Program Manager, Academia-Industry Collaboration

Job Title: Program Manager, Academia-Industry Collaboration

Location: Bengaluru (Devanahalli)

Employment Type: Consultant/Full-time

Position Overview:

Chanakya University is launching a strategic initiative to catalyze structured collaboration between academia and industry. The Program Manager will play an important role in shaping, managing, and scaling this collaboration. The role demands a dynamic professional with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, coordinate cross-functional activities, manage convenings, and support the design and development of high-impact, collaborative research programs.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Collaboration & Partnership Development

• Cultivate and manage relationships with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including university leadership, faculty, industry professionals, academic collaborators, startups, investors, and ecosystem partners.
• Proactively identify, curate, and onboard potential collaborators for each sectoral cluster, with a particular focus on emerging industries and innovation hubs.
• Facilitate introductions and coordinate communication with external organizations, ensuring alignment with cluster priorities and research themes.
• Lead the formation and ongoing coordination of interdisciplinary Cluster Steering Groups that include internal and external contributors from academia, industry, and investment ecosystems.
• Drive structured conversations within these groups to identify collaboration opportunities and define R&D focus areas with high societal or market relevance.
• Assist in crafting project proposals aligned with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and industry demand and support the planning and execution of pitch sessions with prospective partners.

2. Meeting & Convening Management

• Plan and execute periodic cluster meetings to define strategic objectives, set priorities, and review progress.
• Manage the entire lifecycle of cluster convenings—including scheduling, agenda-setting, preparing briefing notes, documentation, and follow-up communications.
• Organize and facilitate stakeholder meetings, visits, and exploratory discussions to build trust and momentum across collaboration efforts.
• Support early-stage engagements between university teams and external collaborators.

3. Program and Project Facilitation

• Coordinate background research and landscape analysis to inform cluster strategy—mapping potential collaborators, industry challenges, and relevant technologies.
• Support project planning and execution by outlining deliverables, assigning responsibilities, and tracking progress against timelines.
• Contribute to the creation of strategic documents, white papers, and positioning notes that articulate the university's capabilities and relevance to industry needs.
• Promote the integration of TRL-based frameworks to assess and develop research collaborations at various stages of maturity.

Candidate Profile:

Qualifications & Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in program management, stakeholder engagement, or coordination roles, preferably involving academic and industry interfaces.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing complex projects with multiple partners, translating strategic intent into executable plans.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage, influence, and build trust with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Exceptional organizational capabilities with a proven ability to manage multiple streams of work in a fast-paced environment.
• Skilled in planning and executing high-quality meetings and convenings, ensuring clarity of purpose and follow-through on outcomes.
• Proficiency in synthesizing research and insights to inform program design and decision-making.
• Familiarity with research environments, innovation ecosystems, or industry-academic partnerships is desirable.
• Educational qualifications: Bachelors/Master's degree in Business Administration or Technology is advisable.