Assistant Manager/Deputy Manager ? Projects and Initiatives

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

Reports to: Manager ? Projects and Initiatives

Location: Ashoka University Campus, Sonipat

Experience: 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:

Ashoka University ? India?s premier interdisciplinary teaching and research university. An institution that has become a beacon of academic excellence in less than 10 years since its inception. At Ashoka, we encourage you to embrace the new, push the boundaries for continuous learning, and adapt to a world of constant change Because we believe that each Ashokan is capable of becoming a thought leader.

As part of our thriving and committed workforce, you will:

Be Mission-Driven: Champion interdisciplinary learning, innovative pedagogy, and academic rigor to transform Indian higher education.

Think Strategically: Collaborate with visionary minds to shape the future of higher education through strategic planning and a forward-thinking approach.

Act Authentically: Embrace authenticity and integrity, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where every voice is valued.

Take Accountability: Own your work and drive positive change, as an empowering individual seeking to make a meaningful contribution.

Build Collaboration: Experience the power of teamwork and diverse perspectives, working collectively towards our shared goals.

Deliver Excellence: Strive for excellence in all aspects, upholding the highest standards of academic excellence, student support, and professional development opportunities.

At Ashoka University, we are on a mission to redefine higher education and create a remarkable space where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a pioneering force in interdisciplinary learning, we continually grow and adapt to stay at the forefront of educational excellence with emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity. Our philosophy revolves around care, well-being, and connection, which are deeply embedded in everything we do.

When you join our community, you become part of an extraordinary journey in which you can unleash your potential and make a meaningful impact. Where education empowers, where innovation thrives, and where excellence and humility coexist. We truly believe the world will enrich itself when there is progress with purpose.

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.