Functions
Supporting and sustaining IIHS’ operations across locations and offices.
ABOUT
The IIHS Functions provide the institutional scaffolding for our work.
They ensure effective and efficient operations across our campus and nationwide offices, with each team bringing specialised expertise to core institutional processes, collectively sustaining the infrastructure that enables our work at scale.
Building multi-dimensional in-house capacity is a deliberate institutional design choice, reflecting the conviction that an institution working on complex urban challenges must be built with the same rigour and standards that it brings to practice, research, teaching and capacity development.
Developing strong in-house capabilities is a deliberate choice that enables IIHS to work across disciplines and locations.
Interdisciplinary Knowledge
The Functions are integral to how IIHS works, bringing together the expertise, systems, and processes that support our programmes and projects across the country.
People
The IIHS People Function defines and implements human resources (HR) and learning strategies, policies, systems and processes to attract and nurture a carefully curated and interdisciplinary talent pool.
Made up of HR professionals with diverse industry experience, the team attracts and hires across disciplines and functions, and develops systems for performance evaluation, compensation and benefits, talent management, staff welfare, data analytics, and regulatory compliance. It facilitates continuous learning opportunities for professional growth and promotes a diverse, inclusive work culture with a strong focus on staff well-being.
Finance
The IIHS Finance Function manages and oversees all financial activity at IIHS, ensuring sound financial decision-making and effective deployment and control of resources.
The function plays a strategic role in major financial decisions—including the development of the IIHS, Kengeri Campus and overseeing investment strategies and treasury management—and ensures compliance with financial regulations through statutory, internal, and FCRA audits. It identifies and mitigates financial risks and implements appropriate safeguards across the institution.
Legal & Regulation
The IIHS Legal & Regulation Function handles day-to-day legal tasks. It provides regulatory support and legal advice in various areas, litigation support, and contract drafting, negotiation and finalisation.
The team provides regulatory and legal advice for IIHS’ practice and research projects with Central and State governments in areas such as land and property systems, real estate, disaster management and climate change, urban governance, decentralisation and higher education.
Administration
The IIHS Administration function manages IIHS’ campus in Bengaluru and offices in Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and other project locations.
It oversees facilities, health, safety, and environment (HSE), as well as procurement, vendor management, travel support, and event operations. The team also manages food and beverage services in Bengaluru at the IIHS, Kengeri Campus.
Information & Communications Technology
The IIHS Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Function provides reliable and secure IT services across all IIHS facilities, manages and maintains IT and communication infrastructure, provides technical support and assistance, and implements new ICT solutions to meet evolving needs across facilities nationwide.
In addition, the team maintains ICT systems and infrastructure and is dedicated to enforcing IT security policies and procedures to safeguard the institution’s systems and data integrity.
Academic Outreach and Career Development
The IIHS Academic Outreach & Career Development Function focuses on ensuring that the appropriate numbers and profile of candidates apply to the degree programmes of the IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University and enabling appropriate and impactful career trajectories for graduating students.
A set of professionals from across sectors and disciplines work in the Function, conceptualising and implementing a range of initiatives, programmes, partnerships, and activities to build awareness about and establish the unique idea of IIHS University as a world-class academic institution focused on urban transformation among potential students (and their range of influencers) and recruiters (across diverse sectors).
Communications & Design
The IIHS Communications & Design Function anchors institutional, project, and programme communications, as well as Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiatives across domestic and global audiences.
It leads content creation and outreach across multiple formats, including writing, audiovisual media, publications, graphic design, data visualisation, and illustration, to effectively showcase the institution’s work and impact. The team also develops and implements communication and brand strategies, providing guidance to teams and strengthening IIHS’ digital presence and engagement.
Resource Development
The IIHS Resource Development Function initiates, builds and manages relationships with corporates, Trusts, Foundations, individuals and Family offices to engage their support for IIHS’ initiatives, and raises resources domestically to support the institution’s programmes.
The team mobilises resources for institutional programmes, capacity development initiatives, and practice projects. The team also raises donations for the IIHS, Kengeri Campus in Bengaluru, as well as IIHS’ Schools and Labs.