Project Director | Women s Inclusion and Leadership in Law (WILL) Initiative | 1 Vacancy

National Law School of India University invites applications for the position of Project Director to head the project titled Women's Inclusion and Leadership in Law (WILL). This is a full-time role on a contractual basis at the NLSIU campus in Bengaluru. It is initially for a period of two years and further extendable for the project duration, subject to performance.

The WILL Initiative is housed within the newly constituted Centre for the Study of the Legal Profession at NLS supported by a dedicated team of full-time staff members. The initiative focuses on empowering women (understood inclusively) to enter, sustain, and progress to leadership in litigation through a) evidence-based research on the status of, and challenges faced by, women litigators at all levels; b) policy engagement aimed at advancing inclusive work environments especially at early career stages; c) professional development programs for strengthening legal knowledge and professional skills; and d) convening at national and regional levels to facilitate information exchange, networking and solidarity among women lawyers.

The Project Director will be a full-time hire responsible for leading the daily operations of the WILL Initiative. This role works closely with the Centre's leadership to ensure the initiative's success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day working and implementation of the WILL Initiative.
• Lead the conceptualization and execution of all research studies and policy documents under the project including, finalizing research methodologies, developing study outlines, reviewing drafts, and coordinating with researchers to prepare final reports and publications.
• Oversee national and state-level intervention teams, including Senior Research Associates and Research Associates.
• Develop workflows, timelines, and reporting mechanisms to ensure project milestones are met.
• Collaborate with the Project Finance Manager to manage project-specific budgets and financial matters.
• Coordinate with statutory regulators, professional associations, members of the judiciary, women lawyers groups, ministries, and civil society actors.
• Provide regular updates on the progress made to the faculty director and university leadership and take ownership of achieving the milestones of the WILL Initiative.

Reporting

The Project Director will report to the Centre's faculty director.

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in law.
• At least 10 years of post-qualification experience.
• Demonstrated track record in project management and team leadership.

Desirable

• Master's degree in law, social sciences, humanities or allied disciplines.
• Strong understanding of legal systems and experience leading large scale multi-state project implementation.
• Prior experience in litigation/law firm practice.

Please use the Google form provided and include the following documents:

• An up-to-date CV
• A statement of purpose (500-1000 words) explaining your interest in and suitability for the project
• Contact details and designation of two professional references

For any queries, please write to [Confidential Information]

• The last date for submission of applications is 31 July 2026 at 5 PM IST.