Academic Strategy and Partnerships Advisor

Academic Strategy & Partnerships Advisor (India)

Fractional / Part-Time | Higher Education | Global Academic & Research Ecosystems

A fractional advisory role focused on academic outcomes, institutional approvals, and long-term research partnerships.

About the Opportunity

NexSphere Edu Labs is building a long-term global academic, research, and innovation ecosystem connecting Indian universities, international universities, and industry partners across domains such as health, technology, sustainability, and human development. Alongside curriculum-embedded international programs, we are developing research alliances, joint academic initiatives, and institution-to-institution partnerships designed to scale over multiple years.

We are seeking an Academic Strategy & Partnerships Advisor to support:

• The academic positioning and adoption of our programs within Indian universities, and
• The development of strategic academic and research connections with foreign universities and global partners.

This is a fractional, advisory role intended for individuals who enjoy building systems, shaping institutional decisions, and creating long-term academic valuenot transactional or agent-led activity.

The Role

As an Academic Strategy & Partnerships Advisor, you will act as a bridge between academic strategy, institutional decision-making, and ecosystem development.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Engaging with Indian universities (Deans, HoDs, Academic Councils) to position curriculum-embedded and substitution-based academic programs
• Supporting academic alignment, equivalence, assessment, and approval processes
• Clearly articulating international immersion as a formal academic substitution, not a study tour
• Contributing to the growth of a larger research and innovation ecosystem, connecting:Indian universities, Foreign universities, Industry and applied research partners
• Supporting partnership conversations that progress toward:

1. MoUs / MoAs
2. Joint academic or research initiatives
3. Faculty collaboration and student research pipelines

• Acting as an academic sounding board for:

1. program design
2. research positioning
3. partnership frameworks

This is not a sales, marketing, or agent-management role.

It is a strategy, trust-building, and partnership-enablement role.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

Success is defined by tangible academic and institutional progress, such as:

• Formal academic conversations initiated with Deans / HoDs / Academic Councils
• Institution-specific academic substitution or equivalence frameworks drafted
• Clear approval pathways identified and documented
• Partnerships progressing toward pilots, MoUs, or scheduled cohorts
• Meaningful introductions to foreign universities or research partners that lead to active collaboration
• Candidates who value visible progress, accountability, and institutional outcomes will thrive in this role.

Who This Role Is For

This opportunity is ideal for individuals who:

• Have academic or senior higher-education experience
• Have worked with or alongside:

Curriculum Development

Internationalisation

Research collaboration

Accreditation or quality assurance.

• Are comfortable engaging with senior academic leadership
• Understand how Indian universities approve programs and partnerships
• Have exposure to international academic or research environments
• Are motivated by building long-term academic and research ecosystems, not honorary titles

Suitable profiles may include:

• Academics with international teaching or research exposure
• Former international office or research strategy staff
• Postdocs or adjunct faculty seeking fractional advisory roles
• Higher-education consultants with strong academic grounding

This role suits individuals who value accountability, momentum, and institutional outcomes, not purely observational or passive advisory roles.

Engagement Model

• Fractional / part-time advisory engagement
• Structured around clearly defined academic and partnership outcomes
• Initial engagement of 36 months, with continuation based on demonstrated progress
• Retainer-based with outcome-linked upside

Why This Opportunity Is Distinct

• You will contribute to building a scalable international research and academic ecosystem
• You will influence institutional strategy, not just individual programs
• You will work across India and global academic networks
• You will be involved early, helping shape frameworks that evolve over multiple years

A Humble Request

This opportunity is specifically designed for individuals with an academic or senior higher-education background.

We kindly request that professionals from pure sales, marketing, agent management, or unrelated corporate roles refrain from applying, as the nature of this role requires academic credibility, institutional understanding, and experience working within university systems.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and respect for this boundary, which helps us engage meaningfully with candidates for whom this role is genuinely suited.

How to Express Interest

If this opportunity resonates with you, please email [Confidential Information] with:

A brief introduction

Your academic / higher-education background

Your experience with institutional, research, or international partnerships

In order to facilitate a considered academic review, we request that all expressions of interest be submitted via email only.