Vice President: Talent Accelerator

A. Position Summary

The Vice President (VP) of Talent Accelerator at KDEM will play a pivotal role in transforming Karnataka into a global hub for talent in the Digital Economy. This high-visibility role requires a dynamic leader to collaborate with academia, the Government of Karnataka, industry, and training partners to develop an industry-ready employable workforce. The VP will act as an ecosystem enabler, focusing on strategy, partnerships, and facilitation. Key initiatives also include supporting women returning to the workforce, organising industry-academia engagements, leveraging corporate CSR funds for skilling activities, and fostering an entrepreneurship mindset at the collegiate level.

• This position also includes to support:
• Develop Academic-industry partnerships to enable industry-ready skilling activities and entrepreneurship.
• KDEM Mission- Facilitate Skilling of 2 million people in the new emerging technologies in the digital economy.

B. Role & Responsibilities

Collaboration and Ecosystem Enablement:

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with academia, industry leaders, training institutions, and government bodies to foster a collaborative skill development ecosystem.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including the Government of Karnataka, steering committees, industry anchors, and foundations, to drive the success of talent development initiatives and the execution model for the talent-requirement Digital Economy.

Women at Work Initiative:

• Partner with organisations, corporations, and other institutions to facilitate women's return to the workforce, providing support through initiatives designed to address career breaks and also at the leadership level.

Organising and Leading Engagements:

• Plan, organise, and lead roundtables, conferences, and conclaves with CHROs and TPOs to identify and address skilling challenges and ensure effective industry-academia collaboration.

Skilling Activities and CSR Initiatives:

• Identify and engage potential industry anchors to design and implement the Talent Accelerator strategy for Karnataka.
• Facilitate and promote skilling activities leveraging corporate CSR funds and other skilling initiatives.
• Secure funding and support for the Talent Accelerator program from various stakeholders.

Research and Insights:

• Conduct comprehensive surveys and research to understand industry needs and talent availability.
• Collect and analyse data from internal and external sources to provide actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Influence academic curricula to align with industry requirements through strategic partnerships.

Policy and Liaison:

• Align state-level skilling policies with central government initiatives to ensure cohesive policy implementation.
• Review and recommend policy enhancements for the Karnataka Skill Policy that align with national and global standards.

Entrepreneurship Enablement:
Support educational institutions to foster entrepreneurial talent and innovation.

Operations and Monitoring:

• Develop a clear vision and milestones for the TA vertical with annual goals and take ownership of the entire strategy and execution.
• Create forums for continuous dialogue with industry and academia to understand and address talent and skilling challenges.
• Develop and implement robust frameworks for monitoring, evaluating, and learning from skilling programs.
• Ensure compliance with relevant policies, regulations, and frameworks, maintaining high governance standards.
• Maintain a comprehensive database to track the progress and impact of skill development initiatives.
• Regular updates on the progress of the TA vertical are given to all stakeholders.

C. Other Skills

Relevant experience in skill development, running talent accelerator or HR/Engineering professional with talent development & acquisition as a significant responsibility

• Experience in Talent development & acquisition or possibly working with India-level training organisations.
• Expertise in understanding the Corporate talent demand and designing innovative models to meet the talent demand.
• Experience in handling IT/ITeS/GCC and ESDM talent demand.
• Active participation in HR networks, events, and forums.
• Ability to secure funding and manage complex, large-scale programs.
• Demonstrated experience in government relations and stakeholder management.

Skills:

• Extensive network within India's HR ecosystem and multiple stakeholders.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
• Proven ability to raise funds and manage financial aspects of programs.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Adaptable and resourceful, capable of thriving in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated leadership and teamwork capabilities.
• High ethical standards and integrity.
• Passionate and driven, with a go-getter attitude.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Act as a thought leader representing KDEM at national and state levels, promoting the organisation's vision and goals.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the team and across initiatives.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members, promoting professional growth and development.

This role seeks a professional leader with a strategic mindset, outstanding networking capabilities, and a strong commitment to advancing Karnataka's talent ecosystem. The VP will be crucial in fostering cross-sector collaboration, spearheading initiatives, and driving sustainable impact in the state's talent development landscape.