Program Manager

Job Title: Chief of Staff/ Program Manager (CEOs Office)

Location: Hyderabad (Financial district)

Company: Apollo Pharmacy

Reporting to: CEO

Position Type: Full-Time

About Apollo Pharmacy

Apollo Pharmacy is Asia's largest and most trusted retail pharmacy chain, serving millions of customers across 1200+ cities with over 7,000 outlets. Through Apollo 247, India's largest integrated omnichannel healthcare platform, we cater to healthcare needs of citizens across pin codes. We are on a mission to make genuine medicines and wellness products accessible to every citizen round the clock by leveraging scale, innovation, technology, and operational excellence.

At Apollo Pharmacy, you'll be part of this mission that goes beyond business. If you are a visionary with a passion for innovation in retail & healthcare, we invite you to join us

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly driven Chief of Staff/ Program Manager to join the CEO's Office. You will act as a force multiplier and play a pivotal role in driving strategic initiatives, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and supporting execution of high-impact programs that shape the future of Apollo Pharmacy.

The role requires strong problem-solving & structured thinking to work closely with the CEO and leadership team. You will be responsible for leading key strategic initiatives, driving operational rigor, and enabling decision-making through data-driven insights.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic planning & Insights:

• Partner with CEO to translate strategy into actionable execution plans with clear milestones, owners, and success metrics.
• Perform comprehensive market research and deep dive to identify emerging trends, opportunities, threats and recommend data-backed solutions.
• Perform external competitor analysis and market benchmarking using both primary and secondary research methods.
• Support long-term strategic planning, including annual operating plans (AOPs) and 3-5 year strategic roadmaps.

Program management & PMO:

• Lead and oversee top priority strategic initiatives across functions ensuring successful and timely completion (e.g., growth programs, operational excellence, digital transformation).
• Conduct process mapping and analysis to identify and address operational inefficiencies if any, design and implement solutions that drive continuous improvement.
• Drive alignment between functions to ensure cohesive strategies and effective execution
• Develop and implement project management methodologies, tools, and best practices to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Monitor progress on key initiatives, proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and projects remain on track.
• Establish a centralized PMO dashboard to track initiative health and ensure visibility for senior leadership.
• Drive change management for strategic priorities, securing buy-in and adoption across the organization.

Business reviews & reporting:

• Drive the CEO's operating cadence, including leadership meetings, business reviews and executive reporting.
• Ensure effective follow-up and the closure of discussion points and action items from business reviews, strategy & leadership meetings
• Support in the preparation of board level materials in collaboration with Finance & analytics teams

Stakeholder & communication management:

• Act as a trusted proxy for the CEO, fostering strong relationships and ensuring effective, timely communication with functional heads and external partners.
• Facilitate cross functional workshops, leadership offsites, and alignment sessions to build shared ownership of strategic initiatives.
• Manage external correspondences, including communications with partners, stakeholders & industry forums ensuring timely responses and effective relationship management.
• Identify partnership opportunities that align with the companies' strategic objectives and facilitate negotiations and agreements.

Qualifications & Skills

• MBA from a Tier-1/Tier-2 institute or equivalent preferred.
• 4+ years of experience in strategy, program management, sales or operations in RETAIL . Exposure to healthcare, pharma, or FMCG is a strong plus.
• Strong track record of managing cross-functional projects and delivering results in complex environments
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and structured thinking skills.
• Strong program management discipline with ability to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills.
• Strong executive presence, with ability to engage CXO-level stakeholders.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive change across large teams.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion, with the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work closely with the CEO and functional heads to shape the future of India's largest retail pharmacy network.
• High-visibility role with direct impact on strategic business priorities.
• Gain unparalleled exposure and understand the intersection of healthcare, retail, and technology.
• Opportunity to play a pivotal role in a business that touches millions of lives daily.
• A fast paced, entrepreneurial, and collaborative work environment.