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Role Summary:
The University Business Leader will be responsible for leading and scaling the University Business Unit by driving strategic partnerships, revenue growth, program expansion, stakeholder management, and operational excellence. The role requires a strong understanding of the higher education ecosystem, university operations, and business strategy, while working closely with university leadership and internal teams to build sustainable, long-term partnerships.
The ideal candidate should have prior experience working with marquee institutions such as IITs, IIMs, ISB, NITs, and leading private universities, along with a proven track record of managing strategic academic alliances within the higher education or EdTech ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Leadership
- Head and manage the complete University Business Unit with end-to-end ownership along with team handling.
- Drive business growth, profitability, and long-term strategic planning for university partnerships.
- Develop expansion strategies for new university alliances and program opportunities.
- Identify new market trends, emerging education domains, and scalable business opportunities.
- Build a founder mindset culture with high ownership, agility, innovation, and accountability.
University Alliances & Partnerships
- Lead discussions with Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Deans, Trustees, and senior university stakeholders.
- Drive MOU discussions, commercial negotiations, and partnership closures.
- The role will require regular visits to premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs, and other universities for strategic alliance discussions and relationship management.
- Ensure smooth execution and governance of signed agreements and partnerships.
Revenue & P&L Management
- Monitor financial performance, budgeting, forecasting, and business metrics.
- Ensure sustainable margin growth while maintaining partner satisfaction.
Program Launch & Management
- Lead launch of new academic programs, certifications, and strategic initiatives.
- Work closely with academic, marketing, admissions, operations, and product teams for successful execution.
- Oversee existing program performance, learner outcomes, and operational delivery.
- Drive continuous improvements in program quality and business performance.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with university leadership and key stakeholders.
- Act as the primary escalation point for strategic partner concerns and business discussions.
- Ensure high partner satisfaction through proactive engagement and governance mechanisms.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with internal leadership teams for seamless execution.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure all university partnerships and business activities comply with regulatory and institutional guidelines.
- Monitor adherence to contractual obligations, academic standards, and operational compliance.
- Coordinate with legal and compliance teams during partnership onboarding and audits.
Operational & Business Excellence
- Establish scalable business processes and governance frameworks.
- Track business KPIs, operational performance, and strategic deliverables.
- Drive problem-solving, process optimization, and execution excellence across the business unit.
Eligibility Criteria
- Bachelor’s/master’s degree in business, Management, Education, or related field.
- Strong university connects: Prior working relationships with IITs, IIMs, ISB, and Top -Tier universities.
- 10+ years of experience in higher education, EdTech, university partnerships, or business leadership roles.
- Strong understanding of university ecosystem, academic structures, and education operations.
- Proven experience in stakeholder management, strategic alliances, and revenue ownership.
- Experience in handling P&L and managing large-scale business operations.
- Strong negotiation, relationship management, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work with senior leadership and external stakeholders independently.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with strong business acumen and execution capabilities.
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