Acumen, Part of Sannam S4 Group
Website:
acumen.education
Company:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/acumen-edu
Industries: Education Administration Programs
Job details:
About This Job
Acumen, Part of Sannam S4 Group
Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India
Work Mode: On-site
Industry: Education Administration Programs,Higher Education,Business Consulting and Services
Job Description
Senior Director – Operations & Transformation
Location: India (with potential for international travel)
Leadership Responsibility: NaviJapan
- Acumen Global Mobility Institute (AGMI)
- Global Presence Operations & Transformation
Build the World's Most Trusted International Talent Mobility Platform
A Rare Leadership Opportunity
At Acumen, we believe the world is entering a new era of global workforce mobility. Demographic shifts, skills shortages and growing international career aspirations are transforming how talent moves across borders.
Our ambition is to build a technology-enabled international talent mobility platform that connects governments, employers, universities and individuals through trusted, scalable and data-driven pathways.
Japan represents our first strategic corridor. Through NaviJapan, the Acumen Global Mobility Institute (AGMI) and our employer and university partnerships, we are creating an integrated ecosystem supporting individuals from career exploration through education, recruitment, employment and long-term success.
The operating model, technology and governance we are building today will be replicated across multiple international markets over the coming decade.
This is one of the most strategically important leadership appointments within Acumen.
About Acumen
Acumen is a global education, talent mobility and market-entry organisation helping universities, governments and employers build international capability through education, workforce development and cross-border partnerships.
Operating across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America, our services span:
International Education ServicesGlobal Representation & Market EntryWorkforce Mobility & Skills Development
As we continue investing in AI, digital platforms and operational excellence, we are building the operating platform that will power our next phase of international growth.
The Opportunity
This is not a traditional Operations Director role.
Working directly with the Executive Chairman and Executive Leadership Team, you will design, build and continuously improve the systems, governance, technology, commercial models and operating disciplines that enable Acumen to scale globally.
You will combine operational leadership with AI transformation, commercial growth, digital platform management and organisational development to build an organisation capable of sustained international expansion.
Purpose of the Role
The Senior Director – Operations & Transformation will architect the operating platform that enables Acumen to evolve into a globally recognised talent mobility organisation.
You will lead the transformation of Acumen into an AI-enabled, data-driven organisation supporting governments, employers, universities and thousands of students and professionals across multiple countries.
The Role Has Executive Responsibility For
Operational ExcellenceAI & Digital TransformationDigital Platform OperationsCommercial GrowthTechnology & Data GovernanceEnterprise Risk & Business ContinuityCandidate & Customer ExperienceStrategic PartnershipsOrganisational Capability
Trust, operational excellence and customer experience will underpin every aspect of the platform.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Transformation & Governance (Acumen Presence)
Build The Scalable Operating System For Acumen By
Designing scalable operating models and global SOPs.Leading operational excellence through process redesign, automation, KPI development and margin improvement.Driving Acumen's AI transformation through intelligent workflows and knowledge management.Providing executive oversight of technology resilience, cybersecurity, data privacy and governance.Developing enterprise risk, business continuity and operational resilience frameworks.Leading quality assurance, service delivery governance and SLA performance.Managing budgets, investment priorities, cost optimisation and profitability.
Platform Scaling & Growth (NaviJapan)
Lead The Operational Growth Of NaviJapan By
Driving platform performance, customer acquisition, engagement and retention.Improving Candidate, Employer and Customer Experience, including NPS.Building and governing high-performing student recruitment agent networks.Developing recurring revenue streams through digital products, subscriptions, sponsorships and strategic partnerships.Strengthening relationships with universities, employers and ecosystem partners.
Talent Pipeline & Workforce Development (AGMI)
Lead AGMI's Workforce Development Strategy By
Building recruitment and workforce mobility capability across India, South Asia and Southeast Asia.Developing structured talent pipelines aligned with employer demand.Launching new workforce readiness initiatives, including language training.Leading regional expansion, beginning with Nepal and extending across South and Southeast Asia.Building strategic relationships with government agencies, regulators and accreditation bodies.
Organisational Leadership
Build and lead high-performing international teams.Develop future leaders through coaching and succession planning.Foster a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.Deliver transparent executive reporting aligned with strategic objectives.
What Success Looks Like
Success Will Be Measured Through
Commercial Growth
Sustainable double-digit revenue growth.Improved margins and recurring revenue.Growth in customer lifetime value and average revenue per user.
Platform Growth
Increased active users and engagement.Higher conversion rates.Expansion into new markets.Growth in employer, university and strategic partnerships.
Customer & Candidate Outcomes
Improved placement rates.Higher employer satisfaction.Better candidate readiness.Exceptional customer experience.
Operational Excellence
Faster processing times.Greater automation and productivity.Improved service quality and operational efficiency.Strong cross-functional collaboration.
Technology & Governance
High platform availability and resilience.Strong cybersecurity and data governance.Secure AI implementation.Effective business continuity and disaster recovery.
Strategic Impact
Successful delivery of transformation programmes.Scalable operating models supporting international expansion.Positioning Acumen as a recognised leader in international talent mobility.
Experience
We're looking for a leader with:
15+ years leading complex international operations.Experience scaling technology-enabled organisations.Proven success delivering digital and AI transformation.Strong commercial, operational and financial leadership.Experience managing multi-country teams.Expertise in operational excellence, process redesign and programme management.Outstanding executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
Experience within Education, HRTech, EdTech, Recruitment, Marketplace Platforms, Consulting or International Services is highly desirable.
Japanese language proficiency or experience working with the Japanese market would be advantageous.
Leadership Characteristics
You'll Thrive In This Role If You
Think strategically and execute with pace.Enjoy building organisations rather than maintaining them.Are commercially driven and data-informed.Embrace technology and AI.Build trust across diverse stakeholders.Inspire high-performing teams.Demonstrate resilience, integrity and sound judgement.Never compromise on quality or customer experience.
Why Join Acumen?
This is a rare opportunity to build a globally significant international talent mobility platform at the intersection of technology, AI, education, workforce development and international recruitment.
You will shape not only the future of Acumen, but also how countries, employers and institutions create trusted international talent pipelines for the decades ahead.
Click on Apply to know more.