Authentica Program Manager

Applications should be submitted to: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/APzuHz

Program Manager — Authentica

Department: Program Delivery & Operations

Location: Pune, India (office-based with international travel)

Reports To: Head of Operations

Team: Individual Contributor

Effective Date: FY 2026-27 (May 2026)

About Authentica

Authentica 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 Summary

The Program Manager is accountable for end-to-end delivery of Authentica's programs — from proposal and planning through on-ground execution and post-program debrief. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who takes pride in tight logistics, anticipating what can go wrong, and executing with precision in demanding international contexts. Your north-star metric is participant experience and program quality.

You will join a lean, capable operations team delivering high-quality programming across global destinations. This isn't a desk role with occasional travel — you will be on the ground regularly, managing real situations in real time, representing Authentica's standards at every touchpoint.

Candidates with a business school background will find opportunities to contribute beyond core operations — supporting business development, marketing, and scaling of Authentica's standard semester programs, global internships, and India Outbound portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Program Design & Proposals

• Evaluate service providers and community partners; negotiate rates and secure contracts
• Build accurate costing sheets and translate them into proposals for institutional partners
• Design itineraries that balance academic rigour with genuine cultural immersion
• Maintain program templates, costing frameworks, and proposal libraries for reuse

Planning & Pre-Departure

• Own the end-to-end planning process: resources, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and contingencies
• Develop a comprehensive safety and risk management plan for every program
• Coordinate across vendors, partners, and internal teams before departure
• Manage program budgets and track expenditure against approved costing sheets
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and liability standards for each destination

On-Ground Delivery

• Travel with groups and lead on-the-ground execution — reception, orientation, daily programme management
• Manage service providers and local partners in real time; adapt as needed
• Handle contingencies calmly, keeping participants safe and stakeholders informed
• Serve as primary point of contact for faculty directors and institutional coordinators during delivery
• Collect and document participant feedback throughout for post-program evaluation

Post-Program Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Compile post-program reports: NPS scores, budget reconciliation, incident summaries, and learnings
• Conduct structured debriefs with clients and internal teams
• Maintain alumni engagement touchpoints and support re-booking conversations

Systems & Reporting

• Maintain program tracking on Monday.com across all active programs
• Proactively flag resource constraints, budget variances, and delivery risks to the Head of Operations

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline (required)
• Business school background (BBA/MBA) or postgraduate degree in International Relations, Education Management, or Hospitality (preferred)

Experience

• 3–5 years managing operations and partner relationships
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-vendor projects
• Experience with institutional clients — universities, government agencies, or corporates
• International stakeholder exposure is a strong plus

Skills & Competencies

Operational & Analytical Excellence

• Exceptional organisational skills with strong project management capability
• Analytical enough to build solid costings, synthesise data, and write clear reports
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-changing situations — you solve problems, not just escalate
• Proficient with project management tools (Monday.com, Zoho, or equivalent)
• Budget management and financial reconciliation skills

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Strong written and verbal English communication; multilingual skills a genuine plus
• Confident facilitator for orientations, briefings, and debrief sessions
• Culturally intelligent across academic, government, corporate, and community contexts
• Relationship builder who earns trust quickly; emotional intelligence with diverse stakeholders

Personal Qualities

• Genuine passion for cross-cultural education and international engagement
• High ownership mindset: you follow through, take accountability, and care about the details
• Entrepreneurial instinct: you spot opportunities and act without waiting to be asked
• Physical and mental resilience for high-travel, high-pressure delivery environments
• Collaborative team player who contributes to a culture of continuous improvement

Work Expectations

• Hours: Full-time (40–45 hrs/week); flexibility required during peak program periods
• Travel: Significant domestic and international travel for programme delivery, recce visits, and partner meetings across GCC and APAC markets
• Collaboration: Internal (CEO, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Academic) and external (faculty directors, university partners, vendors, DMCs)
• Probation: 3 months

Compensation & Benefits

• Rs. 7,00,000 – Rs. 10,00,000 per annum (Fixed + Performance Bonus)
• All official travel expenses covered
• Professional development budget
• Budget for professional networking and relationship-building
• Access to Authentica's global network of partners and thought leaders
• Opportunity to lead prestigious programmes of strategic national importance
• ESOP eligibility after 24 months

How to Apply

Send your application with:

• CV/resume with detailed operational management experience
• Cover letter addressing: (1) experience managing complex, multi-vendor international programmes; (2) a specific programme you owned end-to-end — what went wrong and how you handled it; (3) what excites you about this work
• References from previous supervisors
• Optional but strongly encouraged: a sample proposal, costing sheet, itinerary, or post-program report

Applications should be submitted to: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/APzuHz

Authentica is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.Authentica Ventures Pvt. Ltd. | #8 NCL-B Colony, Panchavati, Pashan, Pune 411008 | www.authentica.com