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.