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 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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…