Associate Director - Growth

upGrad Private Limited - www.upgrad.com

About Us

upGrad is an online education platform building the careers of tomorrow by offering the most industry-relevant programs in an immersive learning experience. Our mission is to create a new digital-first learning experience to deliver tangible career impact to individual sat scale. upGrad currently offers programs in Data Science, Machine Learning, Product Management, Digital Marketing, and Entrepreneurship, etc. upGrad is looking for people passionate about management and education to help design learning programs for working professionals to stay sharp and stay relevant and help build the careers of tomorrow.

Designation Associate Director - Growth (HigherEducation India)

Work Location Bangalore

Work Mode In-Office

Position Summary -

The Associate Director - Growth (Affiliates, Alliances & Partnerships) will design and lead strategic initiatives that expand market reach, accelerate user acquisition, and deepen engagement through affiliate programs, strategic alliances, and industry partnerships. In this role, you will build scalable programs and drive measurable growth while working cross-functionally with product, sales, partnerships, and content teams.

Key Responsibilities -

Affiliate & Performance Marketing -

• Lead strategy, growth, and optimization of affiliate programs to drive customer acquisition, engagement, and revenue growth.
• Identify, recruit, and onboard new affiliate partners including high-value publishers and relevant influencers.
• Monitor performance metrics across affiliate and channel partners; leverage data to optimize ROI and growth outcomes.

Strategic Alliances & Industry Partnerships -

• Develop and manage partnerships with industry stakeholders, associations, and ecosystems that amplify brand visibility and growth.
• Collaborate with business development and partner success teams to align joint offerings, go-to-market activities, and co-marketing plans.
• Serve as key point of contact for partners, maintaining strong communication, alignment, and execution of shared goals.

Co-Marketing & Program Campaigns -

• Design and launch co-marketing programs with partners including webinars, events, short-format programs, newsletters, and digital campaigns to drive demand and engagement.
• Work with creative, content, and product teams to develop joint assets, offers, messaging and collateral that resonate with multiple audiences.
• Establish and document repeatable frameworks and playbooks to scale partnership marketing efforts across markets and product lines.

Growth Strategy & Analytics -

• Collaborate on broader growth initiatives, funnel optimization, and performance analysis to support strategic marketing and revenue objectives.
• Define success metrics, track KPIs, and prepare performance reports for senior leadership to inform strategy.
• Stay updated on trends in affiliate marketing, partnership ecosystems, industry alliances, and emerging channel opportunities.

Core Skills & Competencies -

• Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret data and translate trends into growth strategy.
• Partnership Development: Proven experience building, negotiating, and managing relationships with affiliates and industry partners.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent at working with product, operations, sales, content and analytics teams.
• Marketing Expertise: Solid understanding of multi-channel marketing digital, content, and performance.
• Communication & Leadership: Strong communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders internally and externally.

Qualifications Required -

• Bachelors degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in marketing roles with emphasis on affiliate programs, partnerships, co-marketing, or growth marketing.
• Demonstrated success driving affiliate or partnership-based growth.
• Comfortable using analytics and CRM/MarTech tools to measure performance.

Preferred -

• Experience in EdTech, SaaS, marketplace platforms, or B2B tech environments.
• Familiarity with marketing automation, partner program platforms, and analytics stacks.

Why Join Us?

Here are just a few reasons why you should consider joining our team:

Global Reach, Local Impact: At upGrad, you'll be part of a dynamic, diverse team that makes a difference on a global scale while creating opportunities for local communities. With 25 offices worldwide and a team of over 5100 professionals, upGrad has successfully enrolled over 10 million learners across 70+ countries.

Award-Winning Excellence: With accolades such as being named the No.1 startup in India for three consecutive years by LinkedIn's Top Startups list [2018, 2019, and 2020], upGrad's commitment to innovation and impact is unparalleled. Additionally, upGrad has earned prestigious titles such as the ET Best Education Brand 2020 and inclusion in the esteemed GSV Global EdTech 50 List 2020, further solidifying our position as a leader in the education technology sector.

Endless Opportunities: Join upGrad and unlock a world of opportunities for growth, learning, and personal development. With a team spread across PAN India / International and a global network of partners, upGrad provides you with the support, resources, and opportunities you need to succeed and thrive.