Project Manager (Strategic Partnerships & Projects)

Job Description - Project Manager (Strategic Partnerships & Projects)
Position - Project Manager – Strategic Partnerships & Projects
Location - Pune
Reporting To - Director – Learning Transformation
About the Role
We are looking for a dynamic and execution-focused Project Manager to lead end-to-end implementation of strategic collaboration projects across government bodies, international organizations, educational institutions, industry partners, and other agencies.
The role requires exceptional stakeholder management, strong communication skills, meticulous project planning, and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure timely and successful project delivery.
Candidates with a technical background and prior experience in the education, skilling, or training sector will be preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Project Planning & Execution
Manage the complete lifecycle of collaboration projects from proposal handover to successful closure.
Prepare detailed project plans, timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and risk mitigation plans.
Ensure projects are delivered within agreed scope, timelines, quality standards, and budgets.
Monitor project progress and proactively resolve execution challenges.
Stakeholder Management
Serve as the primary point of contact for government departments, international organizations, educational institutions, NGOs, corporates, and other partner agencies.
Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Conduct regular review meetings and present project updates to leadership and clients.
Ensure effective communication across all project stakeholders.
Cross-functional Coordination
Coordinate with Curriculum, Training, Technology, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Administration teams for seamless project execution.
Ensure all project deliverables are completed as per agreed commitments.
Facilitate collaboration between multiple internal and external teams.
Documentation & Compliance
Maintain comprehensive project documentation including project charters, MoUs, schedules, meeting minutes, progress reports, and closure reports.
Track contractual obligations and ensure compliance with partner requirements.
Prepare periodic MIS reports and project dashboards for management.
Quality & Delivery
Monitor project KPIs and ensure high-quality execution.
Identify project risks, dependencies, and bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions.
Drive continuous process improvement across project execution.
Client Engagement
Support proposal discussions, project kick-offs, reviews, and implementation workshops.
Travel, when required, for client meetings, partner interactions, workshops, and project reviews across India and internationally.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Management, or a related field.
MBA is an added advantage.
Experience
8-10 years of experience in project or program management.
Experience managing projects involving Government departments, international agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, or corporate partners.
Experience in the Education, EdTech, Skill Development, Higher Education, or Training sector is highly preferred.
Technical background with understanding of IT, Digital Learning, Cloud, AI, Cybersecurity, or related technologies will be an advantage.
Required Skills
Project Management
Project planning and scheduling
Risk and issue management
Budget and resource coordination
Project documentation and reporting
Multi-project management
Communication & Stakeholder Management
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong presentation and negotiation skills
Ability to interact confidently with senior government officials, international partners, academic leaders, and corporate stakeholders
Relationship management and conflict resolution
Technical & Analytical Skills
Good understanding of technology-enabled education and digital learning ecosystems
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint
Experience with project management tools such as MS Project, Jira, Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar platforms
Personal Attributes
Highly organized and detail-oriented
Strong ownership and accountability
Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Self-driven with excellent follow-through
Collaborative team player
Willingness to travel as required
Preferred Experience
Managed national or international education or skilling projects.
Worked with ministries, government departments, funding agencies, or international organizations.
Experience coordinating cross-cultural and geographically distributed teams.
Exposure to AI, Digital Learning or emerging technology initiatives is desirable.
Success Metrics
On-time delivery of projects
Client satisfaction and stakeholder engagement
Achievement of project milestones and KPIs
Quality of documentation and compliance
Effective cross-functional collaboration
Successful execution of strategic partnership initiatives

Work arrangement
No