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JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: Associate Director – Academics (Education Programs) Location: Mumbai Employment Type: Full-time About the Role We are looking for an Associate Director – Academics to support the design, delivery, and academic governance of Doctorate in Business Administration (Education) programs. This role sits at the intersection of doctoral research, executive education, and large-scale program delivery , ensuring that Education programs meet university standards while remaining practically relevant for senior professionals. The role requires a strong grounding in research design, doctoral supervision, and academic operations , along with the ability to translate complex research frameworks into structured, scalable learning experiences. Program Portfolio You will work across a portfolio of doctoral and research-driven programs, including: Education programs across specializations (AI, Strategy, Leadership, etc.) Executive doctoral tracks and research certifications Research methodology and dissertation pathways Capstone and thesis-driven programs in collaboration with global universities Key Responsibilities 1. Academic Strategy and Program Design Support the design and structuring of Education programs aligned to university standards Translate doctoral-level learning outcomes into clear research journeys and deliverables Work with university partners to design research-focused curricula (quant, qual, mixed methods) Ensure strong alignment between coursework, thesis progression, and final dissertation outcomes 2. Research Quality and Academic Governance Operationalize academic rigor across topic selection, proposal development, and dissertation stages Build and implement frameworks for: Research feasibility Methodological rigor Data alignment and validity Standardize rubrics for: Topic approval Proposal defense Final dissertation evaluation Drive grader and supervisor calibration for consistent academic quality 3. University Partnership and Compliance Act as a key academic SPOC for Education-related coordination with university partners Ensure all research processes comply with university policies and doctoral standards Support dissertation reviews, audits, and academic reporting Track learner progression across key milestones (proposal, defense, submission) 4. Thesis Supervision and SME Management Manage onboarding and training of thesis supervisors, research mentors, and graders Create structured guidelines for: Dissertation supervision Feedback frameworks Evaluation standards Conduct periodic calibration sessions to ensure consistency across supervisors Define hiring criteria for research-focused SMEs 5. Teaching and Research Enablement Facilitate sessions on: Research design and methodology Literature reviews and academic writing Data collection and analysis strategies Guide learners in converting research into boardroom-relevant insights and applied outcomes Support thesis supervision touchpoints and research clinics Encourage publication and conference participation (where applicable) 6. Content and Delivery Improvement Review and enhance all research-related content (methodology, writing, analysis) Improve learner experience across the doctoral journey through: Structured templates Research playbooks Milestone-based guidance Work with product and content teams to integrate AI-enabled research tools and workflows Build scalable systems for research tracking and evaluation 7. Learner Success and Experience Monitor learner progress across key research milestones Identify risks in thesis completion (topic feasibility, data challenges, scope issues) Conduct cohort check-ins and research guidance sessions Improve completion rates through structured interventions and support systems Required Qualifications Education PhD in Management, Business, or a related field (Required) Strong exposure to research methodology (quantitative and qualitative) Prior academic teaching or doctoral supervision experience preferred Experience 6–10 years of experience in academia, research, or EdTech Experience in: Doctoral program delivery Thesis supervision or research mentoring Academic operations or program management Familiarity with university partnerships and academic compliance Core Competencies Research and Academic Expertise Research design (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods) Literature review and academic writing frameworks Data collection strategies and feasibility assessment Dissertation structuring and evaluation Program and Operational Skills Academic program design and structuring Rubric creation and evaluation frameworks Stakeholder management (universities, faculty, internal teams) Process design for scalable delivery Tools and Exposure (Preferred) Statistical tools (SPSS, R, Python – working familiarity) Academic databases and referencing tools Exposure to AI tools for research and writing augmentation Preferred Qualifications Experience working with doctoral programs Prior role as Assistant/Associate Professor or equivalent Experience in EdTech or online executive education Exposure to global academic standards and accreditation frameworks