Director - Academics; Data and Tech

Position: Director - Academics (Data and Tech)
Location: Bengaluru

About the Role:

We are looking for a Director of Academics to lead the delivery of AI/ML learning products s is a strategic leadership role where you will be responsible for program planning, content operations, quality assurance, and partner integrations across our Data Science, Machine Learning, and Generative AI programs. This role combines academic depth with industry scale, reaching 3,000+ working professionals annually through our university partnerships.

The right candidate will turn the latest GenAI and LLM research into practical educational programs that help learners succeed, meet university standards, and reduce operational challenges. This role requires a unique blend of technical AI/ML expertise, academic experience, and product thinking.

Program Portfolio:

You will serve as the Academic Lead for a range of programs, including:

• MSc/M.Tech programs in Data Science, Machine Learning, and Computer Science (AI).

• Professional certificates in Data Science, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and GenAI.

• Specialized programs in AI, Emerging Tech, and Design.

• Data Science and ML Bootcamps.

• Other programs within the Data and Tech vertical, as needed.

Key Responsibilities

1. Academic Strategy and Program Design

• Ensure programs meet university academic standards across all Data and Tech programs

• Design program roadmaps working closely with Delivery, Content, Product, Technology, and SME teams

• Work with university partners to develop hands-on curricula

• Ensure alignment with university-defined learning outcomes and relevant skills frameworks

2. Quality Assurance and Governance

• Implement and operationalize university-approved rubrics, audits, and grader calibration systems
• Use scorecard frameworks (Red/Amber/Green) to track grading quality

• Support grader recruitment and training in line with university guidelines

• Create standard processes for live delivery and assessments to ensure reliable quality

3. University Partnership and Compliance

• Act as the main academic contact for university partners

• Hold regular academic review meetings and track compliance

• Make sure assessment practices follow university rules and policies

• Coordinate internal quality checks to support university moderation processes

• Create action plans and give regular updates to university stakeholders

4. Team Leadership and SME Management

• Lead a team of 10 or more content and subject matter experts

• Manage hiring, onboarding, and performance of thesis supervisors and graders

• Develop operational guides for thesis supervisors aligned with university requirements

• Run weekly or bi-weekly training sessions to answer questions and improve quality

• Set hiring criteria and conduct interviews for SME recruitment

5. Teaching and Research

• Take part in teaching sessions, live workshops, and thesis supervision

• Facilitate learner support sessions on thesis writing and research methods

• Help learners turn thesis work into real projects they can show employers

• Lead practitioner workshops and capstone projects for skill building

• Publish research and present at conferences with support from upGrad's industry and university partnerships

6. Content and Delivery Improvement

• Review all program materials (videos, text, case studies, resources) for quality and relevance

• Run internal reviews and check live session quality through audits

• Work with the content and product teams to build AI-powered education tools

• Create playbooks, checklists, and guides that help learners get value faster

7. Learner Success

• Hold monthly group discussions and cohort meetings to track learner progress

• Collect and act on feedback to make the learning experience better

• Create consistent learning experiences across all cohorts

• Help with learner questions and join marketing or counselling sessions when needed

Required Qualifications

Education

• PhD in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related field (Required)

• Prior teaching experience at universities or colleges is highly valued

• Extra certifications in Adult Learning, Instructional Design, or Education are a plus

Experience

• 8 or more years of combined experience in AI/ML, data science, or higher education

• 3 or more years in academic leadership, teaching, program management, or EdTech product roles
• Proven experience designing and delivering AI/ML programs

• Experience working with university partners and meeting academic compliance requirements

• Published research in good journals (Q1/Q2 in SCI) is preferred