Program Manager / Senior Program Manager

Position: Program Manager / Senior Program Manager, Climate Centre of Excellence

Reporting manager: AVP, Climate Centre of Excellence

Location: Bengaluru (IIM Bangalore campus)

Experience: 10–14 years

Who we are

The N.S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) is IIM Bangalore's startup hub and incubation centre, structured as a Section 8 not-for-profit. Its mission is to support ventures that can create significant economic and societal impact. This financial year alone, NSRCEL has engaged with 1,106 ventures through 13 program tracks across 82 towns in India.

NSRCEL is supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and partners with corporates and foundations to support idea-stage and early-revenue entrepreneurs in climate-tech, women entrepreneurship and social impact.

About the Climate Centre of Excellence

The Climate Centre of Excellence (Climate CoE) is NSRCEL's climate vertical. It runs a five-pillar platform (Incubation, Capital, Research, Policy and Global Innovation) and works with 100+ climate startups every year across multiple corporate-sponsored programs, backed by a network of 250+ mentors.

The CoE works with corporate partners such as Maruti Suzuki, Hindustan Unilever and Pernod Ricard India Foundation, and with institutional partners such as KREDL, IISc and UNSW. Through its Sunrise Sectors work, it also tracks emerging sectors to shape where NSRCEL incubates next.

The role

You will lead a portfolio of the Climate CoE's corporate-sponsored programs and own its results: program outcomes, partner relationships, the P&L and the team that delivers it. You will also help shape what the CoE builds next, from new program formats to its work across Capital, Research, Policy and Global Innovation.

We are hiring at Program Manager or Senior Program Manager level, depending on experience. A Program Manager (about 6–9 years) owns one or two programs and their budgets. A Senior Program Manager (about 9–12 years) owns a portfolio of programs and its P&L, leads a team and drives new partnerships and revenue.

What you will do

Programs and portfolio

·       Own end-to-end delivery of your programs, including design, selection, curriculum, mentoring, outcomes and M&E, against agreed logframe milestones and KPIs.

·       Design new program formats for emerging climate sectors, drawing on the Sunrise Sectors thesis and what partners and founders need.

·       Set up and maintain the venture metrics system so the CoE can show what its programs achieve for startups.

P&L and partnerships

·       Own the program P&L: topline and net revenue, direct and indirect cost allocation, overhead contribution, forecasts and utilisation.

·       Be the senior contact for corporate and CSR sponsors. Run reviews, manage expectations and drive renewals and expanded scope.

·       Lead proposals and pitches for new sponsors (Senior Program Manager level), and work with legal and finance to structure contracts.

·       Ensure strict financial and compliance discipline across all programs, including utilisation certificates, audits and partner reporting.

Across the CoE's pillars

·       Connect portfolio startups to capital, including investors, grant programs and blended finance.

·       Contribute to research, policy engagement with state and central government bodies, and international partnerships.

·       Represent NSRCEL at ecosystem forums, roundtables and conferences, and publish sector briefs and points of view.

Team and operations

·       Lead, coach and review a team of Assistant Managers and Program Associates. Set clear goals that support the CoE's targets and build their capability.

·       Build SOPs and AI-enabled workflows that let the team run more programs without adding headcount at the same rate.

·       Travel to meet ventures, partners and ecosystem organisations.

 What success looks like in your first year

·       Programs delivered against every partner milestone, with sponsors renewing or expanding.

·       Net revenue and overhead contribution targets met for your portfolio.

·       At least one new sponsor or program signed (Senior Program Manager level).

·       A team with clear goals that meets them, and at least one team member ready for a bigger role.

What you will need to bring to the table

·        10–14 years of overall experience, including at least 3 years managing programs in incubation or acceleration, VC, CSR or philanthropy, climate or sustainability, or consulting.

·       A track record of owning large budgets and senior external stakeholders, and delivering against contractual milestones.

·       Financial acumen: comfort building and defending a budget, a forecast and a P&L.

·       People leadership experience (required at Senior Program Manager level).

·       Partnership building, structured writing and strong presentation skills.

·       Understanding of India's climate-tech and startup ecosystem, with relevant networks.

·       A Master's degree (MBA, sustainability, engineering, public policy or related) is preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.

·       Hands-on familiarity with AI productivity tools (this is a must).

What will set you apart

·       Having started a business or non-profit, or led an important function in a startup.

·       Depth in one or more climate segments such as energy transition, mobility, agri and food systems, circularity, water or climate finance.

·       Experience working with government or multilateral bodies, or running programs across geographies.