Head - Learning & Development/Consulting - Education

Who we are: Athena is India's largest institution in the premium undergraduate study abroad space. Founded 10 years ago by two Princeton graduates, Poshak Agrawal and Rahul Subramaniam, Athena is headquartered in Gurgaon, with offices in Mumbai and Bangalore, and caters to students from over 15 countries.

Athena's vision is to help students become the best version of themselves. Athena's transformative, holistic life coaching program embraces both depth and breadth, sciences and the humanities. Athena encourages students to deepen their theoretical knowledge and apply it to address practical issues confronting society, both locally and globally.

Through our flagship program, our students have gotten into various universities including Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, MIT, Brown, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, among others.

Our legacy as pioneers in the study-abroad process, coupled with a creative, open environment and professional growth opportunities, makes Athena a perfect place for those looking to build a lasting career in education.

If you are excited to work in a dynamic educational environment and love expanding your horizons of emotional and strategic counseling, we look forward to hearing from you!

Learn more about Athena:

https://www.athenaeducation.co.in/article.aspx

Summary of the role :

- The Head-Consulting is responsible for the consulting programs and policies of Athena Education - heading the consulting department. The Head- Consulting will work closely with the founders to develop and implement a strategic vision for Athena Education that will ensure that the organization remains at the forefront of educational innovation. The Head- Consulting will also be responsible for ensuring that the delivery of our consulting services meets the highest standards of quality and is aligned with the organization's mission and goals.

- If you have an entrepreneurial, visionary, and action-oriented individual who is passionate about working in the education space, in a high-velocity, dynamic environment, this job is for you! We also hope you embrace a liberal arts mindset and demonstrate the ability to inspire, lead, and collaborate with Department Heads of diverse fields.

Key Responsibilities :

Collaborative Leadership and Organisational Growth :

- Collaborate with the co-founders to develop a comprehensive strategic vision for Athena Education's consulting services.

- Work collaboratively with department heads to develop and implement innovative strategies.

- Support the founder's and management with the development and execution of business growth plans.

- Focus on scaling capabilities, capacity, systems, and processes

- Ensure the organization's positioning at the forefront of educational innovation in India

Process Improvement and Enhancement :

- Play a pivotal role in shaping and optimizing the overall operations of the consulting

- Foster a culture of consulting excellence within the organization.

- Drive process improvements in parent engagement and scholar success.

- Conduct regular evaluation and assessment of programs, policies, KPIs, and team performance.

- Drive continuous improvement initiatives. Incorporate new ideas and best practices into academic programs and policies.

- Stay informed about changes in the study abroad landscape, educational policies, and industry best practices

Client Management and Customer Satisfaction :

- Manage escalations and provide direction to SCMs (Sr Consulting Managers).

- Serve as the de-facto owner of client relationships and satisfaction.

- Establish a robust mechanism for collecting and analyzing customer feedback.

- Use customer insights to drive continuous improvement in consulting services and overall client satisfaction.

Client Outreach and Expansion :

- Contribute to the expansion of Athena Education's footprint by exploring new markets and opportunities.

- Collaborate with business development teams to identify and pursue growth opportunities.

Strategic Partnerships :

- Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with educational institutions, industry associations, and other key stakeholders.

- Collaborate with partners to enhance the range and quality of services offered by Athena Education.

Team Management and Team Coaching :

- Recruit, train, and develop a team of skilled consultants.

- Provide leadership and mentorship to a team of consultants, fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation and excellence

- Drive the professional development of team members, ensuring their skills and knowledge align with the evolving needs of the education sector.

- Oversee the consulting team's operations ensuring efficiency and excellence in client delivery, client communication and management

- Manage and oversee the consulting function in our satellite offices in Mumbai and Bangalore.

- Ensure alignment of satellite offices with the overall strategic vision and goals of Athena Education.

Education and Experience Required :

- Education from an elite university in India or abroad.

- Mandatory 10+ years of experience in consulting or professional services. Experience in the study abroad application process is essential.

- Proven ability to lead and manage a high stakes team of young professionals.

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team and in ambiguous situations.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills is a must.

- Previous role as the de-facto owner of client relationships/satisfaction.

Why should you be interested?

Impact :

- Working with Athena will provide you with an opportunity to bring about a positive impact in the lives of the best students in the country - the future pioneers of the world.

Team and Culture :

- We are a young and daring collection of adventurers dedicated to excellence and growth. We are always efficient and occasionally funny.

- The candidate will get a chance to work in a multicultural environment with ex-pats from different corners of the globe.

Professional Advancement :

- We give every opportunity to our team members to grow holistically: grow in their field of interest, and become leaders at early stages of their career.We also offer the opportunity to collaborate across our group organizations - Hora.ai (Tech) and Sitare Foundation (education non-profit)- and learn from like-minded, passionate people who have all come together to create an impact.

Location & Work Environment

- The Vatika Triangle; Gurgaon, India

- We have built a creative space in a top corporate building in Gurgaon. The office is on M.G. Road, a 2-minute walk from the M.G. Road Metro Station.

- This role may involve travel to the Mumbai and Bangalore offices.

- Our team comprises creative and diverse people, all goal-oriented, proactive, and looking to transform students' lives. We love to work hard, play hard! Our work environment encourages you to be an independent thinker, an intellectually curious team member, and be an objective decision maker. To top it all, we love to share food! :)

Benefits :

- Competitive salary and benefits package which includes health insurance, gym and mental health support, etc.