Deputy General Manager- Product Management(industry Engagement & Employer Partnerships)

Post / Job Title: Deputy General Manager- Product Management

Role: Industry Engagement & Employer Partnerships

Job Type: Full-Time

Reporting to: CEO

No. of Positions: 1

Department: Product Management

Location: Bangalore

Role Overview: The Product Manager – Industry Engagement & Employer Partnerships will be responsible for building and institutionalizing strong relationships with industry to ensure that BITS Pilani Digital programs remain deeply aligned with evolving technology and techno-management practice. This is a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) role. The role requires a seasoned professional with strong industry credibility, the ability to engage senior corporate stakeholders, and experience structuring meaningful collaboration models between academia and industry.

The individual will enable:

Live industry projects within programs

Practitioner-led modules

Co-created certificates

Strategic employer partnerships

Branded collaboration initiatives

This is a high-visibility external-facing role critical to portfolio relevance and brand positioning.

Principal Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Core Mandate

Build and manage strategic employer partnerships.

Integrate real-world industry exposure into programs.

Enable co-creation of certificate programs with leading companies.

Position BITS Pilani Digital as a credible industry-aligned academic partner.

Employer & Industry Relationship Development

Identify and engage leading technology companies, product firms, consulting organizations, and global capability centers (GCCs).

Build long-term relationships with senior stakeholders (HR Heads, L&D Heads, Business Leaders, CTOs).

Develop structured partnership frameworks (MoUs, advisory participation, co-branded modules).

Maintain a portfolio of active employer collaborations.

Program-Level Industry Integration

Secure live industry projects for capstones and assignments.

Facilitate practitioner-led masterclasses and guest lectures.

Enable industry problem statements for student cohorts.

Integrate employer feedback into curriculum evolution.

Ensure visible industry participation across degree and certificate programs.

Co-Creation of Certificates & Branded Offerings

Identify opportunities for co-branded certificate programs.

Work with corporate partners to design application-oriented modules.

Align employer skill needs with program structure.

Support business case development for new industry-linked programs.

Advisory & Ecosystem Development

Establish and manage Industry Advisory Panels.

Organize roundtables and industry forums.

Represent BITS Pilani Digital in technology and workforce conferences.

Strengthen brand credibility in technology ecosystems.

Skill and Ability Requirements

Industry Credibility

Ability to engage at CXO / senior leadership level.

Strong professional network in technology and consulting ecosystem.

Executive presence and relationship maturity.

Strategic Thinking

Ability to identify collaboration opportunities aligned with program strategy.

Commercial and partnership structuring capability.

Communication Excellence

Strong articulation and negotiation skills.

Ability to represent BITS Pilani Digital in high-stakes conversations.

Ownership & Drive

Self-driven Individual Contributor.

Comfortable building structures from scratch.

Strong follow-through and relationship continuity.

Qualification & Experience

Required Experience

10–15 years of professional experience.

Strong experience in industry engagement, partnerships, corporate relations, consulting, or business development.

Experience engaging senior corporate stakeholders.

Exposure to technology sector hiring ecosystems strongly preferred.

Experience structuring strategic collaborations (MoUs, knowledge partnerships, advisory

boards).

Educational Qualification

Bachelor’s degree required.

MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred.