Industry Academia Partnership Lead

Job Description

1. Job Details

Job Title Industry–Academia Partnership Lead

Department Industry & Corporate Relations

Location Goa

Reporting To Director / University Leadership – WPU Goa

2. Job Purpose

Build and lead WPU Goa's industry-academia partnership ecosystem — connecting the university to industry bodies, corporates,

and sector networks, and translating those relationships into tangible opportunities for students, faculty, and the institution's long-

term growth.

3. Key Responsibilities

● Partnership Strategy: design and drive a comprehensive industry-engagement strategy that positions WPU Goa as a

preferred academic partner for industry.

● Industry Body Engagement: build and manage active relationships with apex industry bodies such as CII, FICCI,

NASSCOM, and regional chambers of commerce to unlock partnership opportunities.

● Corporate Outreach: identify, approach, and onboard corporate partners for internships, live projects, guest lectures,

placements, and sponsored research.

● MOU & Alliance Management: negotiate and manage MOUs, alliances, and collaboration agreements with industry

partners, ensuring measurable outcomes.

● Ecosystem Building: connect the university to sector-specific networks, startups, and industry forums relevant to WPU

Goa's academic programs.

● Internal Alignment: work closely with Schools, Placements, and Academic teams to translate industry relationships into

curriculum inputs, projects, and student opportunities.

● Events & Visibility: represent WPU Goa at industry forums, conferences, and networking events to build the university's

brand among industry stakeholders.

● Reporting & Tracking: track partnership outcomes and report the value delivered from industry engagements to

university leadership.

4. Person Specification & Key Competencies

● Strong, established network across industry bodies (CII, FICCI, and similar platforms) and corporate leadership circles.

● Proven track record of building and closing industry partnerships — this is an industry-origin role, not an academic one.

● Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills, with the ability to open doors at a senior / CXO level.

● High ownership and entrepreneurial drive to build a new function from the ground up.

● Strong communication and presentation skills to represent the university externally.

● Ability to translate industry relationships into structured institutional value — curriculum inputs, placements, and research

collaboration.

Minimum Qualification & Experience

● Graduate / Postgraduate in any discipline; MBA preferred.

● 10+ years of industry experience, including demonstrated work with or through industry bodies such as CII, FICCI, or

similar national/regional platforms.

● Academic or teaching experience is not required — candidates must come from industry with proven partnership-building

work.

● A strong, active network of corporate and industry-body contacts that can be leveraged from day one.

5. Communication & Working Relationship

Internal External

● University Leadership

● Schools & Program Chairs

● Placements & Career Services

● Industry Bodies (CII, FICCI, NASSCOM, etc.)

● Corporates & Startups

● Sector