Industry Engagement Lead

Job Summary

The Industry Engagement Lead will drive IIT Bombays strategic partnerships and business development initiatives with corporates, industry bodies, NGOs, and government agencies at national and international levels. This is a high-impact, front-facing role supporting the Institutes One IIT external engagement vision.

The role calls for a techno-functional leader who can bridge research, innovation, and industry needs, someone who combines business development acumen with strong understanding of technology, R&D, and institutional ecosystems.

About Us

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, set up in 1958 as the second IIT, is recognized worldwide as a leader in engineering education and research. The Institute is an Institution of Eminence and is globally respected for its academic excellence, research output, and innovation ecosystem.

The External Engagements Office is a newly established strategic function responsible for strengthening IIT Bombays engagement with industry, government, and global partners. The office works closely with research centers, innovation hubs, and academic departments to translate institutional capabilities into meaningful external collaborations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Partnerships & Business Development

Identify, cultivate, and manage partnerships with corporates, industry bodies, NGOs, and government agencies.

Drive collaborations that support institutional growth, research programs, innovation initiatives, and technology transfer.

Structure long-term engagement models and partnership frameworks.

2. Proposal Development & Deal Structuring

Develop and present proposals to potential partners and sponsors.

Lead discussions on collaboration scope, commercial models, and partnership outcomes.

Support negotiation and closure of institutional partnerships.

3. Market Intelligence & Opportunity Mapping

Conduct market research, competitor mapping, and sector analysis to identify partnership opportunities.

Build and maintain a strong pipeline of industry and government prospects.

4. Stakeholder & Internal Collaboration

Work closely with internal stakeholders including IRCC, Research Park, SINE, Educational Outreach, and academic departments.

Align departmental capabilities with external industry and government requirements.

Act as a strategic interface between faculty, research teams, and external partners.

5. CXO-Level Engagement & Representation

Deliver presentations and represent IIT Bombay in strategic discussions with senior industry leaders and government officials.

Participate in high-level meetings, forums, and partnership negotiations.

6. Performance Tracking & Systems

Maintain and optimize CRM/database of external contacts and engagements.

Track partnership performance, revenue impact, and engagement KPIs.

7. Miscellaneous

Perform other duties as assigned to support the organizations goals.

Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

Educational Qualifications

Masters degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, Management, or a related field (STEM background strongly preferred).

Professional Experience

8+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or consultative selling

Prior exposure to higher education, research organizations, technology ecosystems, or innovation-driven industries preferred.

Proven success in building large partnerships and negotiating complex institutional or corporate deals.

Competencies

Strong techno-functional orientation with ability to understand research and technology offerings.

Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills (CXO-level exposure required).

Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.

Experience using CRM and partnership tracking tools.

Ability to work across academic, corporate, and government environments.

High professional maturity, credibility, and ownership mindset.

Note: This is a Mumbai-based, on-site role. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.