Key Responsibilities 

Build &amp; Lead the Academia Partnership Strategy

<ul>
<li>Create a multi-year roadmap for industry–academia collaboration aligned to our AI-first business strategy. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Identify high-impact partnership models with top institutes (IITs, IIMs, ISB, etc.). </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Evaluate emerging trends in academia and leverage them for org advantage. </li>
</ul>

Incubation &amp; Research Collaborations

<ul>
<li>Set up and manage incubation centre partnerships within IIT/IIM ecosystems. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Drive joint research projects, applied AI initiatives, and product-led innovation with faculty and labs. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Create frameworks for IP, research adoption, learning programs and evaluation of impact. </li>
</ul>

Faculty Engagement &amp; Adjunct Faculty Program

<ul>
<li>Build and scale an adjunct faculty initiative: identify internal leaders who can teach, guest lecture, or co-develop academic content. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Develop deep, trust-based relationships with senior faculty, deans, centre heads, and program directors. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Facilitate faculty sabbaticals, visiting roles, and joint knowledge creation. </li>
</ul>

Student Engagement &amp; Talent Pipeline

<ul>
<li>Partner with institutes to shape emerging talent programs: internships, live projects, hackathons, leadership tracks, and fellowships. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Strengthen our employer brand as a deep-tech + GenAI innovation powerhouse. </li>
</ul>

Program Design &amp; Governance

<ul>
<li>Structure MOUs, partnership governance models, evaluation frameworks, and renewal mechanisms. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Ensure rigour, cadence, and visibility across all partnerships. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Set up dashboards and metrics to measure partnership ROI. </li>
</ul>

Cross-Functional Leadership

<ul>
<li>Work closely with Product, Tech, AI/ML, Marketing, CEO/CTO Office, and Leadership Development teams to embed academia insights into real business outcomes. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Drive internal excitement and participation across the org. </li>
</ul>

Representation &amp; Thought Leadership

<ul>
<li>Represent the company in academia forums, panel discussions, conclaves, and national innovation events.</li>
</ul>
 
<ul>
<li>Evangelize our vision of a GenAI-led future in academic circles. </li>
</ul>
 
What Success Looks Like 

<ul>
<li>3–5 deep, strategic partnerships with IITs/IIMs/ISB/top tier 1 colleges delivering measurable business value. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Incubation centre(s) established with clear innovation outputs. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>4–6 joint research initiatives or AI product co-creation tracks running annually. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>A scaled adjunct faculty and faculty-in-residence model. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Visible improvement in talent pipeline and campus talent brand. </li>
</ul>
 
Qualifications &amp; Skills 

<ul>
<li>10+ years of experience in academia relations, corporate partnerships, consulting, CEO/CHRO office roles, or innovation ecosystems. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Strong understanding of Indian higher education (especially IIT/IIM research &amp; incubation ecosystems). </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Exceptional stakeholder management—able to navigate CXO conversations and academic leadership with equal ease. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Entrepreneurial, high-ownership, and bias for action. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Strong communication, presence, and ability to represent the company with credibility. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Curiosity for tech, AI, research, and innovation models. </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Experience working in a tech company, startup ecosystem, or higher-education initiatives. (Good to have) </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Exposure to incubators, research labs, or government innovation bodies. (Good to have) </li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Prior experience with collaborative research or academic program design. (Good to have) </li>
</ul>

Partnerships

Key Responsibilities Build &amp; Lead the Academia Partnership Strategy Create a multi-year roadmap for industry–academia collaboration aligned to our AI-first business strategy. Identify high-impact partnership models with top institutes (IITs, IIMs, ISB, etc.). Evaluate emerging trends in academia and leverage them for org advantage. Incubation &amp; Research Collaborations Set up and manage incubation centre partnerships within IIT/IIM ecosystems. Drive joint research projects, applied AI initiatives, and product-led innovation with faculty and labs. Create frameworks for IP, research adoption, learning programs and evaluation of impact. Faculty Engagement &amp; Adjunct Faculty Program Build and scale an adjunct faculty initiative: identify internal leaders who can teach, guest lecture, or co-develop academic content. Develop deep, trust-based relationships with senior faculty, deans, centre heads, and program directors. Facilitate faculty sabbaticals, visiting roles, and joint knowledge creation. Student Engagement &amp; Talent Pipeline Partner with institutes to shape emerging talent programs: internships, live projects, hackathons, leadership tracks, and fellowships. Strengthen our employer brand as a deep-tech + GenAI innovation powerhouse. Program Design &amp; Governance Structure MOUs, partnership governance models, evaluation frameworks, and renewal mechanisms. Ensure rigour, cadence, and visibility across all partnerships. Set up dashboards and metrics to measure partnership ROI. Cross-Functional Leadership Work closely with Product, Tech, AI/ML, Marketing, CEO/CTO Office, and Leadership Development teams to embed academia insights into real business outcomes. Drive internal excitement and participation across the org. Representation &amp; Thought Leadership Represent the company in academia forums, panel discussions, conclaves, and national innovation events. Evangelize our vision of a GenAI-led future in academic circles. What Success Looks Like 3–5 deep, strategic partnerships with IITs/IIMs/ISB/top tier 1 colleges delivering measurable business value. Incubation centre(s) established with clear innovation outputs. 4–6 joint research initiatives or AI product co-creation tracks running annually. A scaled adjunct faculty and faculty-in-residence model. Visible improvement in talent pipeline and campus talent brand. Qualifications &amp; Skills 10+ years of experience in academia relations, corporate partnerships, consulting, CEO/CHRO office roles, or innovation ecosystems. Strong understanding of Indian higher education (especially IIT/IIM research &amp; incubation ecosystems). Exceptional stakeholder management—able to navigate CXO conversations and academic leadership with equal ease. Entrepreneurial, high-ownership, and bias for action. Strong communication, presence, and ability to represent the company with credibility. Curiosity for tech, AI, research, and innovation models. Experience working in a tech company, startup ecosystem, or higher-education initiatives. (Good to have) Exposure to incubators, research labs, or government innovation bodies. (Good to have) Prior experience with collaborative research or academic program design. (Good to have)

Partnerships in Thurahalli (UID-13926)

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