Assistant Manager – Strategic Initiatives

DESIGNATION - Assistant Manager – Strategic Initiatives DEPARTMENT - Strategic Initiatives Location : Gurgaon – On Campus Position Type : Assistant Manager Employment Type : Full-time Department : Strategy, Planning & Operational Excellence Reports to : Head Strategic Initiatives POSITION SUMMARY The Strategic Initiatives FTE is responsible for supporting the planning, development, and execution of high-priority initiatives that align with the institution's long-term vision, mission, and strategic goals. This role acts as a partner to senior leadership, managing cross-functional projects, fostering innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring accountability in meeting organizational targets. ABOUT THE INSTITUTION We are a premier, forward-thinking Business School committed to academic excellence, innovation, and developing the next generation of global business leaders.

Our institution combines rigorous academic programming with industry-relevant experiential learning, cutting-edge research, and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. As we enter an ambitious phase of growth and transformation, we are seeking a dynamic, results-driven professional to be a part of our Strategic Initiatives portfolio. POSITION OVERVIEW The Assistant Manager - Strategic Initiatives serves as a key institutional resource responsible for supporting & driving the Business School's strategic agenda from conception to execution.

This role sits at the intersection of academic vision, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement, working directly with senior leadership to identify, design, prioritize, and implement high-impact institutional programs, partnerships, and transformation projects. The ideal candidate should be an exceptional strategist and project manager who combines analytical rigor with strong interpersonal skills, thrives in a dynamic academic environment, and has a demonstrated ability to translate complex strategic ideas into actionable, measurable results. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1.

Strategic Planning & Execution • Support the annual and multi-year strategic planning process for the Business School, including environmental scanning, competitive analysis, stakeholder management and plan documentation • Translate the School's vision, mission, and strategic priorities into executable roadmaps with clear milestones, KPIs, and accountability frameworks • Monitor progress against strategic goals, prepare dashboards and scorecards, and report to Strategy Head • Conduct SWOT, PESTLE, and benchmarking analyses to identify opportunities and threats in the higher education landscape 2. Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement • Identify and plan strategic partnerships with corporates, industry bodies, Government agencies and non-profit organizations • Build and maintain a robust stakeholder engagement framework ensuring sustained relationships with recruiters, and community partners • Represent the Business School at conferences, forums, and networking events to enhance institutional visibility and forge new alliances • Coordinate with Strategy Head to align strategic initiatives with engagement priorities 3. New Initiatives & Program Innovation • Identify and develop new initiatives aligned with market demand and institutional strengths • Manage the end-to-end launch process for new initiatives • Work on innovation, and incubation initiatives, including startup labs, hackathons, and mentorship programs. 4.

Project Management & Cross-Functional Coordination • Serve as the central project management office (PMO) for all major institutional projects and transformation initiatives • Develop and maintain project plans, budgets, timelines, risk registers, and stakeholder communication plans for all strategic projects • Coordinate across academic departments, administrative units, and external partners to ensure alignment and timely delivery • Identify and resolve project bottlenecks, resource conflicts, and dependencies proactively • Maintain a portfolio view of all ongoing strategic initiatives and provide regular status updates to senior leadership 5. Research, Intelligence & Thought Leadership • Monitor global trends in management education, technology, and the future of work and translate insights into strategic recommendations • Contribute to the School's digital presence and content strategy in collaboration with communications and marketing teams 6. Community Engagement • Facilitate community engagement and social impact programs that enhance the School's societal contribution and brand 7.

Communication & Change Management • Develop and execute communication strategies for strategic initiatives to ensure buy-in from faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders • Support change management efforts for major institutional transformations, ensuring smooth adoption and minimal disruption • Manage the institutional calendar of strategic events — including convocation, leadership summits, industry days, and alumni events QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE Essential: • Master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or related field from a recognized institution (Degree from an accredited Business School preferred) • Minimum 2-4 years of progressive experience in strategy, management consulting, BFSI, FMCG/CD domain. • Proven track record of leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects from initiation to successful completion • Strong analytical and research skills with ability to synthesize data into actionable insights • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — able to prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and policy documents • Demonstrated experience in partnership development and stakeholder management • Strong MS Office/Google Workspace proficiency — particularly PowerPoint/Slides, Excel/Sheets