Role & responsibilities

Director Policy, Standards, Legal & Regulatory Services

International Centre for DPI Innovation and Advancement (ICDIA)

Department: Policy, Standards, Legal & Regulatory Services

Location: India (with engagement across national and international ecosystems)

Employment Type: Full-time

No. of Positions: 1

Minimum Age: 40 +years

Role Overview The Director Policy, Standards, Legal & Regulatory Services will provide strategic leadership in shaping, implementing, and overseeing ICDIA’s policy frameworks, regulatory compliance mechanisms, legal advisory services, and organizational standards.

This role is critical to ensuring that ICDIA operates within a robust governance, legal, and regulatory environment while advancing national and global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) objectives. The Director will serve as the institutional authority on policy coherence, regulatory alignment, legal risk management, and standards adoption, enabling trust, compliance, and institutional credibility across all operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Policy Development & Implementation

- Lead the design, development, approval, and periodic review of organizational policies, frameworks, and standard operating procedures.
- Ensure all policies are aligned with ICDIA’s strategic objectives, DPI mandate, applicable laws, and global best practices.
- Continuously update policies in response to legislative changes, regulatory guidance, and evolving organizational needs.

1. Regulatory Compliance & Governance

- Oversee compliance with relevant local, national,and international laws, regulations, and statutory requirements.
- Design and implement comprehensive compliance programs, including internal controls, compliance training, and awareness initiatives.
- Monitor regulatory developments and proactively advise leadership on risks, obligations, and required adaptations.

1. Legal Affairs & Risk Management

- Lead and manage all legal matters, including contracts, agreements, disputes, litigation, and advisory opinions.
- Provide timely legal guidance to leadership and departments to mitigate risks and ensure legal integrity.




- Engage and manage external legal counsel, advisors, and law firms as required.

1. Standards, Frameworks & Best Practices

- Establish, institutionalize, and promote organizational standards, guidelines, and compliance frameworks.
- Conduct regular audits, reviews, and assessments to ensure adherence to internal policies and external standards.
- Benchmark ICDIA’s practices against national and international standards and recommend improvements.

1. Leadership & Team Management

- Build, lead, and manage a high-performing Policy, Standards, Legal & Regulatory Services team.
- Set explicit priorities, performance metrics, and accountability structures.
- Foster a culture of compliance, ethical conduct, continuous improvement, and institutional discipline.

1. Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

- Act as the primary interface with regulatory authorities, statutory bodies, legal institutions, and industry associations.
- Represent ICDIA in legal, regulatory, and policy discussions, negotiations, hearings, and consultations.
- Build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to advance organizational objectives.

1. Advisory, Reporting & Decision Support

- Advise senior leadership on policy risks, regulatory implications, governance matters, and legal strategy.
- Prepare briefs, opinions, dashboards, and reports for leadership and governing bodies.
- Support evidence-based decision-making through legal and policy analysis.

1. Continuous Improvement & Institutional Strengthening

- Stay abreast of emerging trends in public policy, regulation, legal governance, and DPI-related frameworks.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen institutional governance, risk management, and compliance maturity.
- Drive improvements in systems, processes,



and tools supporting policy and legal functions.

Educational Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field.
- Advanced degree or professional qualification such as LLM or equivalent is preferred.

Experience Requirements

- Minimum 20 years of skilled experience in policy development, regulatory compliance, legal services, or related fields.
- At least 5 years in a senior managerial or leadership role overseeing policy, legal, or regulatory functions.
- Experience working with government bodies, regulators, development institutions, or multistakeholder environments is a strong advantage.

Key Skills & Competencies

- Strategic leadership in policy, legal, and regulatory functions
- Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, governance, and legal frameworks
- Contract management, dispute resolution, and legal risk mitigation
- Standards development, audits, and compliance assurance
- Stakeholder engagement and negotiation
- Analytical thinking, sound judgment, and decision-making
- Strong communication, drafting, and advisory skills

Preferred Certifications (Desirable) While not mandatory, the following certifications will strengthen suitability:

1. Legal, Policy & Regulatory

- LLM (specialization in Public Policy, Regulatory Law, or Governance)
- Compliance & Regulatory Certifications
- Corporate Governance or Ethics Certifications

1. Risk, Governance & Standards

- ISO Lead Implementer / Auditor (relevant governance or compliance standards)
- Risk Management Certifications

1. Leadership & Executive Management

- Executive Leadership Programs from IIMs, Harvard, INSEAD, Wharton, or equivalent
- Change Management Certifications

Ideal Candidate Profile This role is ideal for professionals who:

- Have led complex policy, legal, or regulatory portfolios at a senior level
- Can balance institutional governance with innovation and agility
- Are adept at navigating multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments
- Are motivated to strengthen institutional credibility and public value in Digital Public Infrastructure

📌 Director Policy, Standards, Legal & Regulatory Services (Delhi)
🏢 National Institute for Smart Government (NISG)
📍 Delhi