ROLE OVERVIEW:

This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving placement and internship outcomes, building a strong ecosystem of industry and institutional partnerships, and leading end-to-end career services. The incumbent will also spearhead professional upskilling initiatives and position the organization's graduates as highly sought-after professionals in their respective fields.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Placements & Career Services:

- Take full ownership of securing placements and internship opportunities for all students across the program.

- Develop and implement a comprehensive annual placement strategy aligned with institutional goals.

- Curate targeted placements across government bodies, international development agencies, think tanks, and leading consulting firms.

- Design and oversee pre-placement training modules covering soft skills, technical skills, sector-specific knowledge, mock interviews, and group discussions.

- Conduct annual reviews of placement strategies and present improvement plans to senior leadership.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement:

- Build and sustain long-term relationships with HR heads, industry leaders, and sector bodies to secure diverse placement and partnership opportunities.

- Establish and formalize MoUs and collaborative frameworks with leading Indian and international institutions.

- Liaise with alumni networks and partner institutions to generate mentorship and career opportunities for current students.

Upskilling & Training:

- Organise and deliver professional upskilling programmes for government officials and private-sector professionals, including seminars and workshops.

- Maintain relationships with government departments, ministries, and private organisations for long-term training partnerships.

Team Leadership & Reporting:

- Lead, mentor, and manage the Careers & Placement team.

- Maintain databases of placement metrics and reporting frameworks.

- Ensure regular communication with institutional leadership for strategic alignment.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

- Master's degree in Management, HR, Education, Public Administration, or a related field.

- Minimum 6 to 8 years of experience in university placements, corporate talent acquisition, business development, or training & development.

- Demonstrated experience leading placement and career-services functions within a higher-education institution is strongly preferred.

- Track record of building and managing corporate partnerships and institutional collaborations at a senior level.

- Experience designing and delivering professional development or executive education programmes is highly desirable.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

- Ability to manage diverse, senior-level stakeholders across academia, government, and industry.

- Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

- Ability to design KPIs, monitor trends, and forecast placement needs.

- Strong project management skills with the ability to operationalise strategy across multiple workstreams.

- Commitment to student development and equitable career outcomes.