Associate Director for AI + DPI Services

Position: Associate Director for AI + DPI Services

Start Date: As soon as possible (target: February 20)

Location: Anywhere in India, with slight preference for Delhi, Bangalore, or Mumbai

Regardless of base location, the role requires an initial 3–6-month period of full-time on-site engagement in Vijayawada to establish delivery momentum.

About Us

Celebrating over fifteen years of innovative and collaborative work, Athena Infonomics has established itself as a data-driven global consultancy that leverages social science research, data science, and technology to provide user-centric, context-specific solutions and advice to decision makers. Our multidisciplinary and multi-cultural team of 75+ professionals spread across Asia, Africa, US and Europe exemplify extensive experience in designing and applying research methods to co-design and co-produce useful research that is inclusive and relevant.

Our team of data scientists apply agile programming and ICT tools in order to deliver responsive and practical data and digital solutions—making for an innovative, technology-oriented business model that sets us apart in the international development space.

The international business community is taking notice of this unique approach: in 2021 alone, Athena Infonomics was recognized on The Financial Times, Nikkei Asia, and Statista’s High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2021 and 2022 ranking, and was selected as one of The Economic Times and Statista’s 2021, 2022 and 2023 India Growth Champions.

Role Overview

Athena Infonomics is seeking an Associate Director to play a senior leadership role within its AI + Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Services practice. This role combines hands-on leadership of a flagship AI-enabled agriculture transformation program with responsibility for shaping, representing, and growing Athena’s AI + DPI portfolio across India and other priority markets.

The Associate Director will lead a high-visibility Project Management Unit (PMU) supporting the deployment of AI-enabled agricultural intelligence and service-delivery systems in partnership with government. The role is suited to a senior practitioner who combines execution discipline, institutional judgment, and external credibility—and who is comfortable operating in complex, politically visible environments with high expectations for delivery.

The Associate Director will be deeply engaged in a priority state-level program while also contributing to Athena’s broader market development, thought leadership, and practice growth over time. This is a core team role that carries substantial autonomy and authority commensurate with its delivery and market-facing responsibilities.

Core Responsibilities

• PMU Leadership –AI-Enabled Agriculture and Allied Sector Transformation
• Serve as the senior lead for a flagship PMU supporting AI-enabled agriculture and allied-sector transformation in a southern Indian state.
• Hold end-to-end accountability for program direction, prioritization, delivery quality, and outcomes.
• Hold responsibility for program budget management and resourcing decisions, including allocating and re-allocating financial and human resources as delivery needs evolve, in coordination with Athena leadership and finance teams.
• Provide clear strategic and execution leadership for a live, multi-sector initiative spanning agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and aquaculture/fisheries.
• Ensure coherence across core workstreams, including:
• RSK-level dashboards and decision-support systems
• Pilot use cases and innovation pathways
• Field-level execution and institutional adoption
• Translate high-level objectives into a clear delivery narrative anchored in tangible value creation at the frontline institutional level.
• Steward senior stakeholder relationships with judgment and authority, balancing responsiveness with disciplined prioritization in a high-visibility environment.
• Coordinate and direct cross-functional Athena teams and delivery partners, setting clear expectations for ownership, quality, and pace.
  
  

(See Annex for detailed PMU responsibilities.)

• Business Development and Growth
• Act as a senior, front-facing representative of Athena’s AI + DPI Services practice with government (national and state levels), philanthropic, and ecosystem partners, with focus on opportunities at the intersection of AI/DPI and agriculture and allied sectors.
• Support market development across geographies over time (India, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East / North Africa) by transferring lessons, models, and approaches from anchor programs in coordination with Athena’s global leadership.
• Co-develop proposals, shape program designs, and support negotiations for complex, multi-year engagements aligned with Athena’s AI + DPI strategy.
• Contribute to refining Athena’s positioning, narratives, and offerings in AI-enabled public sector transformation.
• Build and sustain trusted, senior-level relationships with government, philanthropic, and ecosystem partners, positioning Athena as a long-term strategic partner.
• Internal Strategy and Operations
• Contribute to strengthening Athena’s internal delivery standards, project management practices, and resourcing models for complex PMUs and government partnerships.
• Support the evolution of Athena’s AI + DPI Services practice, including delivery playbooks, governance approaches, and lessons drawn from implementation.
• Provide senior support to other projects as needed, particularly where they intersect with AI, digital public infrastructure, or government systems reform in sector(s) of specialization.
  
  

Qualifications And Competencies

• 10+ years of professional experience, with substantial experience in public sector transformation, large-scale program delivery, or institutional systems-building
• Strong domain expertise in agriculture and allied sectors (e.g. horticulture, livestock, fisheries); strong preference for direct experience in Indian agricultural systems
• Demonstrated success operating at senior levels of government, with the judgment and presence required for high-stakes environments.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder programs with direct accountability for delivery, prioritization, and outcomes.
• Familiarity with data systems, digital public infrastructure, and responsible AI principles sufficient to oversee integration, governance, and evidence-driven planning.
• Comfort translating between policy objectives, technical systems (data, DPI, AI), and on-the-ground execution realities.
• Strong external-facing skills, including relationship-building, agenda shaping, and contribution to business development.
• Experience leading distributed, multidisciplinary teams and operating effectively across geographies and levels of government.
• Experience holding budget and resourcing accountability for complex programs, including making trade-offs under delivery pressure.
• Master’s or postgraduate degree in Public Policy, Agricultural Development, Economics, Data/Technology Management, or a related field.
  
  

Annex: PMU Lead – AI-Enabled Agriculture and Allied Sector Transformation

Role held by: Associate Director, AI + DPI Services

Start Date: As soon as possible (target: February 20)

Location: First 3-6 months on-site in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh; frequent on-site presence anticipated thereafter, diminishing over time.

Onsite Requirement:

• Full-time, in-person presence in Vijayawada for the first 3-6 months to establish delivery momentum, working relationships, and operating discipline.
• Thereafter, periodic travel to Vijayawada and project districts in line with program needs.
  
  

Role Purpose:

The PMU Lead is responsible for the strategic leadership and execution of a flagship AI-enabled agriculture transformation program implemented in partnership with government. The role carries end-to-end accountability for advancing delivery on a live, multi-sector initiative where expectations for quality, credibility, and pace are high.

The PMU Lead is expected to maintain a clear line of sight from system-level ambition to frontline institutional value creation, ensuring that dashboards, pilots, and delivery mechanisms reinforce one another and translate into practical outcomes.

Program Context:

The PMU supports the deployment of AI-enabled agricultural intelligence and service-delivery systems across agriculture and allied sectors, including horticulture, livestock, and aquaculture/fisheries. Foundational work has already been completed, including:

• Completion of initial data ecosystem and digital services assessments across agriculture, horticulture, livestock, and aquaculture/fisheries.
• Identification and initiation of initial pilot use cases, including oil palm drone spraying and insurance–technology integration.
• Early progress on the conceptual design and execution approach for RSK-level dashboards.
  
  

The PMU Lead will consolidate this foundation, sharpen strategic direction, and advance the program toward integrated delivery and institutionalization.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Program Stewardship
  
  

The PMU Lead Will:

• Set and refine program priorities, sequencing, and success criteria across pilot, scale, and institutionalization phases.
• Articulate a clear delivery narrative that aligns system and state-level objectives with frontline execution and learning.
• Maintain strategic coherence across multiple workstreams, ensuring that dashboards, pilots, and field execution reinforce shared, delivery-critical outcomes.
• Exercise judgment in navigating senior-level engagement while protecting execution momentum and clarity of priorities.
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for program performance and results.
• Program Delivery and Execution Management
• Lead and strengthen PMU structures, roles, and operating cadence.
• Translate strategic priorities into executable workplans with clear ownership, timelines, and escalation mechanisms.
• Establish and maintain a disciplined operating rhythm, including:
• Regular PMU execution reviews
• RSK- and district-level planning and problem-solving forums
• Periodic leadership stocktakes
• Proactively manage delivery risks, unblock constraints, and ensure follow-through across teams and partners.
• Ensure systematic feedback loops between frontline institutions, districts, and state-level leadership to enable adaptative decision-making and implementation.
• Dashboard and Decision-System Leadership
• Lead the design and prioritization of RSK-level dashboards and decision-support systems across the State’s allied sectors.
• Ensure dashboards are fully integrated within the existing digital infrastructure, aligned with state data standards, APIs, and governance frameworks, and mapped to user needs and priorities.
• Define decision logic, priority indicators, and phased intelligence features that guide dashboard development.
• Working closely with established technical partners supporting dashboard build and implementation, while retaining ownership of design intent, prioritization, and use.
• Pilot Development, Pipeline Ownership, and Integrated Learning
  
  

The PMU Lead Will:

• Assume ownership of existing pilot use cases, including oil palm drone spraying and insurance–technology integration, ensuring clarity of objectives, execution quality, and learning intent.
• Lead the ongoing identification, conceptualization, and prioritization of additional pilot use cases over the life of the program, in line with:
• Sectoral priorities and farmer needs
• RSK operational realities
• Implementation feasibility and institutional readiness
• Advance pilots as part of a broader, integrated agricultural intelligence program rather than as stand-alone interventions.
• Define objectives, success metrics, and learning questions for each pilot and ensure rigorous documentation and synthesis.
• Translate pilot evidence into clear recommendations that inform decisions on scaling, adaptation, or discontinuation.
• Production and Stewardship of Core Program Outputs
  
  

The PMU Lead will be accountable for the coherence, quality, and timeliness of key PMU deliverables, including:

• Implementation Roadmaps reflecting execution progress and evolving priorities
• Pilot use-case documentation and synthesis notes
• RSK, district, and state-level performance and learning summaries
• Scaling Playbook and handover materials
  
  

All outputs are expected to be decision-ready and oriented toward practical government action.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Governance
  
  

The PMU Lead Will:

• Serve as the primary senior interface with government counterparts and strategic / funding partners.
• Navigate a complex stakeholder environment with professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence.
• Ensure that senior-level engagement supports clarity of direction, accountability, and delivery momentum.
• Convene and engage an Expert Advisory Pool as needed to strengthen program design and execution.
• Team Leadership and Capacity Building
• Lead and develop the PMU team, setting clear expectations for ownership, quality, and pace.
• Identify and address gaps in capability, focus, or process through role clarity, coaching, and targeted resourcing.
• Support capacity building of RSKs, district teams, and departments through SOPs, training modules, and practical tools.
• Foster a delivery-oriented culture grounded in accountability, clarity, and continuous learning.
  
  

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successful completion of a reference check and employment verification.
• The successful candidate must not be subject to employment restrictions from a former employer (such as a non-compete) that would prevent the candidate from performing the job responsibilities as described.
• Only candidates who have India work authorization will be considered.
  
  

Athena’s Work Culture

At Athena, we function in an outcomes-based work environment with flexible hours and a high level of autonomy. Professional development and thought leadership are key elements of our business model: we support our team members' professional growth through on-the-job training, and we encourage the cultivation of our colleagues’ personal brands through participation in panels, events, publications, and other thought-leadership opportunities. We embrace a transparent, open work environment with meaningful leadership pathways for those with inventive ideas and initiatives.

Athena Infonomics is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Athena Infonomics is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

AI Proficiency and Responsible Use

Proficiency in the responsible and sophisticated use of AI is a mandatory requirement for all roles, across all levels and functions at Athena Infonomics.