Program Manager — Authentica
Department: Program Delivery & Operations
Location: Pune, India (office-based with international travel)
Reports To: Head of Operations
Team: Individual Contributor
Effective Date: FY 2026-27 (May 2026)
About Authentica
Authentica is a Pune-headquartered experiential learning and global education company specialising 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 manage flagship government-sponsored executive education programmes including the UAE-India Leaders Program, delivered in partnership with the National Projects Office (NPO) under the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the Zayed Education Foundation.
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 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.
You will join a lean, capable operations team delivering high-quality programming across global destinations. This isn't a desk role with occasional travel — you will be on the ground regularly, managing real situations in real time, representing Authentica's standards at every touchpoint.
Candidates with a business school background will find opportunities to contribute beyond core operations — supporting business development, marketing, and scaling of Authentica's standard semester programs, global internships, and India Outbound portfolio. Key Responsibilities
Program Design & Proposals
Evaluate service providers and community partners;
negotiate rates and secure contracts
Build accurate costing sheets and translate them into proposals for institutional partners
Design itineraries that balance academic rigour with genuine cultural immersion
Maintain program templates, costing frameworks, and proposal libraries for reuse
Planning & Pre-Departure
Own the end-to-end planning process: resources, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and contingencies
Develop a comprehensive safety and risk management plan for every program
Coordinate across vendors, partners, and internal teams before departure
Manage program budgets and track expenditure against approved costing sheets
Ensure compliance with health, safety, and liability standards for each destination
On-Ground Delivery
Travel with groups and lead on-the-ground execution — reception, orientation, daily programme management
Manage service providers and local partners in real time;
adapt as needed
Handle contingencies calmly, keeping participants safe and stakeholders informed
Serve as primary point of contact for faculty directors and institutional coordinators during delivery
Collect and document participant feedback throughout for post-program evaluation
Post-Program Reporting & Continuous Improvement
Compile post-program reports: NPS scores, budget reconciliation, incident summaries, and learnings
Conduct structured debriefs with clients and internal teams
Maintain alumni engagement touchpoints and support re-booking conversations
Systems & Reporting
Maintain program tracking on Monday. Com across all active programs
Proactively flag resource constraints, budget variances, and delivery risks to the Head of Operations Required Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in any discipline (required)
Business school background (BBA/MBA) or postgraduate degree in International Relations, Education Management, or Hospitality (preferred)
Experience
3–5 years managing operations and partner relationships
Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-vendor projects
Experience with institutional clients — universities, government agencies, or corporates
International stakeholder exposure is a strong plus Skills & Competencies
Operational & Analytical Excellence
Exceptional organisational skills with strong project management capability
Analytical enough to build solid costings, synthesise data, and write clear reports
Comfortable with ambiguity and fast-changing situations — you solve problems, not just escalate
Proficient with project management tools (Monday. Com, Zoho, or equivalent)
Budget management and financial reconciliation skills
Communication & Stakeholder Management
Strong written and verbal English communication;
multilingual skills a genuine plus
Confident facilitator for orientations, briefings, and debrief sessions
Culturally intelligent across academic, government, corporate, and community contexts
Relationship builder who earns trust quickly;
emotional intelligence with diverse stakeholders
Personal Qualities
Genuine passion for cross-cultural education and international engagement
High ownership mindset: you follow through, take accountability, and care about the details
Entrepreneurial instinct: you spot opportunities and act without waiting to be asked
Physical and mental resilience for high-travel, high-pressure delivery environments
Collaborative team player who contributes to a culture of continuous improvement Work ExpectationsHours: Full-time (40–45 hrs/week);
flexibility required during peak program periods Travel: Significant domestic and international travel for programme delivery, recce visits, and partner meetings across GCC and APAC markets Collaboration: Internal (CEO, Operations, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Academic) and external (faculty directors, university partners, vendors, DMCs) Probation: 3 months Compensation & Benefits
Rs. 7,00,000 – Rs. 10,00,000 per annum (Fixed + Performance Bonus)
All official travel expenses covered
Professional development budget
Budget for professional networking and relationship-building
Access to Authentica's global network of partners and thought leaders
Opportunity to lead prestigious programmes of strategic national importance
ESOP eligibility after 24 months How to Apply
Send your application with:
CV/resume with detailed operational management experience
Cover letter addressing: (1) experience managing complex, multi-vendor international programmes;
(2) a specific programme you owned end-to-end — what went wrong and how you handled it;
(3) what excites you about this work
References from previous supervisors
Optional but strongly encouraged: a sample proposal, costing sheet, itinerary, or post-program report
Applications should be submitted to: https://survey. Zohopublic. Com/zs/APzu Hz
Authentica is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Authentica Ventures Pvt. Ltd. | #8 NCL-B Colony, Panchavati, Pashan, Pune 411008 | www. Authentica. Com
