Director of India Academic Partnerships

Mehta Family Foundation; Houston (TX); Vor Ort; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Mehta Family Foundation in Houston seeks a Director of Academic Partnerships and Programs to oversee a growing portfolio of university collaborations and educational initiatives. The role involves partnering with university presidents, deans, and administrators across the United States and India, managing complex multi-institution programs, budgets, and events with autonomy and strategic impact.

This hands-on leadership position requires a strong background in higher education administration,

Qualifikationen

• Master or MBA or PhD preferred; advanced degree required for leadership.
• 7-10 years of relevant experience, with at least five in higher education.
• Experience with faculty, deans, and senior academic leadership.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Aufgaben

• Develop and maintain relationships with university leadership and administrators.
• Coordinate academic programs, research collaborations, scholarships, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Monitor progress and outcomes of partnerships and programs.
• Lead conference organization, institutional visits, workshops, and events.
• Provide progress reports and recommendations to Foundation leadership.

Kenntnisse

Project management

Organizational skills

Budgeting

Communication skills

Ausbildung

Master's/MBA or PhD preferred

Jobbeschreibung

The Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF) is one of the largest philanthropic collaborators in higher education in India, focused on catalyzing transformative academic disciplines. Since 2006, MFF has grown from supporting a single School of Biosciences at IIT Madras into a national initiative advancing fields such as Biomedical Engineering, Data Science and AI, Health Sciences & Technology, and Sustainability. The foundation now supports eight schools across six Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), shaping over 3,000 learners each year across Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs. These schools are backed by extensive state-of-the-art infrastructure, enabling high-impact teaching, research, and industry collaboration. MFF partners closely with institutions to build long-term academic capacity and global connections.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Director of Academic Partnerships and Programs to manage our growing portfolio of university partnerships and educational initiatives.

Working directly with Foundation leadership, the Director will collaborate with university presidents, deans, faculty, research center directors, and academic administrators to develop partnerships and ensure the successful implementation of Foundation-supported initiatives.

The ideal candidate has substantial experience working within higher education, understands university administration and academic culture, and can independently manage complex projects involving multiple institutions.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Partnerships and Programs

• Develop and maintain relationships with university leadership, faculty, deans, and academic administrators.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Foundation and its university partners in the United States and India.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of academic programs, research collaborations, scholarships, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Monitor program progress, institutional commitments, and outcomes.
• Identify opportunities for new partnerships and strengthen existing collaborations.

Program Execution and Foundation Operations

• Manage multiple projects, including budgets, timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder coordination.
• Organize academic conferences, institutional visits, workshops, and special events.
• Coordinate with universities, consultants, vendors, and other partners.
• Develop effective systems for tracking projects, agreements, and program outcomes.
• Prepare progress reports and recommendations for Foundation leadership.
• Independently identify challenges, develop solutions, and ensure timely follow-through.

Required Qualifications

• Master or MBA degree, PhD Preferred
• 7-10 years of relevant professional experience, including at least five years in higher education.
• Experience working directly with faculty, deans, department chairs, and senior academic leadership.
• Strong project management, organizational, budgeting, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to independently manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a research university or academic research institution.
• Experience managing interdisciplinary or multi-institutional academic programs.
• Familiarity with university advancement, research administration, or philanthropic initiatives.
• International academic partnership experience, particularly involving India or IITs.

What We Offer

An opportunity to work directly with Foundation leadership, develop meaningful relationships with leading universities, and help shape educational and research initiatives with lasting impact.

This is a hands-on leadership role offering significant autonomy, diverse responsibilities, and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to higher education.