Associate Director – Academic Operations Job at Pune City, Maharashtra, India Full Time NEW

upGrad Private Limited – www.upgrad.com

About Us –

upGrad is an online education platform building the careers of tomorrow by offering the most industry-relevant programs in an immersive learning experience. Our mission is to create a new digital-first learning experience to deliver tangible career impact to individuals at scale. upGrad currently offers programs in Data Science, Machine Learning, Product Management, Digital Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, etc. upGrad is looking for people passionate about management and education to help design learning programs for working professionals to stay sharp and stay relevant and help build the careers of tomorrow.

Designation – Associate Director – Academic Operations (HigherEducation India)

Work Location – Pune

Work Mode – In-Office

About the Role –

We are seeking an experienced and execution-oriented Associate Director of Academic Operations to lead the academic delivery engine for upGrad’s University Partnerships. You will manage cross-functional teams, liaise with university officials, and build scalable operational processes to support our Online Degree Programs strictly adhering to university guidelines.

Key Result Areas (KRAs) & Responsibilities –

1. End-to-End Online Delivery

• Live Session Management: Take absolute ownership of the overall online academic delivery, ensuring high-quality Live Online Sessions conducted by University Faculty and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
• Calendar Adherence: Ensure 100% compliance with the Academic Calendars of respective universities, mapping out and executing live sessions within stipulated timelines without disruptions.

2. Examination & Assessment Operations

• Proctored Assessments: Lead the end-to-end administration of the Online Remote Proctored Assessment process, maintaining the highest standards of exam integrity.
• Comprehensive Evaluation Cycle: Oversee the flawless execution of Internal Assessments, Projects, Labs, Vivas, and Final Online Exams.
• Zero-Escalation Environment: Proactively identify bottlenecks and implement processes to ensure all assessment deadlines are met smoothly, maintaining a zero-escalation record from the student community.

3. Strategic Stakeholder & University Management

• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Serve as the central bridge between internal upGrad teams (Tech, Product, Academic Content, Student Support, Admissions Processing, and Alliance Management) to ensure student services and deliverables remain unhampered.
• University Liaison for Academic Operations: Cultivate and maintain strong operational relationships with respective senior university officials, specifically the University Controller of Examinations (COE) and the Director of CDOE (Centre for Distance and Online Education).
• Process Alignment: Actively seek guidance and align upGrad’s operational processes with university inputs for smoother academic operations, result declarations, and official student communications.

4. Team Leadership & Financial Operations

• Team Management: Mentor, lead, and scale a high-performing operations team dedicated to managing day-to-day live session logistics and online examination processing.
• SME Payouts: Ensure the timely, accurate processing of honorariums and payouts for all Faculty/SMEs conducting online live sessions, strictly adhering to the specific financial understandings and contracts with each university.

5. Data Management & Analytics

• Data-Driven Operations: Act as the ultimate custodian of academic operations data.
• Reporting & Insights: Drive rigorous data processing and management to generate accurate MIS reports, performance analytics, and operational dashboards for senior management and university partners.

Education & Qualifications –

• Master’s Degree Required: An MBA, Master’s in Education Management, or a related postgraduate degree from a reputed institution.
• Additional Certifications (Preferred): Certifications in Operations Management, EdTech Leadership, or Project Management (PMP, Lean Six Sigma) are a strong plus.

Experience Required –

• Overall Experience: Minimum of 12 to 14 years of overall professional experience in operations, service delivery, or academic administration.
• Relevant EdTech Experience: At least 5 to 7 years of dedicated leadership experience in the EdTech sector, specifically managing the delivery of Online Degree Programs (ODL/Online Mode) or Higher Education partnerships.
• University Ecosystem: Prior experience working on University Academic Operations specially in Online Mode is highly desirable.

Key Skills & Competencies –

• Tech-Savviness: Highly comfortable working with modern EdTech platforms, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Examination Management Systems (EMS), and remote proctoring tools.
• Analytical Skills: Strong proficiency in data management and creating actionable reports using advanced Excel or data visualization tools.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional crisis-resolution abilities and top-tier communication skills to interact effectively with both senior academicians and cross-functional corporate teams.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to shape the future of online higher education in India
• Work with top academic institutions and strategic thinkers
• Fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment with a high degree of autonomy
• Be part of a purpose-driven company that values innovation, execution, and scale