Deputy Director - Placements and Partnerships

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.