Program Manager

Nayanta University; Pune District; Hybrid; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Nayanta University invites applications for a Program Manager – Master’s Program. This full-time role oversees operations, participant experience, admissions, and industry engagement for a two-year hybrid Master’s program designed for working professionals.

You will coordinate with faculty, Registrar, IT, and facilities, ensuring timely schedules, robust LMS management, and high-quality student support across on-campus and online delivery modes.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field; MBA or related postgraduate degree preferred.
• 3–6 years of professional experience in academic program management or related functions.
• Experience with executive education, hybrid/online programs, and multi-stakeholder coordination preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end operations and participant experience for the Master's program.
• Coordinate timetable planning, on-campus and online sessions, and hybrid delivery.
• Manage admissions activities, onboarding, and participant communications.
• Track participant progress and coordinate interventions with faculty and leadership.
• Maintain program dashboards, reports, and quality assurance activities.
• Engage with industry partners and alumni to enhance program relevance and impact.

Skills

3–6 years experience

MS Office

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

CRM platforms

Education

Master’s degree

MBA or related postgraduate degree

Tools

LMS (Moodle)

LMS (Canvas)

Zoom / Teams

Job description

Job Opening: Program Manager – Master's Program

Reports To: [Program Director / Dean of Academics]

Nature of Role: Full-time

Experience: 3 – 6 years

Nayanta University is an emerging multidisciplinary institution committed to academic excellence, real-world learning, and inclusive practices. Supported by leaders from industry and academia, the University aims to build a strong, mission-driven institution rooted in innovation, transparency, and equity. With a culture dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and merit-based admissions, Nayanta is building a future-ready learning ecosystem for the leaders of tomorrow.

About the Master's Program

The Master's Program at Nayanta University is a two-year, part-time graduate program specifically designed for working professionals. Delivered in a hybrid format — the program enables participants to pursue advanced academic learning without stepping away from their careers. The curriculum blends rigorous coursework with applied problem-solving, industry engagement, and peer learning, drawing a cohort of experienced professionals from diverse sectors who bring rich real-world perspectives into the classroom and drive meaningful impact in their fields.

Why Join Us

• High Ownership Role: Own the end-to-end operations and participant experience of a flagship program designed for working professionals at a fast-growing new-age university.
• Unique Program Model: Be at the forefront of building a hybrid graduate program — an innovative format that is reshaping how working professionals access world-class education.
• Mission-Driven Environment: Work alongside distinguished faculty, experienced industry professionals, and a leadership team deeply committed to reimagining higher education.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Engage with academics, industry, administration, and student life — building a rare 360° view of university operations.
• Room to Build: Help shape policies, systems, and student experience frameworks for a differentiated program at a formative and exciting stage of the institution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Operations & Academic Coordination

• Serve as the primary operational lead for the Master\'s program, overseeing end-to-end administration across all cohorts and academic cycles.
• Coordinate with faculty for timetable planning, on-campus session scheduling, and the smooth delivery of hybrid modules — both in-person and online.
• Manage the academic calendar, including weekend intensives and live online sessions, ensuring timely communication of schedules, deadlines, and changes to all stakeholders.
• Maintain comprehensive academic records, including attendance (on-campus and virtual), grades, academic standing, and student progression data.
• Liaise with central university departments — Registrar, Finance, IT, Facilities — to resolve operational issues and fulfill program requirements across both delivery modes.

2. Participant Lifecycle Management

• Support the admissions process including coordination of application reviews, written assessments, interviews, and offer communications, with sensitivity to working professional profiles.
• Plan and execute onboarding and orientation activities for incoming cohorts, helping participants transition smoothly into the program alongside their professional commitments.
• Act as the primary point of contact for participant queries related to academics, scheduling, policies, and grievances — resolving them with empathy, speed, and efficiency.
• Track participant progress, identify academic or engagement risks early, and coordinate timely interventions with faculty and program leadership.
• Maintain participant profiles and engagement records; facilitate cohort-level community initiatives and peer networking among working professionals.

3. Industry Engagement & Career Advancement

• Coordinate industry engagement initiatives — guest lectures, live projects, mentorship programmes, and panel discussions — tailored to the career contexts of working professionals.
• Facilitate corporate partnerships and employer connect sessions that add tangible professional value to participants and strengthen the program\'s industry linkages.
• Support participants in leveraging the program for career transitions, promotions, or entrepreneurial pursuits, working in close coordination with the Career Development Office.
• Maintain and update a live database of alumni, industry partners, and guest faculty to enable ongoing engagement and program enrichment.

4. Hybrid Delivery & Technology Coordination

• Coordinate the end-to-end logistics of hybrid delivery — managing on-campus weekend intensives, live online sessions, and asynchronous learning components in a seamless, integrated experience.
• Work with the IT and AV teams to ensure reliable virtual classroom infrastructure, recording setups, and technical readiness for every online and on-campus session.
• Manage the Learning Management System (LMS) — uploading course materials, tracking participant engagement, and ensuring content is current and accessible.
• Troubleshoot hybrid delivery issues promptly, coordinating with internal teams and external vendors to minimise disruption to participants\' learning experience.
• Plan and execute orientation, immersion weekends, conclaves, and capstone events that bring the cohort together physically and strengthen community bonds.

5. Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Build and maintain productive, trust-based relationships with participants, faculty, corporate partners, administrative staff, and alumni.
• Draft and disseminate regular program communications — session schedules, pre-reads, announcements, policy updates, and circulars — through appropriate digital channels.
• Represent program administration in committee meetings, cross-functional reviews, and institutional planning sessions.
• Manage communications with participants\' employers where needed — for employer-sponsored cohorts, sponsorship documentation, or leave coordination support.

6. Reporting, Quality Assurance & Accreditation

• Maintain program dashboards, MIS reports, and data trackers for review by program leadership and university administration.
• Administer student feedback surveys, synthesise insights, and support the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support accreditation and ranking processes — NAAC, NBA, NIRF, and international accreditations — by compiling required data and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with university regulations, academic policies, and applicable statutory requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• A Master\'s degree from a recognised institution; an MBA or a postgraduate degree in Management, Education, Social Sciences, or a related field is preferred.
• Certifications in Project Management or Program Administration are desirable.

Experience

• 3 to 6 years of professional experience in academic program management, student administration, or a related function within higher education or executive education.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs with multiple concurrent workstreams and competing deadlines.
• Prior experience working in or with executive education, working professional programs, or hybrid/online graduate programs is a strong advantage.
• Track record of working effectively with faculty, senior administration, and external partners.
• Strong project and program management skills with the ability to handle multiple concurrent responsibilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with student information systems, CRM platforms, or ERP tools.
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, Canvas, or similar platforms, and experience managing virtual classroom tools (Zoom, MS Teams) is desirable.
• Exposure to accreditation processes, institutional quality assurance, or academic governance is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

• High ownership mindset with meticulous attention to detail and a strong sense of accountability and follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in Hindi is an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with diverse stakeholders — students, faculty, industry partners, and administrators.
• Calm, solution-oriented demeanour under pressure; able to manage the unexpected with composure and good judgement.
• Collaborative and cross-functional — comfortable navigating ambiguity and working across teams simultaneously.
• Genuine passion for higher education, student development, and institutional excellence.

Remuneration

Compensation will be competitive and benchmarked to industry and sector norms, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.