IIT Hyderabad Head of Operations job vacancy: Full guide for applicants

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad or IITH) has announced a Head of Operations opening on a contractual basis to lead a Centre of Excellence at the Institute. This article explains what the role involves, who can apply, what documents matter most, and how to submit a strong application before the deadline. It is written for an international audience who may be tracking senior operations roles in India’s top public institutions, while also clarifying a key point: the official notification invites applications from eligible Indian nationals.

Overview of the IIT Hyderabad Head of Operations role

IITH is an Institute of National Importance under the Government of India. The advertised post is Head of Operations, with one vacancy and an upper age limit of 50 years for the unreserved category.

This position is designed for a senior operations leader who can run a centre-level program at a high-performing academic ecosystem. In practice, that means balancing execution discipline with stakeholder management across faculty, staff, and external partners.

Key dates and selection mode

The official advertisement specifies:

• • Commencement of

    online applications: 04-12-2025

  • Last date to apply: 25-12-2025 by 05:00 PM IST

  • Mode of selection: Interview

  • Interview date: Shortlisted candidates will be informed by email

  • Anticipated start date: Immediately

If you are applying from outside India, plan your documentation and availability early. Even when interviews are online, last-minute document gaps can cost you a shortlist.

Why this IIT Hyderabad operations leadership role matters

Senior operations roles in Indian Institutes of Technology are different from typical corporate roles. You are expected to deliver outcomes, but you also operate inside a governance-heavy environment with compliance standards, documented processes, and structured communication.

Moreover, the advertised role is positioned as a leadership post to run a Centre of Excellence, driving strategy, operations, partnerships, and program delivery. This is relevant for candidates who have already led multi-team programs and want a mission-driven role with visibility at institute leadership level.

Compensation, tenure, and work expectations

The post offers consolidated remuneration up to ₹2,00,000 per month. The engagement is purely temporary for 11 months, with possible extension based on performance and institute requirements.

Working hours are also clearly described: 8 hours per day, 6 days

a week, with weekend or holiday work when required by the reporting authority.

If you are comparing this with industry roles, note two realities:

1. 1. You may get strong autonomy and institutional impact.

   2. You will work within formal approvals, audits, and official record-keeping.

Eligibility and who this is for

This section matters because many international readers assume IIT roles are open globally. For this advertisement, eligibility is explicit.

Citizenship requirement

The general instructions state: the applicant must be a citizen of India.

So, international professionals who are not Indian citizens should treat this post as a benchmark role to understand IIT hiring, rather than a currently eligible opening.

Essential qualifications and experience

For Head of Operations, the essential requirements include:

• • Master’s degree in engineering/technology with First Class or equivalent grade.

  • 10–12 years of relevant post-qualification experience in operations of a commercial organization.

  • Within that, 3 years should involve running operations of a business unit as a profit centre.

This experience profile signals that IIT Hyderabad is seeking someone who

has owned delivery and performance, not only supported operations.

Desirable qualifications that can strengthen your shortlist

The notification lists these as desirable:

• • MBA from leading recognized institutes, or at least 3 years in Technology Management/Entrepreneurship in lieu of MBA.

  • Experience with innovation centers, academic or research organizations, or government programs.

  • Knowledge of IPR, financial procedures, and administrative operations in government institutions.

  • Proficiency with MS Office, databases, and project management tools.

  • Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving ability.

If you do not have an MBA, you can still present your leadership credibility through entrepreneurship, technology management, and measurable delivery outcomes.

Job responsibilities and what the institute expects

The role description emphasizes leadership of a Centre of Excellence and daily operational control. Responsibilities include:

• • Managing day-to-day administration and coordination across teams and partners.

  • Maintaining records, reports, databases, and documentation.

  • Scheduling meetings, recording minutes, and managing official correspondence.

  • Liaising between IIT Hyderabad and the Wadhwani Foundation.

  • Supporting budget preparation, compliance, and audits.

  • Coordinating innovation activities, including intellectual property generation and protection.

  • Ensuring alignment with government rules, policies, and institutional SOPs.

  • Organizing workshops, seminars, and training programs under the initiative.

What

this means for your resume positioning

To be competitive, your CV should not read like a generic operations profile. Instead, it should show:

• • Ownership of end-to-end execution (not only coordination).

  • Proof of building processes (SOPs), reporting systems, and audit readiness.

  • Stakeholder management in multi-partner environments.

  • Familiarity with innovation programs, IP workflows, or incubation-style ecosystems.

Step-by-step: how to apply

The advertisement is clear on the method: candidates must apply online using the link provided, and no other mode is accepted.

Application route

• • Apply via the official application link provided in the notification (Google Form).

  • The broader careers access point is available under “Temporary Positions” on the IIT Hyderabad careers page.

  • No application fee is required for this position.

Documents you should prepare before you start

Your application will be rejected if you do not upload relevant certificates as instructed. Prepare these in advance:

• • Proof of date of birth.

  • Educational certificates for the qualifying degrees.

  • Experience certificates in the required format.

Importantly, IIT Hyderabad specifies that pay slips, office orders, or appointment letters are not accepted as proof of experience. The experience certificate must clearly mention your designation, period of service, nature of assignment, and pay, and it should be on letterhead with proper authorization details.

Tips, common mistakes, and expert advice

Tips that improve shortlist probability

• • Quantify profit-centre experience. Mention budget size, revenue responsibility, cost optimization, or delivery KPIs.

  • Demonstrate governance readiness. Highlight audit exposure, compliance reporting, and policy implementation.

  • Show communication range. Include examples of board-level notes, MoMs, partner communication, and formal drafting.

  • Map your experience to the listed responsibilities. A simple “role-to-requirement” alignment section in your CV can help reviewers screen faster.

Common mistakes to avoid

• • Missing experience certificates or submitting “informal” proof (like payslips).

  • Writing a generic cover note that ignores CoE leadership, SOPs, budgeting, and partner liaison.

  • Underplaying documentation skills. This role is operations-heavy, but it is also record-heavy.

A practical example of strong positioning

Instead of writing: “Managed operations for multiple teams.”

Write: “Led cross-functional operations for a profit-centre unit, standardized SOPs, improved reporting cadence, and ensured audit-ready documentation across programs.”

This communicates leadership, systems thinking, and compliance maturity—exactly what institute roles reward.

Final thoughts

The IIT Hyderabad Head of Operations opening is a senior, outcomes-driven role that blends operations leadership with governance discipline. If you meet the essential criteria, treat your application like an executive submission: document-heavy, metrics-backed, and tightly aligned to the responsibilities. Moreover, do not wait until the final day, because missing certificates or weak experience proof can lead to rejection. Finally, keep checking the institute’s careers updates, since IIT Hyderabad posts official updates on its website.

Summary Table

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Feature	Details
Program	Head of Operations (Contractual) – IIT Hyderabad (Advt. No. IITH/2025/CS/38)
Host	India (Telangana, Sangareddy, Kandi)
Funded	Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (Government of India institute)
Duration	11 months (extension possible based on performance and requirement)
Study	Not applicable (full-time contractual role)
Eligibility	Indian citizen; Master’s in Engineering/Technology (First Class); 10–12 years operations experience with 3 years running a profit-centre unit (as per notification)
Financial	Consolidated remuneration up to ₹2,00,000 per month (statutory deductions applicable)
Fields	Not specified; operations leadership for a Centre of Excellence within an academic/innovation ecosystem
Deadline	25/12/2025 (05:00 PM IST)
Official	Head of Operations (Contractual) – IIT Hyderabad

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