Call for Applications - Executive Director (ED) | Pelsung – Guardians of Prosperity

Pelsung – Guardians of Prosperity is seeking a full-time Executive Director (ED) to lead the institution's next phase of growth. This is a senior, high-trust leadership role with full responsibility for building, operating, and scaling Pelsung as a national youth development and innovation institution.

The Executive Director is the chief executive of Pelsung, accountable for strategy, operations, team-building, program quality, partnerships, financial stewardship, and institutional integrity.

The Role: What You Will Do

The Executive Director is responsible for running Pelsung as a functioning institution at full scale.

This includes:

• Translating Pelsung's national mandate into a clear institutional strategy and annual plans
• Designing, building, and leading a capable Secretariat
• Ensuring high-quality delivery across all programs and innovation activities
• Establishing effective systems, processes, and internal governance
• Representing Pelsung with government, partners, and stakeholders

The role requires strong judgement, systems thinking, and the ability to lead in an evolving national initiative.

What You Will Be Accountable For

• Institutional Leadership: Overall strategic direction and organisational coherence
• Operations & Team: Building and managing the Secretariat, including structure, roles, recruitment, and performance
• Programs & Quality: Executive oversight of all Pelsung programs and participant welfare
• Innovation & Ecosystem: Ensuring the Innovation Lab delivers relevant, viable outputs aligned with national priorities
• Partnerships: High-level engagement with government, GMCA, private sector, and other partners
• Finance & Resources: Budgeting, financial oversight, and prudent resource management
• Governance & Risk: Compliance, safeguarding, ethics, and institutional risk management

If something affects the performance or credibility of Pelsung, it ultimately sits with the Executive Director.

Who Should Apply

This role is suited for a senior leader who:

• Has experience building or leading complex organisations or programs
• Is comfortable managing multidisciplinary teams and institutional systems
• Understands Bhutan's development context or comparable public-sector environments
• Can balance vision with execution in high-visibility, high-responsibility roles

Experience in youth development, innovation, education, or large public initiatives is an advantage.

Reporting & Authority

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Pelsung and holds executive authority over all Secretariat staff and operations, within approved policies and budgets. The ED is expected to shape and evolve the organisation, not merely manage existing structures.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae Including contact details for at least two referees.

2. Integrity Vetting Report from ACC and Security Clearance Certificate from RBP

3. Video Statement of Interest (8–10 minutes)

Applicants should submit a recorded video responding to the following prompts:

• Why Pelsung, and why now?
• How do you lead people and build institutions?
• What is your vision for Pelsung over the next 2–3 years?
• In your first year as Executive Director, what would you prioritise building, and what would you deliberately delay or say no to? Why?
• How would you address the challenge of meeting differential needs of Pelsups?

The video format is intended to help assess leadership presence, clarity of thought, and communication ability.

Applications should be emailed to: external@innovateforgmc.bt (CC: gpenjor@nlcs.gov.bt, fumblypd@gmail.com)

Applications due: 20 January 2026 Interviews and Shortlisting by: 30 Jan 2026

*Civil Servants are also encouraged to apply (but please note that final recruitment for civil servants will be subject to sectoral clearances.)

About Pelsung

Pelsung – Guardians of Prosperity is a national initiative established to support Bhutan's long-term prosperity by identifying, developing, and deploying young Bhutanese talent in service of national priorities, including the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) vision.

Pelsung operates as a high-intensity, immersive platform combining leadership development, applied learning, innovation, and real-world deployment through programs such as:

• Immersion Program
• Differentiated Pathways (Innovate, Build, Sustain)
• Vanguard Program
• Innovation Lab