Job Title

Applications should be submitted to: DESCRIPTIONAssociate Director — Strategic Partnerships & Growth (India) — AuthenticaDepartment: Strategic Partnerships & Growth Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Location: Pune, India (office-based with significant domestic and occasional international travel) Team: Individual Contributor with support from Operations and Marketing teams Effective Date: FY 2026-27 (May 2026)About AuthenticaAuthentica is a Pune-headquartered experiential learning and global education company specialising in study abroad programmes, global internships, executive education, and professional development. We serve 70+ university partners across the US, Canada, and Australia, operating programmes in 30+ countries. Our clients include Stanford, Dartmouth, NYU, and other leading institutions.We manage flagship government-sponsored executive education programmes including the UAE-India Leaders Program, delivered in partnership with the National Projects Office (NPO) under the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the Zayed Education Foundation.We are on an ambitious growth trajectory targeting Rs. 60 CR revenue in FY 2026-27 and an IPO by 2030. This role is critical to achieving that vision.Role SummaryThis is a business development role at its core, with a mandate to build and scale Authentica's institutional footprint across India — converting university partnerships, corporate L&D relationships, and high school networks into a reliable pipeline of programme participants and revenue.Your north-star metric is signed partnerships and partnership-sourced pipeline. You will own the full BD cycle — from prospect identification and campus visits through agreement negotiation, credit approval navigation, and onboarding — while working closely with Programme Design and Marketing to ensure Authentica's offerings are positioned compellingly for the Indian market.This is a high-travel, relationship-intensive role that demands commercial sharpness, institutional credibility, and the ability to build trust with Vice Chancellors, L&D heads, and school principals alike. As the business scales, the successful candidate can expect to grow into a leadership position overseeing a team of partnership managers — with a path to Vice President, India Partnerships.Key Responsibilities1. Partnership Development & PipelineIdentify, engage, and sign partnership agreements with Indian universities, high schools, and corporate L&D teamsBuild and maintain a pipeline of 50+ institutional prospects across all three segments, tracked in Zoho CRMIdentify and onboard channel partners (education consultants, aggregators, corporate training intermediaries) to extend Authentica's reachDevelop partnership playbooks, pitch templates, and onboarding materials for each segment2. Agreements & Credit ApprovalNegotiate and close partnership agreements, MOUs, and affiliate arrangements with institutions and channel partnersNavigate university academic approval processes to secure credit recognition for Authentica programmes (US school of record already in place)Manage the legal and commercial aspects of partnership agreements in collaboration with the CEO and Operations team3. Programme Design & Product-Market FitAdapt existing Authentica programmes (or co-create new ones) to meet the specific needs of Indian market segments — pricing, duration, academic integration, and outcomes framingWork with the Programme Design team to develop proposals that resonate with Indian institutional decision-makersConduct ongoing competitive analysis (EF Education, AIESEC, WorldStrides, CIS Abroad, ISA, and Indian operators) to keep Authentica's positioning differentiated4. Relationship Development & Market PresenceAttend education conferences and industry events (FICCI HE, DIDAC, CII Education Summit, QS events, Symbiosis conferences)Visit campuses and corporate offices to meet Vice Chancellors, Deans, International Office heads, L&D leaders, and school principalsConduct webinars, information sessions, and presentations to prospective partners and their students/employeesBuild relationships with key industry associations (EPSI, SEPC, AIU, AICTE, EdCIL) to enhance deal flow and institutional credibility5. Marketing CollaborationPartner with Marketing to design and execute B2B campaigns targeting institutional decision-makersProvide market intelligence and content inputs for case studies, thought leadership, and social mediaCo-develop pitch decks and programme brochures tailored to the Indian marketContribute to CRM data hygiene, lead scoring, and pipeline reportingSegment ScopeUniversities & Colleges — Study abroad offices, international relations departments, faculty coordinators; semester and short-term study abroad, faculty-led programmes, internship placements; focus on credit-bearing programmes and NEP 2020 internationalisation mandates.High Schools (Grades 9–12) — Principals, counsellors, and parent communities at CBSE, ICSE, IB, and Cambridge schools; short-term cultural immersions, leadership programmes, global citizenship camps, and career exploration trips.Corporates & Professional Development — L&D heads, HR directors, and CSR teams at mid-to-large Indian companies; executive education immersions, cross-cultural leadership programmes, and sustainability-focused professional development.Required QualificationsEducationMBA or Master's degree in Business, Marketing, International Education, or a related fieldExperience6–10 years in B2B partnership development, institutional sales, or business development — ideally in education, ed-tech, study abroad, corporate training, or experiential learningDemonstrated track record of signing institutional agreements and building a revenue-generating partnership pipelineStrong understanding of the Indian higher education ecosystem: university decision-making structures, credit transfer processes, and regulatory bodies (UGC, AICTE, NEP 2020)Existing network within Indian universities, schools, or corporate L&D functionsExperience with CRM systems (Zoho, Salesforce, HubSpot, or equivalent)Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Hindi; additional Indian languages a significant plusSkills & CompetenciesConsultative selling approach — understanding institutional needs and positioning Authentica's programmes as solutionsStrong commercial acumen: structuring agreements, navigating credit approval processes, and negotiating MOUsStrategic thinking about market positioning against competitors like EF, AIESEC, and WorldStridesExceptional networking abilities across hierarchical levels — from community leaders to C-suite executivesDeep familiarity with Indian institutional culture, regional business etiquette, and relationship-first partnership dynamicsAbility to adapt experiential programme concepts to different market segments and institutional requirementsSelf-directed: able to manage your own pipeline and prioritise across multiple segments autonomouslyWork ExpectationsHours: Full-time (40–45 hrs/week) with flexibility for international stakeholder time zonesTravel: Extensive travel across India (50%+) for campus visits, corporate meetings, school outreach, and conferences; occasional international travel for programme familiarisation and key partner engagementCollaboration: Works closely with Sales, Programme Design, and Operations to ensure signed partnerships translate into well-scoped, operationally viable programmesProbation: 3 monthsCompensation & BenefitsRs. 12,00,000 – Rs. 18,00,000 per annum (Fixed + Performance Bonus)All official travel expenses coveredProfessional development and networking budgetAccess to Authentica's global partner networkOpportunity to lead prestigious programmes of strategic national importanceESOP eligibility after 24 monthsHow to ApplySend your application to with:CV/resume with detailed partnership or business development experienceCover letter addressing: (1) your experience building institutional partnerships in education or a related sector; (2) your existing network within Indian universities, schools, or corporates; (3) what excites you about experiential learningReferences from previous supervisorsApplications should be submitted to: is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. 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