Project Director - Administration

Dr M G R Educational and Research Institute; Chennai District; On-site; INR 2,400,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Dr M G R Educational and Research Institute seeks an accomplished Project Director (Admin) to lead operational governance for large-scale educational projects. You will oversee procurement, facility management, vendor relations, and compliance, acting as the operational head for multi-site initiatives.

The role requires 12–18+ years in administrative and operations management, with PMP/CAP certifications being advantageous and a preference for MBA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field; MBA preferred.
• 12-18+ years in administrative and operational management, with senior-executive exposure.
• Certifications: PMP, CAP or similar are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Establish governance, SOPs, and standardized workflows across project sites.
• Oversee facility management, IT setup, security, and asset management.
• Lead vendor negotiations, contracts, and external service coordination.
• Formulate and manage administrative CAPEX/OPEX budgets and cost controls.
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, licenses, health & safety, and governance standards.
• Direct administrative managers, HR support teams, and executive assistants.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Master's degree or MBA preferred

12-18+ years administrative and operational management experience

PMP / CAP certifications advantageous

Tools

SAP

Oracle

MS Project

Job description

Job Overview

The Project Director (Admin) is expected to provide executive level operational leadership, administrative governance and resource management to support large scale Educational projects / multi project needs; should act as the Operational Head for the project/s of the University/Group of Institutions; oversee all project/s related administrative functions - Procurement, Facility management, Vendor relations, Admin Budgets and Compliance Framework, for efficient and seamless operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Administrative Governance & Operations: Establish/Govern, standardize, and oversee all administrative workflows, office operations, administrative policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) across project sites and regional Institutional locations.
• Resource & Facility Management: Oversee site facility management, infrastructure logistics, fleet/asset management, office space allocation, IT/communications setup, and security protocols for project sites.
• Vendor & Procurement Management: Direct & involve vendor negotiations, administrative contract management, site logistics procurement, and external service provider management (catering, security, transport, maintenance).
• Budgeting & Financial Oversight: Formulate / Manage administrative capital and operational budgets (CAPEX/OPEX), authorize operational expenditures, and enforce cost-control strategies across all project support functions for optimal results
• Compliance & Legal Support: Ensure all administrative operations strictly comply with local labor laws, (immigration/visa requirements, if any), municipal licensing, health and safety regulations, and corporate governance standards.
• Stakeholder & Team Leadership: Direct /Mmentor administrative managers, site admin leads, HR support teams, and executive assistants. Serve as the central point of contact between executive leadership, project operations, and external regulatory bodies.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Operations Management, or a related field (Masters degree or MBA preferred).
• Experience: 12-18+ years of administrative and operational management experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior executive role managing large-scale, multi-site project operations.
• Certifications: PMP (Project Management Professional), CAP (Certified Administrative Professional), or certifications in Operations/Facility Management are highly advantageous.

Key Skills

• Executive Operations & Strategic Resource Planning
• High-Level Contract Negotiation & Vendor Management
• Administrative Budgeting & P&L Oversight
• Organizational Governance & Regulatory Compliance
• Crisis Management & Site Operations Coordination
• Advanced Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and Project Management Tools.