Applications should be submitted to: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/APzuHz

JOB DESCRIPTION
Authentica Program Manager Department Program Delivery & Operations Location Pune, India (office-based with international travel) Reports To Head of Program Operations Team Individual Contributor Effective Date FY 2026-27 (Nov 2026) About AuthenticaAuthentica is a Pune-headquartered experiential learning and global education company specializing in study abroad programmes, global internships, executive education, and professional development. We serve 70+ university partners across the US, Canada, and Australia, operating programmes in 30+ countries. Our clients include Stanford, Dartmouth, NYU, and other leading institutions. We are on an ambitious growth trajectory targeting Rs. 60 CR revenue in FY 2026-27 and an IPO by 2030. This role is critical to achieving that vision. Role Summary The Program Manager is accountable for end-to-end delivery of Authentica's programs — from proposal and planning through on-ground execution and post-program debrief. This is a hands-on, high-ownership role for someone who takes pride in the craft of program delivery: designing tight logistics, anticipating what can go wrong, and executing with precision in demanding international contexts. Your north-star metric is participant experience and program quality. Candidates with a business school background will find opportunities to contribute beyond core operations — supporting business development, marketing, and scaling of Authentica's portfolio.

Key Responsibilities
Program Design & Proposals
• Understand client requirements deeply
• Identify and evaluate service providers and community partners; negotiate rates and secure contracts
• Build accurate, detailed costing sheets
• Design itineraries that balance academic rigor with genuine cultural immersion Planning & Pre-Departure
• Own the end-to-end planning process: resources, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and contingencies
• Coordinate across vendors, partners, and internal teams to ensure every detail is locked in before departure
• Manage program budgets and track expenditure against approved costing sheets
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and liability standards specific to each destination
• Support onboarding of new DMCs and partners, including reference checks and quote comparison On-Ground Delivery
• Travel with groups and lead on-ground execution — reception, orientation, daily programme management
• Manage service providers and local partners in real time, responding to feedback and adapting as needed
• Handle contingencies calmly and decisively, keeping participants safe and stakeholders informed
• Maintain daily documentation and debrief
• Serve as primary point of contact for faculty and institutional coordinators delivery
• Document participant feedback throughout the program for post-program evaluation Client Responsiveness & OwnershipOwn client interaction and issue until it is closed.
• Respond to client and faculty queries promptly within agreed turnaround times, before, during and after the program
• Own client issues and escalations end to end; resolve urgent items the same day
• Escalate early with a proposed solution, not waiting for problems to grow Post-Program Reporting & Continuous Improvement




• Compile post-program reports including NPS scores, budget reconciliation, incident summaries, and key learnings
• Conduct structured debriefs with clients and internal teams to capture improvements for future programs
• Close all post-program tasks (final invoices, debrief calls, feedback collection) by their due dates Systems & Reporting
• Program tracking on Monday.com with up-to-date status across all programs
• Set a due date for every task and update completion dates as work is done
• Follow the SOPs linked to each task on the Monday.com board
• Flag resource constraints, budget variances, and delivery risks proactively How Success Is MeasuredPerformance is reviewed quarterly against OKRs. Key measures include:
• Proposal quality score and on-time proposal submission
• On-time task completion on the program tracker
• Program NPS and participant feedback
• Budget variance against approved costing sheets
• Turnaround time on client queries and escalations Required QualificationsEducation
• Must Have: ◦ Bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• Good to Have: ◦ Business school background (BBA, MBA, or equivalent) ◦ Postgraduate degree in International Relations, Education Management, Hospitality, or a related field ExperienceProven operational experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs in international or institutional contexts.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in client-facing roles in travel, education, edtech, logistics, event management or related fields (3-5 years preferred)
• Experience managing operations and partner relationships
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-vendor projects
• Experience working with institutional clients — universities, government agencies, or corporates
• International stakeholder exposure is a strong plus Skills and CompetenciesOperational & Analytical Excellence
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Analytical to build costings, synthesize data, and write clear reports for different audiences
• Strong project management capabilities across multi-vendor, multi-timeline programs
• Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-changing situations — solve problems, not just escalate
• Proficiency with project management and operational tools (Monday, Zoho, or equivalent)
• Budget management and financial reconciliation skills — comfortable tracking spend against costing sheets
• Meticulous attention to detail — you check your own work and catch errors before clients do Communication & Stakeholder Management
• Solid written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to write clear, structured client-facing reports and post-program documentation
• Strong facilitation skills for leading orientations, briefings, and debrief sessions with participant groups
• Culturally intelligent — able to work across academic, government, corporate, and community contexts




• Emotional intelligence to manage diverse stakeholders — from students to senior government officials Personal QualitiesHigh-ownership, entrepreneurial, and genuinely passionate about cross-cultural education.
• Genuine passion for cross-cultural education and international engagement — this isn't just a job to you
• High ownership mindset: you follow through, take accountability, and take pride in the details
• Intellectually curious and committed to continuous learning
• Entrepreneurial instinct: you spot opportunities and act on them without waiting to be asked
• Physical and mental resilience for high-travel, high-pressure delivery environments — this role requires sustained performance on the ground
• Collaborative team player who contributes to a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the operations team
• Highly responsive — clients, partners and colleagues never have to chase you for an update Work Expectations Schedule Full-time position (40-45 hrs / week), standard office hours with flexibility for international stakeholder time zones and occasional evening networking activities. Flexibility required during peak program periods Occasional evening/weekend work during program delivery Travel Significant domestic and international travel along with the including reconnaissance visits, program delivery, client meetings , and partner meetings in GCC and APAC markets Collaboration Cross functional collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Internal: CEO, Operations team, Sales team, Marketing, Finance, Academic team
• External: Faculty directors, university partners, vendors, local partners, DMCs Probation Period 3 months Compensation and Benefits
• Competitive compensation: Rs. 7,00,000
- Rs. 10,00,000 per annum (Fixed + Performance Bonus)
• All official travel expenses covered
• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and certifications
• Access to Authentica's global network of partners and thought leaders
• Opportunity to lead prestigious programs with strategic national importance
• Potential for regional and international career advancement
• ESOP eligibility after 24 months of service Application ProcessInterested candidates should submit the following :
• Comprehensive CV/resume with detailed operational management experience
• Cover letter highlighting : ◦ Your experience managing complex, multi-vendor programs in international or institutional contexts ◦ A specific program or project you owned end-to-end — what went wrong, and how you handled it ◦ Your client-facing experience in travel, education, logistics or event management ◦ What excites you about delivering transformative educational experiences on the ground
• References from previous supervisors
• Optional: A sample proposal, costing sheet, itinerary, or post-program report you have developed (strongly encouraged for shortlisting) This role is ideal for a hands-on program professional who thrives in the field, excels at turning complex logistics into seamless participant experiences, and is genuinely excited about delivering world-class programs that change how people see the world. Applications should be submitted to: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/APzuHz

📌 Authentica Program Manager (Pune)
🏢 Authentica
📍 Pune