlife and support the communities that live alongside it.

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