Executive Director Job at NLSIU, Bengaluru | 10–15 Years Experience | Legal Research, Policy & Leadership

National Law School of India University (NLSIU) is inviting applications for an Executive Director at its newly established Centre for the Study of the Legal Profession in Bengaluru. This is a founding leadership role involving research, institutional development, stakeholder engagement and oversight of the Centre’s flagship Women’s Inclusion and Leadership in Law (WILL) Initiative.

About the Opportunity

The Executive Director will build the Centre’s research agenda, lead its day-to-day operations and contribute to the development of the Centre’s institutional strategy. The position reports to the Centre’s Faculty Director.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Drive the Centre’s research agenda and identify priority areas relating to the legal profession.
• Oversee and contribute to research publications and policy briefs.
• Lead the Centre’s day-to-day operations and institutional development.
• Develop multi-year strategies with the faculty team and University leadership.
• Represent the Centre before Bar Councils, Bar Associations, the judiciary, funders and civil society organisations.
• Oversee the Centre’s five-year Women’s Inclusion and Leadership in Law (WILL) Initiative.
• Lead fundraising and donor relations and identify new funding opportunities.
• Maintain relationships with existing funders and oversee reporting.
• Coordinate financial management of the Centre and its initiatives with University finance teams.

Essential Eligibility

• Graduate degree in Law.
• 10–15 years of experience in legal research, including relevant leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing and leading empirical or policy research relevant to the legal profession, access to justice or allied areas.
• Experience managing teams and multi-year projects or programmes.
• Excellent organisational, managerial and communication skills.
• Ability to build institutions and systems from an early stage.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with philanthropic or institutional fundraising.
• Experience establishing or scaling a research centre, programme or non-profit vertical.
• Experience relating to gender and the legal profession or women’s leadership in law.
• Experience in a university or academic research environment.
• Thought leadership through publications, policy engagement or public commentary.

Appointment

This is a full-time contractual position initially for two years, extendable for the duration of the Centre’s projects subject to satisfactory performance.

Candidates must have a graduate degree in law and 10–15 years of experience in legal research, including relevant leadership roles. Candidates should have experience designing and leading empirical or policy research, managing teams and multi-year projects or programmes, and strong organisational, managerial and communication skills.

National Law School of India University (NLSIU) is a law university in Bengaluru. Its Centre for the Study of the Legal Profession was established in 2026 to conduct empirical research into the structure, regulation, norms and practices of the legal profession and to support policy engagement, interdisciplinary scholarship and strategic interventions.