Assistant Manager/Deputy Manager – Projects and Initiatives | Ashoka University

Job Description

Job Title: Assistant Manager/Deputy Manager – Projects and Initiatives

Reports to: Manager – Projects and Initiatives

Location: Ashoka University Campus, Sonipat

Experience (in years): 2-5 years of experience in higher education project management with science and technology focused projects, operations, and stakeholder management.

Nature of work: Full Time

About Ashoka University: www.ashoka.edu.in

About the Centre/Department:

Ashoka Global Research Alliances (AGRA), established in 2024, is a department at Ashoka University that aims to strengthen a partnership-driven ecosystem for research and internationalization. The department focuses on building collaborative programmes and research initiatives with leading global universities, research institutions, and industry partners. AGRA facilitates projects and initiatives that advance Ashoka University’s research ecosystem by developing partnership-based programmes for research collaboration, researcher mobility, research infrastructure development, and research-oriented academic programmes. The department operates through three key verticals:

1) International Partnerships – enabling global collaborations through institutional partnerships, meetings, workshops, and joint initiatives.

2) Research Facilities and Programme Development – supporting the development of advanced research infrastructure and research-oriented programmes for graduates, researchers and professionals.

3) Experiential Learning and Educational Initiatives – designing and delivering experiential learning programmes and educational initiatives for high-school students.

Role and Responsibilities:

The role of Assistant Manager/Deputy Manager– Projects and Initiatives comes with the following responsibilities:

1. Project Management for Research Facilities & Programme Development: Support planning, execution, and monitoring of research facility development and programme initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, timelines, and budgets. Drive end-to-end project lifecycle management from conceptualization to evaluation.

2. Strategic Planning & Programme Design: Contribute to the design of new research and training programmes by identifying emerging trends, benchmarking best practices, and translating strategic priorities into actionable plans.

3. Operational Management of Research & Training Programmes: Oversee execution and continuous improvement of programmes, ensuring high-quality delivery, efficient resource utilization, and smooth coordination of sessions, logistics, and participant engagement.

4. Partnership Development & Collaboration Management: Build and manage partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, industry stakeholders, and technology providers. Identify opportunities, support MoUs/agreements, and ensure effective execution of joint initiatives.

5. Stakeholder Management & Cross-functional Coordination: Act as a key interface between faculty, research teams, administrative departments, vendors, and collaborators, ensuring proactive communication, issue resolution, and alignment.

6. Project Proposal Development: Lead preparation of project proposals, concept notes, grant applications, and technical documentation. Coordinate with stakeholders to develop competitive proposals and support fundraising and grant acquisition.

7. Project Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting: Establish tracking mechanisms, define KPIs, and monitor progress against milestones. Manage budgets, cost estimation, and financial tracking. Prepare reports, dashboards, and impact assessments. Identify risks and bottlenecks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure timely resolution.

8. Research Facility Operations & Infrastructure Management: Oversee administrative and operational aspects of facilities, including procurement planning, vendor management, equipment lifecycle tracking, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

9. Process Optimization, Data Management & SOP Development: Develop and implement SOPs for project execution, facility management, and programme delivery. Ensure systematic documentation and maintain organized records for audits and reporting. Drive process improvements for efficiency, scalability, and quality.

10. Outreach, Communication & Knowledge Dissemination: Develop outreach materials, reports, presentations, and communication collaterals. Support visibility and positioning of projects and institutional initiatives.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Educational Qualification: Master’s degree in pure, applied, or interdisciplinary science disciplines from a leading recognized university.

• Professional Experience & Project Management: 2–5 years of experience in project management, programme development, or operations within higher education, research, or science & technology organizations. Strong hands-on experience with project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid) and the ability to independently manage end-to-end project lifecycles, including planning, execution, risk management, monitoring, and cross functional coordination.

• Data, Digital & AI Proficiency: Proficiency in data analysis (advanced MS Excel), data visualization tools (Power BI/Tableau), and collaborative platforms. Familiarity with design, multimedia, CAD, and project management tools, along with the ability to leverage AI for data workflows, automation, and insight generation.

• Financial, Operational & Process Management: Experience in budgeting, financial planning, procurement coordination, and compliance, along with a process-driven approach to developing SOPs, optimizing workflows, and ensuring operational efficiency.

• Partnerships, Stakeholder & Communication Skills: Proven ability to build and manage partnerships with academic, industry, and external stakeholders. Strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with excellent written and verbal communication to effectively convey complex ideas to diverse audiences.

• Proposal Writing & Documentation: Strong experience in developing project proposals, concept notes, reports, presentations, and technical documentation.