Director — Partnerships and New Initiatives (India)

Driving scalable pension inclusion through innovation, collaboration, and digital ecosystems

About Universal Pensions

Universal Pensions (formerly pinBox Solutions) is a global pensionTech committed to driving digital micro-pension inclusion across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

We are reimagining old-age income security for the two billion informal workers who risk retiring into poverty — by connecting the dots between policy, technology, and people.

We partner with governments, regulators, DFIs, pension funds, insurers, and digital finance stakeholders to help countries design and build national micro-pension marketplaces that make long-term saving simple, trusted, and universal.

Our pensionTech platform integrates seamlessly with national ID, payment, and financial ecosystems — enabling countries to “switch on” inclusive pension systems within months. From Rwanda and Uganda to India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Papua New Guinea, we are proving that digital technology, smart partnerships, and behavioural insight can turn financial exclusion into lifelong resilience, security, and dignity for every worker.

About the Role

We’re looking for an entrepreneurial, mission-driven leader to help shape the future of pension inclusion in India. This position is based in New Delhi, India.

As Director — Partnerships and New Initiatives (India), you will lead our efforts to design and develop sustainable, technology-enabled pension, savings, and protection models that empower excluded workers —self-employed women, gig workers, farmers, domestic help, and youth — to build lasting financial resilience.

You’ll operate at the intersection of policy, innovation, and inclusion, collaborating with governments, financial institutions, regulators, platform companies, and DFS ecosystem partners to co-create scalable, commercially viable models that deliver both impact and scale.

This is a rare opportunity to combine purpose with innovation — and to directly shape how millions of people prepare for a more secure and dignified future.

Key Responsibilities

1. Build Strategic Partnerships and Inclusion Models

Develop partnerships with governments, regulators, financial institutions, fintechs, MNOs, think-tanks, and platform companies to co-create scalable and sustainable pension inclusion models.

Design innovative B2B2C and B2C delivery models that leverage technology and trusted aggregators to reach excluded communities.

2. Design and Operationalise New Initiatives

Conceptualise and design targeted initiatives that extend pension and savings access to specific occupational or demographic cohorts.

Develop sustainable business models and delivery frameworks that can evolve from pilot to commercial scale.

3. Mobilise Support for Innovation and Research

Engage with DFIs, philanthropic foundations, and behavioural research experts to develop and field-test communication tools, behavioural interventions, and outreach strategies that strengthen participation and persistency.

4. Build and Maintain a Pipeline of Opportunities

Identify, evaluate, and advance new partnerships and inclusion opportunities.

Take initiatives from concept to implementation-ready projects for handover to delivery teams.

5. Advocacy and Representation

Represent Universal Pensions in high-level dialogues, policy forums, and industry events.

Contribute to thought leadership and advocacy to advance India’s pension inclusion agenda.

Ideal Profile

10–15 years of experience in financial inclusion, fintech, or social innovation.

Demonstrated ability to work with senior policymakers, regulators, DFIs, DFS stakeholders, and financial sector leaders.

Deep understanding of India’s digital finance and payments ecosystem.

Excellent conceptual, communication, and writing skills.

Entrepreneurial mindset — strategic, analytical, and driven by purpose.

A builder and connector — equally comfortable in boardrooms, on the field, and at policy tables.

Ideal Profile

If this role excites you, DM or email me ( gautam at universalpensions dot com ) a short (250-word) note on what you’d do over the first 6 months in this role. I’d love to hear your thoughts!