Academic Administration Associate/Senior Associate

About IIHS Academic Programmes and Schools

India’s urban transition presents both immense opportunities for economic growth and employment, alongside significant challenges like persistent inequality and environmental degradation. The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) aims to cultivate a new generation of urban practitioners to navigate and shape this complex transition through its academic programmes.

These programmes are supported by five interdisciplinary Schools: Environment and Sustainability (SES), Systems and Infrastructure (SSI), Economic Development (SED), Human Development (SHD), and Governance (SoG). Each school focuses on a unique transformational theme, with integrated teaching, research, and practice projects addressing a broad spectrum of urban issues, from livelihoods and infrastructure to climate change and governance.

Job Description: Academic Administration Associate/Senior Associate

IIHS is seeking a proactive and process-oriented individual to manage the administrative processes for the design and delivery of Under-graduate degree programmes at the IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University. This role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing curriculum design to facilitating the seamless launch and ongoing delivery of academic programmes, requiring close coordination with various institutional teams.

This position integrates both academic and operational coordination, offering a unique opportunity to collaborate with faculty, researchers, students, and staff within a dynamic, practice-oriented learning environment.

This can be either a regular position or an 11-month contractual engagement, renewable upon mutual consent, with potential for conversion to a regular position.

Activities and Tasks

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Process Management – Curriculum Research and Development:

• Assisting in managing the curriculum research and design process for proposed Undergraduate degree programmes.
• Coordinating between subject matter experts, faculty, the registrar’s office, and various institutional teams during curriculum design.
• Supporting logistics, planning, and facilitation of events, convenings, and immersion visits for curriculum development and launch.
• Coordinating with institutional teams to manage budgets, logistics, communication, and documentation.

Academic Administration:

• Assisting in managing administrative processes for Undergraduate programmes, including electives and dissertation terms.
• Supporting day-to-day academic operations, including management, coordination, and data handling.
• Managing multiple calendars for academic classes, curricular and extracurricular activities, and IIHS events.
• Providing logistical support for field visits, labs, guest lectures, and workshops.
• Coordinating extracurricular activities and alumni engagement with relevant university teams.
• Liaising with the University placement/internship cell for student career development.

Documentation, Reporting, and Record Maintenance:

• Assisting in documentation and maintaining internal records for student progression, faculty data, curriculum tracking, feedback, rankings, and accreditation.
• Preparing reports/documentation for University events/meetings and other quality compliance.
• Coordinating with University teams for effective management of academic infrastructure and personnel.
• Assisting in institutional branding initiatives, including website updates, newsletters, and marketing collaterals.
• Overseeing programme budgets and routine financial matters, including vendor management, basic book-keeping, purchase requests, invoice responses, and ERP cash processes.
• Liaising between the Programme Office, other IIHS teams (e.g., Career Development, Communications and Design), and external partners.

Institutional Support:

• Providing support to other IIHS activities, including academics, research, training, practice, and operations.
• Participating in institution-building activities and carrying out assigned tasks.
• Willingness to travel for IIHS work within or outside India as needed.

Structure and Reporting

This position reports to the Senior Manager – Systems and Infrastructure (SSI) and requires effective collaboration with diverse internal teams and external individuals/organisations, as well as students.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate should possess:

• A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Education, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience; or a Bachelor’s degree with 7-8 years of relevant experience.
• A background in disciplines aligned with IIHS’s focus areas and exposure to interdisciplinary teaching-learning environments (advantageous but not mandatory).
• Experience in academic operations (student/faculty administration, event coordination, institutional compliance) in higher education (added advantage).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with students, faculty, and administrative staff.
• Proficiency in project management (planning, tracking, follow-through), basic financial management, and data management.
• Prior experience in supporting communication and outreach activities (advantage).
• Experience in event coordination and logistics (useful).
• Willingness to travel and adaptability to dynamic institutional needs.

This offer is exclusive; other professional assignments with potential conflict of interest with IIHS cannot be undertaken.

Location

This position is based in Bengaluru and may involve travel to other locations in India.

Key skills/competency

• Academic Administration
• Curriculum Development
• Program Management
• Project Management
• Data Management
• Financial Management
• Event Coordination
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Higher Education Operations
• Interpersonal Communication