Program Manager - Program Operations (NIAT)

About NxtWave and NIAT

NxtWave is a rapidly expanding ed-tech startup in India focused on transforming young individuals into skilled technology professionals through programs like CCBP 4.0 and NIAT. Founded by distinguished alumni from leading institutions and recognized globally with awards such as the Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 India Award, NxtWave partners with many universities to deliver industry-aligned, vernacular language education across over 650 districts and 30+ campuses annually.

Role Overview

The Program Manager will oversee operations across a cluster of approximately six NIAT campuses in Hyderabad, ensuring smooth daily functions aligned with academic schedules. This person will lead senior campus staff, ensure consistent quality and adherence to SOPs, and be directly responsible for the student experience and operational health across all assigned campuses. The role involves active campus presence with frequent travel, close coordination with universities, and leadership in handling escalations and launches of new campuses.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end day-to-day operations for around six campuses, including classes, labs, assessments, and events.
• Ensure all campuses comply with established SOPs and maintain quality standards, initiating corrective actions when necessary.
• Lead and develop senior campus staff to ensure consistency and discipline across batches and campuses.
• Collaborate with academic and student success teams to track progress and support at-risk students through timely interventions.
• Oversee tracking and resolution of student issues, focusing on intervention and outcomes rather than mere reporting.
• Monitor classroom environment, mentor effectiveness, and engagement, feeding insights into academic planning.
• Coordinate batch onboarding and operational readiness for new campus launches, applying standard procedures.
• Serve as the primary resolution point for escalations from students, parents, and staff, resolving them within SLA and addressing systemic issues.
• Maintain and foster operational relationships with partner universities, represent NIAT at various stakeholder events.
• Provide accurate reporting through dashboards on academic performance and operational health, contributing to cluster-wide learnings and improvements.

Qualifications and Skills

• MBA from a premier institution (IIM, ISB, or equivalent), with preference for recent graduates and early career professionals.
• Prior work or internship experience in operations-heavy sectors like FMCG, retail, ed-tech, or healthcare, including multi-unit operational experience.
• High ownership mindset and ability to excel in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, managing responsibilities end-to-end.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including interactions with students, parents, campus teams, university leaders, and central teams.
• Data-driven approach with proficiency in dashboards, trackers, and systematic problem-solving.
• Keen interest in a progressive career in operations leadership.
• Willingness for frequent travel to assigned campuses.
• Immediate or near-immediate availability preferred.

What Success Looks Like in First 90 Days

• Successful smooth onboarding of new batches across all campuses without disrupting student experience.
• Complete operational visibility with up-to-date dashboards and trackers on every campus.
• Timely resolution of escalations and initiation of systemic improvements.
• Increased adherence to SOPs with documented gaps and corrective action plans underway.
• Established positive working relationships with campus staff and partner university teams.

Why Join NxtWave?

• Immediate responsibility managing multiple campuses and a broad onsite team with growth opportunities as the program expands.
• Direct exposure to top leadership from IIT/IIIT/Amazon backgrounds in a dynamic, rapidly growing startup.
• Clear upward mobility within the Program Operations vertical towards senior leadership roles.
• Collaborative peer learning environment among Program Managers tackling scaling challenges together.
• Significant impact on educational quality and career prospects for thousands of students across India.

Additional Information

This is a full-time role based in Hyderabad with mandatory office presence and routine travel to campuses. Immediate joining candidates are highly preferred to meet the fast-scaling ambitions of NIAT.