Sr. Associate/ Assistant Manager – Industry Partnerships

BITS Design School Mumbai; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

BITS Design School Mumbai in Mumbai is seeking a Senior Associate / Assistant Manager – Industry Partnerships to lead industry engagement, forge long-term partnerships, and translate them into internships, live projects, and collaborations for students.

You will report to the Head of Industry Placements & Partnerships, build networks with design studios, brands, and agencies, and coordinate with internal teams to align opportunities with curriculum needs and career outcomes.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in industry partnerships, corporate relations, student placements, or business development roles.

Responsibilities

• Build and expand relationships with design studios, brands, creative agencies, and emerging enterprises.
• Develop a strong pipeline of industry partners aligned with institutional goals and student pathways.
• Proactively identify and initiate new partnership opportunities across sectors.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for industry partners, ensuring consistent and meaningful engagement.
• Build long-term, value-driven relationships with a focus on repeat collaboration.
• Ensure a high-quality partner experience through professional and timely communication.
• Enable partnerships that translate into internships, live projects, workshops, and other academic engagements.
• Work closely with internal teams to align industry opportunities with student and curriculum needs.
• Support the conversion of partnerships into tangible career outcomes.
• Conceptualize and deliver engagement forums such as portfolio reviews, industry panels, and networking events.
• Facilitate industry participation in academic and co-curricular initiatives.
• Represent the institute at industry forums, events, and professional networks.
• Contribute to strengthening the institute’s visibility and reputation within the industry ecosystem.
• Collaborate with internal teams to showcase partnership outcomes and success stories.
• Maintain structured data on partnerships, engagement, and outcomes.
• Track and report key metrics related to industry engagement and collaboration.
• Provide insights on industry trends, hiring patterns, and emerging opportunities.

Skills

Relationship management

Stakeholder engagement

Networking

Communication skills

Job description

Job Title: Senior Associate / Assistant Manager – Industry Partnerships

Reporting to: Head, Industry Placements & Partnerships

Role Overview

You will play a pivotal role in building and nurturing the institute’s engagement with the design and creative industry ecosystem. This role is responsible for developing meaningful, long-term partnerships that translate into student opportunities including internships, live projects, and collaborative engagements.

You will working closely with the Head, Industry Placements & Partnerships, and will focus on expanding the institute’s industry network, strengthening employer relationships, and positioning the institute as a preferred partner for talent and collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Industry Engagement & Outreach

• Build and expand relationships with leading design studios, brands, creative agencies, and emerging enterprises.
• Develop a strong pipeline of industry partners aligned with institutional goals and student pathways.
• Proactively identify and initiate new partnership opportunities across sectors.

Partnership Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for industry partners, ensuring consistent and meaningful engagement.
• Build long-term, value-driven relationships with a focus on repeat collaboration.
• Ensure a high-quality partner experience through professional and timely communication.

Collaboration & Opportunity Creation

• Enable partnerships that translate into internships, live projects, workshops, and other academic engagements.
• Work closely with internal teams to align industry opportunities with student and curriculum needs.
• Support the conversion of partnerships into tangible career outcomes.

Industry Interface & Engagement Platforms

• Conceptualize and deliver engagement forums such as portfolio reviews, industry panels, and networking events.
• Facilitate industry participation in academic and co-curricular initiatives.

Brand & Institutional Representation

• Represent the institute at industry forums, events, and professional networks.
• Contribute to strengthening the institute’s visibility and reputation within the industry ecosystem.
• Collaborate with internal teams to showcase partnership outcomes and success stories.

Insights & Reporting

• Maintain structured data on partnerships, engagement, and outcomes.
• Track and report key metrics related to industry engagement and collaboration.
• Provide insights on industry trends, hiring patterns, and emerging opportunities.

Candidate Profile

• 8-10 years of experience in industry partnerships, corporate relations, student placements, or business development roles.
• Strong understanding of stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Excellent communication and networking capabilities.
• Ability to operate in a dynamic, high-growth academic environment.
• Prior exposure to design, creative industries, or higher education is an advantage.

Compensation

Competitive and commensurate with the individual’s experience and expertise, while being aligned with prevailing industry standards.