Program Manager: Translational Research Centre

ITRI – Program Manager, Translational Research Centres

About ITRI

India's Translational Research Initiative (ITRI) is a Section 8 company dedicated to accelerating the translation of research into technologies, products and societal impact. ITRI works with leading academic institutions, industry and the innovation ecosystem to establish and strengthen Translational Research Centres (TRCs) that bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercialization.

ITRI supports the design, operationalisation and growth of TRCs by building governance frameworks, operational capabilities, industry partnerships and sustainable operating models that enable research institutions to translate scientific excellence into real-world outcomes.

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer , the Program Manager will be responsible for driving the successful operationalisation and performance of a portfolio of 2–5 Translational Research Centres (TRCs) .

The role is focused on ensuring that approved TRCs successfully transition from concept to execution and deliver their agreed Phase 1 outcomes . Working closely with Principal Investigators, TRC leadership teams and Operations Heads, the Program Manager will establish governance mechanisms, drive execution, monitor performance and ensure timely resolution of operational challenges.

Beyond supporting the assigned TRCs, the Program Manager will play a key role in building ITRI's institutional capability by developing programme management frameworks, operational metrics, review mechanisms, dashboards and data systems that can be replicated across future TRCs. This is a highly collaborative role combining programme management, operational excellence, stakeholder management and ecosystem engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• TRC Operationalisation
• Lead the operationalisation of assigned TRCs from agreement through Phase 1 implementation.
• Drive execution against agreed milestones, timelines and operational objectives.
• Establish programme governance, operating rhythms and review mechanisms.
• Identify execution bottlenecks and work with TRC lead to resolve them.
• Support to enable that each TRC is positioned to achieve its agreed Phase 1 outcomes.
• Programme Governance & Performance Management
• Conduct weekly and fortnightly programme reviews with the TRC Lead. Enable the lead to schedule other planned reviews
• Monitor programme milestones, budgets, staffing, risks and dependencies.
• Ensure timely closure of action items and escalations.
• Track programme health and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Implement structured governance and reporting mechanisms across assigned TRCs.
• Implement data capture, reporting and review systems across TRCs.
• Industry & Innovation Ecosystem Engagement
• Through ITRI, engage with industry, start-ups and incubators to understand technology needs and identify problem statements that can be addressed through the TRCs.
• Support the TRC lead in the development of a pipeline of industry-led translational projects.
• Facilitate collaboration between external stakeholders and TRC teams in alignment with ITRI's priorities.
• Performance Metrics & Operational Excellence
• Implement operational KPIs and KRAs for assigned TRCs and provide feedback for improvement.
• Provide data for creating dashboards and programme review frameworks.
• Monitor operational, technical and ecosystem performance.
• Support continuous improvement through structured reviews and performance analysis.
• Work with the COO to define portfolio-level operational metrics for ITRI.
• ITRI Capability Building
• Working closely with the COO, the Program Manager will contribute to building ITRI's long-term institutional capability by:
• Developing programme management frameworks and playbooks and support in designing standard operating procedures and templates.
• Help standardise governance and operational processes across TRCs, while ensuring consistency in governance, reporting, operational excellence and delivery across TRCs.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for individuals who enjoy building organisations, managing complex programmes and working at the intersection of research, technology and execution. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable engaging with scientists and engineers, reviewing programme execution, and translating technical discussions into actionable operational plans.

• Typical profiles may include professionals with 5–7 years of experience in:
• Program or project management
• Engineering or technology-led organisations
• Research and development programmes
• Innovation and technology ecosystems
• Product development or technology commercialisation
• Consulting with significant execution responsibility

Technical Orientation

The Program Manager will work extensively with research institutions and R&D centres across multiple technology domains. While the role does not require deep expertise in every scientific discipline, it does require sufficient technical understanding to:

• Understand research and technology development discussions.
• Engage confidently with scientists, engineers and Principal Investigators.
• Translate technical discussions into programme plans, milestones and operational actions.
• Appreciate technology development pathways, scale-up challenges and commercialisation opportunities.
• Bridge communication between technical teams and operational stakeholders.

Accordingly, candidates should ideally possess:

• An undergraduate degree in Engineering, Science or Technology.
• Experience working with technology-led organisations, engineering projects, research programmes or innovation ecosystems.
• Strong analytical ability and a willingness to quickly learn new technology domains.

Success in the Role

The Program Manager will be expected to progressively build capability across the assigned TRCs and within ITRI. Success will be measured not only by programme delivery but also by the institutional capability created over time.

First 6 Months – Establish & Execute

• Successfully onboard and develop a deep understanding of ITRI's operating model, TRC lifecycle and governance framework.
• Take ownership of a portfolio of 2–5 TRCs and establish a structured programme review cadence.
• Ensure all assigned TRCs have clearly defined Phase 1 plans, milestones, KPIs and governance mechanisms.
• Build strong working relationships with Principal Investigators, Operations Heads and key stakeholders.
• Identify execution bottlenecks early and establish a culture of structured follow-up and timely closure.
• Contribute to defining baseline dashboards and reporting systems for reviews.
• By the End of Year 1 – Operationalise & Institutionalise
• Ensure assigned TRCs achieve agreed Phase 1 milestones within planned timelines.
• Establish consistent programme governance across all assigned TRCs through regular reviews, risk management and performance monitoring.
• Develop operational KPIs, KRAs and dashboards that enable objective measurement of TRC performance.
• Build a robust pipeline of industry problem statements and collaborative opportunities through engagement with industry, start-ups and incubators.
• Contribute to defining programme management templates, review mechanisms and operating processes that can be adopted across future TRCs.
• Contribute to defining ITRI's operational metrics, reporting systems and programme management framework.
• By the End of Year 3 – Scale & Build Institutional Capability
• Successfully supports the operationalisation and growth of multiple TRCs, creating a repeatable and scalable operating model for future centres.
• Establish ITRI's programme management framework as the standard operating model across the TRC portfolio.
• Demonstrate measurable improvements in programme execution, governance, operational performance and stakeholder engagement across the portfolio.
• Build a sustainable pipeline of industry partnerships, start-up collaborations and translational opportunities that strengthen the impact of the TRCs.
• Mentor new programme managers and contribute to building a high-performing programme management capability within ITRI.
• Location
• Remote, India-based, with travel to partner institutions and TRCs across the country as required.
• Originally posted on Himalayas