Dean / Director

About Meenakshi Sundararajan Group of Institutions

With an educational legacy dating back to 1947, Meenakshi Sundararajan Group of Institutions (MSGI) has been committed to shaping futures through quality education, innovation, and institutional excellence. Established in 2001, Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College (MSEC) has achieved NAAC A Grade accreditation, NBA accreditation for eligible programs, UGC recognition under Sections 2(f) and 12(B), and autonomous status in 2024.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Dean / Director – Training & Placement, Industry Relations & Collaboration to provide strategic leadership in building and strengthening the institution's industry-academia ecosystem. This senior institutional leadership position requires strong industry networks, corporate relationships, and the ability to translate strategic partnerships into tangible institutional outcomes. The individual will lead the institution's overall strategy for student employability, corporate relations, campus recruitment, faculty development, industry partnerships, collaborative research, and professional development.

Key Responsibilities

• Institutional Strategy & Leadership
• Develop and lead the institutional roadmap for Training & Placement, Industry Relations, and Collaboration.
• Establish measurable goals for student employability, placements, internships, faculty development, and industry partnerships.
• Align institutional capabilities with evolving industry requirements.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Training & Placement function.
• Drive institutional initiatives that strengthen corporate engagement and industry visibility.
• Strategic Corporate Relations & Placements
• Build and nurture relationships with national and multinational corporations, industry leaders, and corporate HR leadership.
• Develop a strong network of recruiters across IT, core engineering, manufacturing, infrastructure, consulting, and emerging technology sectors.
• Lead the institutional campus recruitment and corporate engagement strategy.
• Expand internship, apprenticeship, and employment opportunities.
• Strengthen alumni networks for corporate introductions, mentoring, and recruitment.
• Drive measurable improvements in placement opportunities, recruiter participation, and placement quality.
• Industry–Academia Partnerships
• Establish strategic partnerships with industries, technology companies, research institutions, and professional bodies.
• Initiate and oversee institutional MoUs and long-term industry collaborations.
• Facilitate industry-sponsored laboratories, Centres of Excellence, and technical development facilities.
• Develop industry advisory mechanisms and structured engagement programs.
• Ensure partnerships translate into tangible opportunities for students, faculty, and the institution.
• Student Employability & Professional Development
• Establish an institution-wide employability development framework.
• Ensure structured development of technical, aptitude, communication, and professional competencies.
• Promote internships, industrial exposure, live projects, and industry-led learning.
• Facilitate career guidance, higher education pathways, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Monitor student readiness and drive continuous improvement in career outcomes.
• Faculty Development & Industry Exposure
• Develop a strategic faculty upskilling and professional development framework.
• Facilitate industry internships, technical certifications, workshops, and expert interactions.
• Promote faculty engagement with emerging technologies and industry practices.
• Develop opportunities for industry-sponsored research, consultancy, and collaborative projects.
• Strengthen faculty capabilities through sustained industry–academia engagement.
• Research, Consultancy & Innovation
• Develop collaborative research and consultancy opportunities with industry partners.
• Facilitate industry-sponsored projects involving faculty and students.
• Build relationships with research institutions, innovation centers, and technology organizations.
• Promote interdisciplinary projects addressing real-world industrial challenges.
• Encourage technology development, entrepreneurship, prototyping, and start-up initiatives.
• Institutional Governance & Performance Management
• Work closely with the Principal, Dean Academics, Heads of Departments, and institutional leadership.
• Provide strategic direction to the Head – Training & Placement and departmental coordinators.
• Establish institutional performance indicators and review mechanisms.
• Monitor department-wise placement, training, and industry engagement outcomes.
• Present periodic performance dashboards, strategic reviews, and improvement plans to Management.
• Oversee documentation for relevant accreditation, ranking, and institutional reporting requirements.

What We Are Looking For

• Ph.D. in Engineering, Technology, Management, or a relevant discipline preferred.
• Postgraduate qualification in Engineering, Technology, or Management.
• Significant professional experience in engineering education, institutional leadership, corporate relations, industry engagement, or training and placement.
• Established corporate and industry networks with the ability to develop strategic partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience in campus recruitment, placement strategy, and student employability initiatives.
• Experience in industry–academia collaborations, MoUs, consultancy, research partnerships, or Centres of Excellence.
• Understanding of emerging technologies, evolving industry requirements, and engineering career opportunities.
• Experience in academic administration, institutional governance, and accreditation processes will be an advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic and institutional leadership.
• Strong corporate networking and relationship-building capabilities.
• Industry partnership development and negotiation.
• Strategic placement and recruitment management.
• Student and faculty development.
• Industry–academia collaboration.
• Research and consultancy facilitation.
• Data-driven decision-making and performance management.
• Stakeholder engagement and team leadership.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and execution capabilities.

Key Performance Expectations

The successful candidate will be accountable for measurable institutional improvements in:

• Student placement percentage and quality of placements.
• Active and repeat corporate recruiters.
• Internship and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Strategic industry partnerships and active MoUs.
• Industry-sponsored projects and collaborative research.
• Faculty certifications, professional development, and industry exposure.
• Industry-supported laboratories and Centres of Excellence.
• Student employability and professional readiness.
• Institutional corporate visibility and industry engagement.
• Overall effectiveness of the Training & Placement ecosystem.

Reporting & Institutional Coordination

• Reports to: Secretary / Principal / Designated Management Authority, as per institutional governance.
• Works closely with: Head – Training & Placement, Dean Academics, Heads of Departments, Research Leadership, Centre of Excellence Heads, HR Department, Industry Partners, Corporate Organisations, and Alumni Networks.

Our Expectations

We envision Training & Placement as much more than a recruitment function. We aim to create an integrated institutional ecosystem where academic learning connects with industry expectations, students gain access to meaningful professional opportunities, faculty continuously evolve with industry developments, and corporate partnerships translate into long-term institutional growth. We are looking for a leader who can bring the vision, relationships, experience, and execution capabilities to make this happen.

📍 Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

🏛️ Institution: Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College (MSEC)

Part of: Meenakshi Sundararajan Group of Institutions (MSGI)