The Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) invites applications for hiring professionals as Individual Consultants on a full-time contract basis for its Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Project Management Team. The recruitment covers Program Director (PD), Deputy Program Director (DPD), Program Executive (PE) and Deputy Program Executive (DPE) positions. The advertised tentative strength is 6 positions: PD-2, DPD-1, PE-2 and DPE-1. The consultants will support iDEX activities related to innovation and entrepreneurship, defence challenges and hackathons, incubator partnerships, grant management, project monitoring, outreach and other activities supporting the iDEX agenda. The initial consultancy period is 3 years, extendable depending upon DIO requirement and satisfactory performance for a further period up to 2 years. In exceptional circumstances, further extension may be possible with approval of the DIO Board. The place of work is New Delhi, although consultants may be deputed to other locations depending on DIO requirements. Applications are accepted through the iDEX website Career section in online mode only.
| Program Director Age Limit | Candidates should be below 55 years of age as on 10 August 2026. |
|---|---|
| Deputy Program Director Age Limit | Candidates should be below 40 years of age as on 10 August 2026. |
| Program Executive Age Limit | Candidates should be below 30 years of age as on 10 August 2026. |
| Deputy Program Executive Age Limit | Candidates should be below 26 years of age as on 10 August 2026. |
| Program Director Qualification | Master's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 10 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field OR Bachelor's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 12 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field. |
| Deputy Program Director Qualification | Master's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 6 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field OR Bachelor's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 8 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field. |
| Program Executive Qualification | Master's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 2 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field OR Bachelor's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 4 years of post-qualification experience in the relevant field. |
| Deputy Program Executive Qualification | Master's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent may be considered without post-qualification experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent with 1 year of post-qualification experience in the relevant field. |
| Relevant Experience Areas | Relevant experience may include Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Business Development and strategic partnerships; Program Management; Grant Management; Consulting, collaboration, partner management or HR; Communications and Outreach; design and implementation of challenges, hackathons and schemes; Product Management; IT Operations; Project Management or product development experience in start-ups or manufacturing industry; and Finance, Estimation or Accounting. |
| Partner Incubator Management | Forge and manage partnerships with top incubators in India to build the innovation ecosystem for defence under the Framework for Partner Incubators. |
| Defence Challenges and Hackathons | Ensure design and implementation of various defence-related challenges, hackathons and related activities under the SPARK framework. |
| Grant Management | Manage the fund disbursement process for awardees of grants under various iDEX frameworks. |
| Project Monitoring | Create interactive platforms for effective execution and monitoring of iDEX projects. |
| Outreach and Awareness | Ensure effective and adequate outreach through social and traditional media regarding iDEX and related endeavours. |
| Project Delivery | Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and within budget and take up new projects to further the iDEX agenda. |
| Application Mode | Applications are accepted through the iDEX website Career section in online mode only. Applications received through any other mode will not be considered. |
| Document Upload | Applicants must upload documents in a single PDF file wherever specified in the application form and within the prescribed file size. |
| Application Deadline | Applications may be submitted up to 5:00 PM on 31 August 2026. |
| Initial Contract Period | Initially for 3 years. It may be extended depending upon DIO requirements and satisfactory performance for a further period up to 2 years. |
| Further Extension | In exceptional circumstances, considering DIO requirements and outstanding past performance during the last two years, the contract may be further extended beyond the initial provision of 5 years with approval of the DIO Board. |
| Maximum Engagement Age | Any extension after joining will be for a period or up to the date on which the Individual Consultant attains 60 years of age, whichever is earlier. |
| Place of Work | The place of work is New Delhi. During the engagement, the candidate may be deputed to other places depending upon the requirements of DIO. |
| Full-Time Engagement | The Individual Consultant is engaged on a full-time basis and should not be directly or indirectly engaged in any trade, business, occupation or other remunerative commitment while working with DIO. |
| Consultancy Contract | Engagement is subject to acceptance of the Consultancy Contract and execution of the contract on stamp paper of ₹200. |
| Tax Deduction | Income Tax or any other applicable tax will be deducted at source before consultancy payments are made. DIO will issue a TDS certificate. |
| GST | The Individual Consultant is liable to pay Goods and Services Tax as applicable. Provision is made for reimbursement of GST paid against consultancy fee received from DIO, if applicable. |
| Experience Certificate | The consultant will not be given a work experience certificate if he or she leaves the organisation before completion of the initial contract period. |
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Program Director (PD) | 2 |
| Deputy Program Director (DPD) | 1 |
| Program Executive (PE) | 2 |
| Deputy Program Executive (DPE) | 1 |
Qualification: Master's Degree or Bachelor's Degree in Science, Management, Technology or equivalent, with post-qualification experience varying according to the position.
Age limits are position-specific: PD below 55 years, DPD below 40 years, PE below 30 years and DPE below 26 years as on 10 August 2026.
8 July 2026
31 August 2026, 5:00 PM
Eligible candidates must apply through the iDEX website Career section. Applications through any other mode will not be considered.
Candidates will be shortlisted for interview based on the requirements and selection process of DIO.
Shortlisted candidates may be called for an in-person interview at New Delhi or through Video Conferencing. The interview may involve skill tests, personal interview and group discussions, debates or quizzes.
| Post / Level | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Program Director | ₹1,80,000 to ₹2,40,000 per month |
| Deputy Program Director | ₹1,40,000 to ₹1,80,000 per month |
| Program Executive | ₹80,000 to ₹1,20,000 per month |
| Deputy Program Executive | ₹40,000 to ₹80,000 per month |
| Annual Increment | Annual increase in consolidated monthly consultancy fee may be up to 10% of the existing consultancy fee based on Annual Appraisal as per applicable DIO rules. |
| Maximum Consultancy Fee During Extension | During extension or annual increase, the monthly consultancy fee of an Individual Consultant shall not exceed 1.80 times the initial monthly consultancy fee fixed at the time of selection. |
Position-wise consolidated monthly consultancy fee: PD ₹1,80,000–₹2,40,000; DPD ₹1,40,000–₹1,80,000; PE ₹80,000–₹1,20,000; DPE ₹40,000–₹80,000, inclusive of applicable taxes.
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