upGrad
Program Manager - Degrees
upGradIndia1 day ago
Full-timeProject Management, Information Technology

Job Description: Program Manager – Strategic Alliances


Role Overview:


The Program Manager – Strategic Initiatives will play a pivotal role in driving critical high-growth projects and operational excellence within our University Alliances and Business Development teams. This individual will manage strategic initiatives, coordinate cross-functional efforts, streamline operations, and act as the primary liaison with senior stakeholders across universities and internal teams. The role demands strong analytical thinking, proactive problem-solving, and exceptional stakeholder management to deliver measurable outcomes and significantly enhance organizational efficiency.


Key Responsibilities:


  • Drive Strategic Projects: Lead and execute high-impact initiatives aimed at scaling university partnerships, driving growth, and improving top-line performance.
  • Operational Excellence: Develop, document, and implement robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) to address operational challenges.
  • Cross-functional Leadership: Coordinate and align internal stakeholders from Sales, Marketing, Academics, Product, Finance, and Operations to deliver on shared goals.
  • Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary interface with senior university stakeholders, ensuring alignment, building trust, and maintaining successful, long-term relationships.
  • Performance Management: Regularly monitor, analyze, and report key business metrics to ensure initiatives meet defined targets, proactively identifying new opportunities for improvement.
  • Issue and Crisis Management: Triage and independently manage escalations, resolving operational bottlenecks swiftly and efficiently, while escalating critical issues appropriately.
  • Market and Industry Awareness: Stay informed on higher education trends, regulatory developments, and competitor movements to strategically guide initiatives.
  • Administrative & Coordination Support: Manage logistics, meeting preparations, and scheduling related to strategic meetings and engagements, ensuring comprehensive follow-up and execution.
  • Autonomous Execution: Own projects end-to-end with minimal supervision, navigating ambiguity with a results-driven approach.


Who We’re Looking For:


  1. Experience: 3+ years of experience in program/project management, business consulting, strategy, or operations, ideally within education, B2B, or high-value consumer tech sectors.
  2. Education: Graduate/MBA from a top-tier institution like IIT, IIM, BITS.
  3. Skills & Attributes:
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
  • High ownership and ability to thrive in ambiguity.
  • Bias for action with a results-driven mindset.
  • Passionate about education and impact-led work.


Why Join Us?


  • Opportunity to shape the future of online higher education in India.
  • Collaborate with leading academic institutions and strategic thought leaders.
  • Thrive in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment offering significant autonomy.
  • Be part of a purpose-driven company that values innovation, execution excellence, and scalability.