Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff (Founding Hire)

Company : The Stringer Foundation (TSF)

Location : India (Remote-first)

Employment Type : Full-time

About TSF

The Stringer Foundation is an early-stage nonprofit founded by award-winning journalist, Yale graduate, and ex-McKinsey consultant Anjan Sundaram . The Stringer Foundation funds and supports courageous journalists worldwide. We fill a key gap in the journalism support landscape by scaling up courageous journalism and nurturing the next generation of brave reporters. We provide three key pillars to journalists : financial stability, media amplification, and safety . Our flagship prize, The Stringer Prize , will launch in 2026 and is intended to become one of the most prestigious prizes in journalism — in line with the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, but with the media reach of the Oscars. TSF is backed by a major core donor and is on track to accelerate fundraising, enabling multi-year programs and meaningful career growth .

The Role

Reporting directly to the founder, this India-based Chief of Staff will be a founding operator building TSF’s systems, structure, and strategic rhythm. You will translate vision into execution across programs, partnerships, and fundraising — designing and running the operational backbone of a globally visible organization.

In your first 6–12 months, you will :

• Operationally take TSF to the 2026 Prize launch :
• Manage the jury and awards processes .
• Lead media campaigns and coordinate with partner outlets.
• Help organize fundraising dinners and donor events.
• Build and manage the support pipeline (fellowships, mentorships, and partnerships delivering mental-health, legal aid, and publication opportunities).
• Design and oversee eligibility criteria, selection rubrics, and safeguarding protocols for journalist support.
• Build a donor and grants CRM (25–40 prospects), and deliver 10+ high-quality funding proposals with clear board / donor reporting dashboards.
• Negotiate and execute dozens of MoUs with NGOs, media, and corporate partners, ensuring clear KPIs and budget ownership.
• Track and report lightweight impact metrics (10 key KPIs).
• Manage compliance, accounting, and tax filings .
• Lead a network of volunteers and experts contributing pro bono to TSF program design.
• Conduct analytical research to support fundraising and stakeholder engagement.

Success looks like : A well-run prize cycle, high-functioning partnerships, a robust fundraising funnel, and a repeatable operating cadence that enables global scale.

Why This Role Is Compelling

What You’ll Bring

Compensation & Benefits

US$ 2,500–4,000 / month base salary (approx. ₹2.2–₹3.5 lakh / month; ₹26.5–₹42 LPA), commensurate with experience.

Salary paid monthly in USD (not adjusted for INR fluctuations).