Assistant Manager/ Deputy Manager - Communications & Alumni Engagement

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About Ashoka University

Ashoka University is India's leading liberal education and research university, committed to nurturing ethical, socially conscious leaders through academic excellence and experiential learning. The Young India Fellowship (YIF) Ashoka's flagship residential postgraduate diploma program has, over the past 15 years, built a community of over 2,300 Fellows and alumni who are driving change across sectors and geographies.

Marking 15 years of YIF in 202526, the Fellowship enters a new phase of storytelling, engagement, and impact celebrating its evolution while strengthening its brand and community for the next decade.

About the Role

The Assistant / Deputy Manager Communications & Alumni Engagement will play a pivotal role in leading the 15 Years of YIF communications and engagement initiatives, while driving the ongoing branding and relationship-building efforts for the programme.

This is a creative and execution-driven role that involves marketing, alumni relations, content strategy, and event management. The ideal candidate will combine strong storytelling instincts with operational discipline, managing campaigns, events, and relationships that deepen the YIF's visibility and community connect.

Key Responsibilities

Below are key areas where we expect the ideal candidate to contribute to effectively. The final set of roles and responsibilities will depend on the skills, qualifications and fit of the recruited candidate. The YIF Team operates in a manner where each team member is responsible for core areas that leverage their strengths and interests, but is also expected to be agile and contribute to the programme's overall goals.

1. Alumni Relations & Storytelling

• Track YIF alumni journeys and strengthen alumni engagement through content, features, and collaborations, in coordination with key stakeholders
• Co-create and maintain the YIF Alumni Impact Archive a living digital repository and coffee-table publication highlighting 500-1000 alumni success stories
• Identify and activate alumni ambassadors for outreach, mentorship, and admissions support, ensuring strong representation during the anniversary year.

2. Events & Community Engagement

• Plan and execute flagship 15-year events that support outreach and alumni engagement in key locations, and on the Ashoka campus, alongside smaller alumni-led gatherings across cities.
• Coordinate across teams for YIF's institutional events such as Orientation, Friends of YIF, and Convocation, ensuring alignment of messaging and brand experience.
• Manage logistics, vendor coordination, and communications for all marquee events, ensuring high visibility and stakeholder engagement.

3. Branding & Strategic Communications

• Conceptualise and co-create multi-channel communication campaigns to showcase 15 years of YIF's impact and evolution.
• Support colleagues with digital storytelling initiatives including video series, podcasts, and social media campaigns spotlighting alumni achievements and faculty excellence.
• Create consistent brand narratives through content, newsletters, and visual collateral aligned with YIF's positioning and admissions cycle.

4. Partnerships & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a liaison across internal and external stakeholders related to alumni engagement, marketing and outreach (YIF Team, CDO, Alumni Relations Office, YIF Alumni Council etc).
• Cultivate relationships with partners, corporates, and collaborators to enhance brand positioning and event reach. Ensure all communications, outreach, and event deliverables reflect the YIF's values and institutional identity.
• Map and manage partnerships with colleges, youth organisations, and student-led communities to strengthen YIF's institutional reach. Maintain structured databases of partner institutions, track engagement progress, and support the design and documentation of scalable outreach models.

5. Insights, Analytics & Reporting

• Insights & Reporting: Manage dashboards tracking outreach performance, admissions funnel, and campaign ROI. Analyse engagement and conversion data to identify priority colleges, cities, and applicant segments. Prepare periodic reports with actionable insights for leadership and the Outreach team.
• CRM Integration & Process Support: Serve as a bridge between Outreach and Admissions teams to ensure alignment between outreach activities and funnel data. Maintain accurate CRM records of outreach efforts, leads, and touchpoints; monitor follow-ups and conversions; and flag bottlenecks for timely intervention and process improvement.
• Prepare reports for leadership summarising visibility, alumni activation, and impact metrics linked to the YIF@15 campaign.

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Media, or related fields.
• 24 years of relevant experience in branding, marketing communications, alumni relations, or event management.
• Excellent written, visual, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organisational and stakeholder management abilities.
• Comfort with digital tools, social media platforms, and basic analytics.
• A proactive, creative professional who enjoys balancing storytelling with structured execution.

Why Join

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead the 15 Years of YIF campaign and more, amplifying one of India's most pathbreaking educational initiatives. The role combines creativity, community, and purpose offering a front-row seat to YIF's next chapter of growth, storytelling, and impact.