MANAGER-LABS & CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

Manager – Labs & Centres of Excellence

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Role Overview

Ratan Tata Innovation Hub (RTIH) is establishing and operating advanced Labs and Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to support innovation, product development, prototyping, testing, and applied research for startups, MSMEs, students, and industry partners.

The Manager – Labs & Centres of Excellence will be responsible for planning, setting up, operationalising, and managing these labs and CoEs. The role requires a strong blend of technical understanding, operational leadership, and ecosystem coordination to ensure that RTIH’s labs function as high-quality, outcome-oriented innovation facilities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Planning & Setup of Labs and CoEs

• Conceptualise, plan, and support the establishment of sector-specific labs and Centres of Excellence aligned with RTIH’s innovation and entrepreneurship objectives.
• Prepare implementation plans covering infrastructure requirements, equipment planning, budgets, timelines, and performance indicators.
• Coordinate procurement, vendor engagement, installation, commissioning, and safety compliance for lab infrastructure and equipment.

2. Lab Operations & Facility Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of labs and CoEs, ensuring optimal utilisation, safety, and reliability of facilities.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety guidelines, access policies, and usage frameworks.
• Ensure maintenance, calibration, and lifecycle management of lab equipment and assets.

3. Prototyping & Technical Support

• Enable end-to-end idea-to-prototype and prototype-to-validation support for startups, MSMEs, students, and innovators.
• Facilitate access to design, fabrication, testing, and validation capabilities available within RTIH labs.
• Support iterative product development and engineering refinement activities.

4. Programmes & Centre Activities

• Design and manage lab-led programmes such as prototyping cohorts, innovation challenges, hackathons, workshops, and training programmes.
• Support applied research, product pilots, and joint development initiatives with ecosystem partners.
• Track outputs such as prototypes developed, pilots supported, and capabilities created.

5. Stakeholder & Ecosystem Engagement

• Coordinate with industry partners, academic institutions, research organisations, startups, and MSMEs for collaborative use of lab facilities.
• Support partnership frameworks, MoUs, and joint programme execution related to labs and CoEs.
• Act as a nodal point for external stakeholders engaging with RTIH lab infrastructure.

6. Team & Resource Management

• Manage lab engineers, technical staff, interns, and support personnel associated with labs and CoEs.
• Coordinate with external experts, mentors, and service providers as required.
• Ensure effective scheduling and allocation of lab resources.

7. Monitoring, Reporting & Sustainability

• Define and monitor performance metrics for labs and CoEs, including utilisation and outcomes.
• Prepare periodic progress reports and impact summaries for internal and government review.
• Support sustainability of labs through service offerings, memberships, sponsored programmes, and project-based engagements.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in

  Engineering / Technology / Manufacturing / Design / Science

  or a related discipline.

Desirable

• Master’s degree (M.Tech / MBA / MS / MSc or equivalent) in

  Engineering, Manufacturing, Design, Innovation, or Technology Management

  .

Experience

• 6–10 years

  of relevant professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
• Technical labs, Centres of Excellence, R&D or prototyping facilities
• Manufacturing, product development, or engineering services
• Innovation hubs, incubators, maker spaces, or startup ecosystems
• Experience in setting up, operating, or managing lab facilities or technical programmes is highly desirable.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Understanding of product development, prototyping, and manufacturing workflows
• Project planning and execution capability
• Operational and facility management skills
• Ability to work across government, industry, academia, and startup ecosystems
• Strong coordination, communication, and reporting skills
• Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail

Compensation

How to Apply

·       Interested candidates can apply via LinkedIn

·       Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.