India’s workforce is changing faster than ever before.
New industries are emerging. Technology is reshaping jobs. Employers are looking for different capabilities. Governments are rethinking how talent is developed, matched, and supported.
The institutions responsible for these systems are evolving too.
STEP Foundation exists to help shape that evolution.
We work with governments, industry, academic institutions and ecosystem partners to design practical solutions that strengthen India’s talent and employment systems – from workforce planning and apprenticeship ecosystems to institutional reform, labour market intelligence and industry partnerships.
Our work sits at the intersection of policy, implementation and systems design.
If you’re energized by complex problems, enjoy working across disciplines, and believe that good ideas matter only when they improve systems, we’d like to work with you.
We believe durable change comes from combining evidence, design, implementation and long-term institutional partnerships.
Our teams spend as much time in government departments and industrial clusters as they do analysing data, facilitating workshops and designing frameworks. The result is work that is intellectually demanding, deeply collaborative and grounded in implementation.
No two projects at STEP look the same.
Depending on your role, you may find yourself:
We value people who are equally comfortable working with spreadsheets, whiteboards and stakeholders.
Most public challenges are interconnected. We spend time understanding incentives, institutions and behaviours before proposing solutions.
Research is not an output; it is how we make decisions. We ask questions, test ideas and refine them continuously.
The best strategy is one that works in practice. Every recommendation should be implementable within real institutional constraints.
Meaningful reform is collaborative. We work alongside governments, industry and institutions - not around them.
Good ideas rarely come from one discipline. We actively seek perspectives from economics, public policy, behavioural science, management, technology and design.
STEP is deliberately built to feel different.
We keep teams lean, conversations open and hierarchies light.
People are trusted with responsibility early. Ideas are evaluated on their merit, not on seniority. Debate is encouraged. Curiosity is expected.
You will probably spend one week in a government workshop, the next analysing labour market data, and another travelling to understand how institutions function on the ground.
If variety energises you, you’ll enjoy working here.
Our work is shaped through partnerships with:
There isn’t one profile that succeeds here.
Our colleagues come from public policy, economics, engineering, management, education, social sciences, law, technology and research.
What they tend to have in common is a way of thinking.
They enjoy asking better questions.
They are comfortable with ambiguity.
They communicate clearly.
They are generous collaborators.
They like solving problems that don’t have obvious answers.
And they care about building institutions that last.
Tell us about your experience and why STEP interests you.
An initial discussion to understand your interests, motivations and approach to problem solving.
For most roles, you'll work through a short case or assignment that reflects the kinds of questions we solve every day.
You'll meet members of the team you'll be working with and discuss both the role and the broader questions shaping our work.
Organizations grow in unexpected directions.
Sometimes exceptional people create opportunities that didn’t previously exist.
If you think your skills could strengthen STEP’s work, we’d be happy to hear from you.
careers@thestepfoundation.com