Program Director-Skills

Program Director – Skills

Institutional Transformation Leader | Industry Bridge | Change Agent

1. About the Opportunity

An established educational and social-sector initiative is seeking an experienced Program

Director – Skills to lead the transformation of a Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI)

in Mumbai, into a Centre of Excellence for technical and vocational education.

The role involves driving institutional development, industry partnerships, new-age skill

courses, student employability, infrastructure development and financial sustainability in

collaboration with the institute's Principal, government authorities and industry partners.

2. Role Overview

 Position: Program Director – Skills

 Location: Mumbai

 Employment Type: Full-time

 Role Level: Senior Leadership

 Tenure: Initial appointment of 3 years, renewable based on performance

 Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience

3. Key Responsibilities

A. Institutional Leadership & Governance

 Lead the institute's overall transformation and development initiatives.

 Work closely with the Principal and maintain effective coordination with government

authorities, industry partners and academic institutions.

 Develop annual institutional development plans, performance indicators and review

mechanisms.

 Establish governance structures, reporting frameworks and accountability systems.

B. Course Development & Academic Excellence

 Oversee the introduction of new technical courses, including Electric Vehicle

Technology, Solar PV, Industrial Automation and AI-enabled Manufacturing.

 Develop short-term and fee-based training programmes across technical, digital, green

energy and service sectors.

 Collaborate with industries, academic institutions and skill development bodies to

design industry-relevant curricula.

 Promote smart classrooms, simulation labs, AR/VR tools and experiential learning.

 Improve infrastructure utilisation through suitable training schedules and multiple

shifts.

C. Industry Relations & Placements

 Establish and lead a dedicated Placement and Employment Cell.

 Build strong industry partnerships across manufacturing, technology, automobiles,

pharmaceuticals, logistics, green energy and BFSI.

 Develop industry MoUs, apprenticeships, on-the-job training programmes, campus

drives and job fairs.

 Build placement opportunities in domestic and international markets, particularly

GCC and ASEAN countries.

 Target 70–80% placement or self-employment outcomes within three months of

course completion.

D. Infrastructure Development

 Lead the development and upgradation of workshops, laboratories, classrooms and

campus facilities.

 Oversee the establishment of innovation and incubation facilities.

 Ensure campus safety, hygiene, maintenance and operational standards.

 Facilitate access to modern technical equipment, digital learning resources and

simulation tools.

E. Faculty Development & Team Management

 Recruit, train and develop faculty members and technical trainers.

 Introduce structured Train-the-Trainer programmes with industry participation.

 Establish performance metrics and accountability systems for staff.

 Promote a student-centric, outcome-driven and continuous-improvement culture.

 Introduce soft skills, career counselling, wellness and student development

programmes.

F. Student Welfare, Diversity & Inclusion

 Increase student enrolment and participation in technical education.

 Facilitate safe transport, hostel arrangements and supportive campus facilities.

 Develop scholarships, flexible fee payment options and support systems for

economically disadvantaged students.

 Organise leadership workshops, skill competitions, sports and other student

engagement activities.

 Build an active alumni network for mentoring and placement support.

G. Financial Sustainability & Reporting

 Monitor budgets, expenditure and utilisation of allocated funds.

 Develop revenue streams through fee-based courses, industry-sponsored programmes,

laboratory rentals and incubation services.

 Work towards operational breakeven for fee-based programmes within the projected

timeline.

 Identify CSR partnerships, grants and additional funding opportunities.

 Prepare regular progress reports for leadership and relevant government authorities

4. Candidate Requirements

Educational Qualifications

 Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Business Management or a related

discipline is mandatory.

 MBA, M.Tech or an equivalent postgraduate qualification is preferred.

 Certifications in vocational education, skill development, project management or

public policy are an advantage.

Professional Experience

 15–20 years of professional experience across industry, institutional leadership and/or

vocational education.

 Demonstrated experience in at least one of the following:

 Managing a skilling or vocational training centre.

 Leading a business unit or function with P&L responsibility.

 Managing industry relations, training or placements within an educational institution.

 At least one documented experience of establishing or transforming an institutional

programme from inception.

 Familiarity with the NCVET, NSDC, MSSDS, DVET or Sector Skill Council

ecosystem is strongly preferred.

 Experience working with government authorities, particularly in Maharashtra, is a

significant advantage.

 Prior exposure to Mumbai's industrial belt, including the Andheri–Thane–Navi

Mumbai corridor, is preferred.

Domain Knowledge

 Strong understanding of manufacturing, electrical, IT/digital, green energy and

service-sector skill requirements.

 Familiarity with Electric Vehicles, Solar Energy, Industrial Automation, AI and

Robotics.

 Working knowledge of government skill development schemes, funding mechanisms

and vocational education compliance.

 Ability to develop industry-aligned curricula and financially sustainable training

programmes.

Industry Network & Language Skills

 An established and active network of industry decision-makers in Mumbai's industrial

ecosystem is essential.

 Ability to convert industry relationships into MoUs, apprenticeships, training

partnerships and placement opportunities.

 Experience engaging with government departments and skill development agencies is

highly advantageous.

 Fluency in Marathi is mandatory, with working proficiency in Hindi and English.

5. Key Performance Areas

Performance will be assessed against agreed institutional and programme targets, including:

 Placement & Employability: Achieve 70–80% placement or self-employment

outcomes within three months of course completion.

 Student Enrolment: Improve seat utilisation and increase student intake.

 Course Development: Launch new long-term, short-term and fee-based programmes.

 Infrastructure: Complete planned campus, laboratory and workshop development.

 Industry Partnerships: Expand industry MoUs, apprenticeships and employer

collaborations.

 Financial Sustainability: Improve revenue generation and achieve projected

breakeven for fee-based programmes.

 Faculty Development: Improve trainer capability, faculty retention and student

satisfaction.

6. Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a senior professional with a combination of institutional leadership,

industry relationships, vocational education exposure, business development and operational

management experience.

The candidate should be capable of working with government stakeholders, building

employer partnerships, improving placement outcomes and transforming an existing technical

education institution into an industry-aligned, financially sustainable Centre of Excellence.

Pay: ₹150,000.00 - ₹200,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person