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Who we are

Plaksha is a 21st-century university focused on solving global challenges through transformative technology education. A unique collective philanthropy effort, our initiative is driven by a dedicated team committed to advancing technology education in India.

What can Plaksha offer you?

- A mission-driven workplace with opportunities to collaborate with leading minds in academia and industry.
- A transparent work culture embodying our values C.R.E.A.T.E. (Curious, Rigorous, Enterprising, Authentic, Thankful, Exemplary), fostering personal growth.
- An inclusive environment that values diverse talent, promotes innovation, and supports the development of individuals from underrepresented groups.

Role: Senior Program Lead - DS Brar Centre for Girls and Women in STEM The DS Brar Centre for Girls and Women in STEM works to increase the participation, persistence and leadership of women across the STEM ecosystem, bringing together students, educational institutions, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and funders to build pathways for women at different stages of their journeys. Its work includes initiatives such as SheLeadsTech and She Innovates, alongside emerging programmes in AI, leadership, advocacy and ecosystem building.

We are looking for an experienced professional to lead the Centre's programs and partnerships and translate its vision into a strong, visible and well-executed body of work. This is a leadership role for someone who is both strategic and hands-on — able to develop a program from an early idea, engage confidently with senior external stakeholders, and stay closely involved until it is delivered well.

The Associate

Director will oversee existing programs, build new initiatives, manage delivery partners and create a regular calendar of engagements for the Centre, working closely with the Centre's leadership, faculty, university teams, industry leaders, programs partners, mentors and funders.

Location: Plaksha University, Mohali

Experience: 12 + years

Employment: Full-time, 2-year contract

Lead the Centre's annual plan and program portfolio:

- Translate the Centre's strategic priorities into a clear annual plan covering programs, partnerships, events and knowledge initiatives.
- Take ownership of the Centre's program calendar and ensure that plans move consistently from concept to execution.
- Oversee ongoing initiatives such as SheLeadsTech and She Innovates, including programmes delivered through external partners.
- Develop selected new initiatives, including She Builds AI, in consultation with the Centre's leadership.
- Ensure that the Centre's different programmes contribute to a coherent larger agenda for girls and women in STEM.

Manage programme delivery and external partners:

- Serve as the principal point of coordination with programme delivery partners.
- Establish clear deliverables, timelines, responsibilities, participant outcomes and review mechanisms for each programme.
- Conduct regular reviews with partners and address delays or execution gaps early.
- Coordinate the involvement of faculty, speakers, mentors, industry experts and university teams.
- Ensure that programme plans, participant data, partner commitments, budgets and outcomes are properly documented.




- Maintain continuity across programmes and ensure that delivery does not depend on any one individual.

Develop and launch new initiatives:

- Identify emerging opportunities relevant to women's participation and leadership in STEM.
- Convert promising ideas into well-defined programme concepts, pilots and scalable initiatives.
- Lead the design and launch of She Builds AI and other selected programmes.
- Develop concept notes, programme frameworks, implementation plans, budgets and presentations.
- Build the right partnerships and expert networks required to deliver new initiatives effectively.

Build a strong calendar of engagement:

- Develop and execute an annual calendar of webinars, roundtables, workshops and campus engagements.
- Deliver a regular rhythm of virtual engagements and three to four meaningful campus-based events each year.
- Manage engagements from concept development and speaker outreach through delivery and follow-up.
- Use these platforms to build an active community around the Centre rather than a series of standalone events.

Build partnerships and represent the Centre:

- Develop relationships with corporations, foundations, educational institutions, industry bodies, women leaders, entrepreneurs and subject experts.
- Represent the Centre in selected external meetings, forums and partnership discussions.
- Build a strong network of speakers, mentors, collaborators and champions.
- Work with the Centre's leadership and Plaksha's Institutional Advancement team on partnership proposals, partner engagement and reporting.
- Identify opportunities that can bring knowledge, networks, mentorship, programme support or funding to the Centre.

Develop the advocacy and knowledge agenda:

- Help shape a focused advocacy agenda around women's participation, persistence and leadership in STEM.
- Identify relevant issues and emerging themes on which the Centre can contribute a thoughtful institutional perspective.
- Coordinate selected research, surveys, case studies, practitioner conversations or knowledge outputs in partnership with faculty and experts.
- Develop webinars, roundtables and discussions around these themes.
- Translate programme experience and participant insights into credible evidence and stories that can inform the larger ecosystem.

Strengthen communications and visibility:

- Provide direction for the Centre's communications and digital presence.
- Guide the social media resource in developing a content calendar aligned with the Centre's priorities.
- Identify programme stories, participant journeys, partnerships and insights that should be documented and shared.
- Coordinate with Plaksha's communications team to build consistent and meaningful visibility for the Centre.
- Ensure that public communication is accurate, thoughtful and aligned with institutional standards.

What Success Will Look Like:

- During the first 12 months,



the candidate will be expected to:
- Develop and implement a clear annual program and engagement calendar.
- Ensure that SheLeadsTech, She Innovates and other ongoing programmes are delivered to agreed standards and timelines.
- Establish a consistent system of reviews and accountability with all external delivery partners.
- Deliver three to four high-quality campus engagements and a regular calendar of webinars and roundtables.
- Develop at least one substantive advocacy or knowledge initiative.
- Strengthen relationships with relevant corporate, academic and ecosystem partners.
- Improve the Centre's external visibility through stronger content, documentation and storytelling.
- Establish reliable systems for managing programmes, budgets, data, partner commitments and impact reporting.
- Build a strong operating rhythm that allows the Centre's leadership to focus on strategic direction, institutional relationships and growth.

Who are we looking for?

- 12+ years of relevant professional experience in program leadership, social impact, higher education, gender, entrepreneurship, skilling, workforce development, corporate partnerships or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience of taking programmes or initiatives from concept to execution.
- Strong project and programme management skills, including experience managing multiple workstreams and external partners.
- Experience in building partnerships and working with senior leaders across organisations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare concept notes, presentations, proposals and reports.
- Experience curating events, communities, learning programmes or multi-stakeholder platforms.
- Experience managing small teams, consultants or partner organisations.
- An understanding of gender and women's participation in STEM would be valuable, though direct sector experience is not essential.
- Combines strategic thinking with a solid bias for execution.
- Comfortable working in an evolving environment where every initiative may not come with a ready-made playbook.
- Brings structure to ideas and follows through until outcomes are delivered.
- Engages confidently with senior corporate leaders, academics, funders, founders and institutional stakeholders.
- Able to work independently, exercise sound judgement and seek direction when it is genuinely required.
- Holds partners and colleagues accountable while maintaining collaborative relationships.
- Pays attention to detail without losing sight of the larger purpose.
- Deeply motivated by the opportunity to create better pathways for girls and women in STEM.

Why Join Plaksha

This role offers the opportunity to help shape a growing Centre within a young university built around technology, interdisciplinary learning and societal impact. The candidate will have the space to build new programs, create institutional partnerships, convene important conversations and develop a wider community committed to advancing women in STEM.

This is a role for someone who wants to build, not simply maintain - someone who enjoys connecting ideas, institutions and people, and then turning those connections into initiatives that create measurable impact.

📌 Senior Program Lead-GWIST (Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar)
🏢 Plaksha University
📍 Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar