Position: Lead – Industry Connect & Placement Cell (ICPC)

Organisation: Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP)

Project: National Initiative for Skill-Integrated Higher Education (NISHE)

Location: Central Office, Hyderabad, Telangana, with occasional travel across project states

Reporting to: National Lead, NISHE

Number of Positions: 1

Compensation: As per industry standards, commensurate with experience

About CRISP The Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies (CRISP) is an independent non-profit organisation that works to improve the delivery and impact of social sector programmes and policies across India. Led by ten senior retired civil servants, CRISP provides strategic, evidence-based policy design and execution support to central and state governments.

Website: https://crispindia.net/

About the NISHE Project The National Initiative for Skill-Integrated Higher Education (NISHE) at CRISP works to strengthen higher education in India by embedding stipendiary apprenticeships and industry-aligned training into conventional undergraduate degree programmes to enhance student employment outcomes.

The Industry Connect and Placement Cell (ICPC) is a vertical within NISHE that strengthens stipendiary apprenticeship and placement initiatives for students enrolled in Apprenticeship-Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDPs). ICPC provides strategic leadership by coordinating with sector-specific industry leaders, industry associations and government agencies to facilitate robust employment pathways for AEDP graduates.

Project website: https://crispindia.net/nishe.html

Position Summary The ICPC Lead will be responsible for the overall strategic direction, leadership, national-level industry engagement and operational oversight of the Industry Connect & Placement Cell.

The Lead will drive the multi-phase implementation of the ICPC roadmap, transitioning from direct apprenticeship facilitation to institutional capacity building,



hybrid placement operations and eventual self-sustainability across Higher Education Institutions and states implementing AEDPs.

This position requires a high-calibre leader with strong corporate networking skills, deep insights into labour markets and skills ecosystems, experience working with government bodies, and proven management acumen to lead a dedicated team of Associates.

Key Responsibilities

- High-Level Partnerships with Industries and Industry Bodies
- Forge strategic alliances and MoUs with industry and business associations, establishments, and placement aggregator platforms.
- Corporate and MNC Outreach for Apprenticeships and Placements
- Connect with national and multinational recruiters with pan-India hiring capabilities to secure stipendiary apprenticeship placement offers and post-apprenticeship job offers for AEDP students across multiple sectors and states.
- Placement Leadership and Experience
- Lead end-to-end campus placement operations.
- Forge high-value corporate hiring partnerships.
- Execute large-scale recruitment drives across diverse industry sectors.
- Connecting with Sectoral Advisors
- Engage and liaise with Sectoral Advisors and industry specialists.
- Ensure strategic alignment, structured advisory meetings and actionable industry involvement in curriculum development and apprenticeship training.
- Academia–Industry Collaboration
- Bridge the gap between academia and industry by organising guest lectures, industry visits and expert sessions for AEDP students.
- Industry Platforms
- Plan, lead and execute college-level and university-level industry meets,



sector roundtables, employer meets and placement drives.
- NATS and Dashboard Integration
- Facilitate integration with NATS portals through BOATs for student–employer mapping, apprenticeship tracking and performance analytics.
- Publish periodic dashboard reports and strategic summaries on placement rates, stipends and employer retention rates for CRISP leadership and state government stakeholders.

Educational Qualifications and Experience

Education

- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Human Resources or any related discipline from a recognised institution.

Experience

- 4–5 years of hands-on experience in corporate/non-corporate placements and industry relations.

Track Record

- Demonstrated success in heading placement cells and establishing corporate tie-ups.

Government and Apprenticeship Ecosystem

- Working knowledge of government ecosystems and skill-integrated/apprenticeship schemes is desirable.

Key Competencies and Skills

Strategic Leadership and Networking

- Exceptional corporate networking ability with C-suite and HR leaders across diverse sectors, including retail, logistics, BFSI, healthcare, hospitality and human resources.

Programme Management

- Proven capacity to manage complex, multi-state projects with tight timelines, multiple stakeholders and measurable KPIs.

Communication and Negotiation

- Persuasive verbal and non-verbal communication skills for high-level meetings with corporate executives, government officials and academic leadership.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to review the chance and submit their applications through the official CRISP Careers page.

Apply here: https://crispindia.net/careers.html

Join CRISP and contribute to strengthening industry–academia partnerships and expanding apprenticeship and employment opportunities for students across India.

📌 Lead – Industry Connect & Placement Cell (ICPC) (India)
🏢 Centre for Research in Schemes u0026 Policies (CRISP)
📍 India