IIM Udaipur Recruitment 2026: Head, AI Centre of Excellence – Apply Online @ iimu.ac.in

Overview of the Head – AI CoE Position at IIM Udaipur

Indian Institute of Management Udaipur is establishing an AI Centre of Excellence (CoE), a flagship facility built around state-of-the-art GPU compute infrastructure to advance research, teaching, innovation and entrepreneurship in artificial intelligence. The Institute is recruiting one Head – AI Centre of Excellence on a contractual three-year term to establish, operationalise and scale this Centre.

The appointed Head will own the CoE's strategy, operations, budget, team and external partnerships, and will drive measurable outcomes to evolve the CoE into a self-sustaining, regionally and nationally recognised AI innovation platform within three years. The role works in close partnership with a designated Faculty Coordinator who sets the academic and research direction.

Post-Wise Vacancy & Pay Scale

Note: This is a contractual position. Remuneration is not a fixed pay scale and will be determined by IIM Udaipur based on the candidate's credentials.

Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualification

• Educational Qualification: Ph.D. or Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science or a related field.
• Experience: Typically 10+ years of relevant leadership experience, ideally in academic, research or innovation-focused environments, including experience running or operating Centres of Excellence or AI labs of similar scale and nature.
• Fundraising & Partnerships: Demonstrated track record of fundraising, revenue generation, or building sponsored-research and industry partnerships.
• Initiative Management: Demonstrated capability in successfully managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Preferred: Experience operating in a faculty-driven, multi-stakeholder environment; strong understanding of AI technologies, applications and infrastructure (deep technical expertise is valued but does not substitute for leadership and partnership capability).

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking and financial acumen, including budget and resource management.
• Strong leadership, team-building, stakeholder management, coordination and execution skills.
• Ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders — faculty, students, industry, startups and government agencies — and to negotiate and build partnerships.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to represent the CoE externally at conferences, industry forums and with prospective partners.
• Commitment to the ethical and responsible use of the AI CoE.

Key Responsibilities Summary

• Define and implement the CoE's strategy, operating model, performance indicators and three-year self-sustainability roadmap.
• Liaise with government agencies, industry partners, academic institutions, funding agencies and technology providers; pursue sponsored research, consultancy, training, grants and fee-based services.
• Steward the CoE's GPU and compute infrastructure — capacity planning, scheduling, uptime, hardware lifecycle, vendor management and security of high-value computing assets.
• Help faculty identify research and teaching use cases; integrate CoE capabilities into Executive Education modules; mentor students; collaborate with the IIMU Incubation Centre.
• Build, lead and develop the CoE team; own the CoE budget, financial planning and periodic reporting.
• Develop and implement data-security policies and ethical, responsible-use guidelines in alignment with the CoE Governance Committee.

Selection Process & Contract Terms

The selection will be conducted by IIM Udaipur through a process appropriate for a senior leadership appointment, which may include shortlisting based on academic qualifications, experience and achievements, followed by an interview or presentation. The applicable pay band/grade will be communicated during the selection process.

• Term: Contractual, three-year term. Renewal will be considered based on performance and on the CoE's progress toward its self-sustainability and impact objectives.
• This is not a permanent or sanctioned cadre appointment. There is no assurance of automatic renewal or continuation beyond the initial three-year contract.

Required Documents & Instructions for Candidates

• Doctoral or Master's Degree Certificate in AI, Computer Science, Data Science or a related field.
• All Consolidated Mark Sheets and Transcripts for Relevant Qualifications.
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) with full professional and academic history.
• Experience Certificates / Appointment Letters for 10+ years of relevant leadership experience on official letterhead.
• Evidence of Fundraising, Revenue Generation, or Sponsored Research / Industry Partnerships (if applicable).
• List of Publications, Research Projects or Innovation Outcomes (if applicable).
• Two recent passport-size photographs and a Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar / Passport / PAN).

All applications must be submitted online before 15 October 2026. IIM Udaipur is an equal-opportunity employer.

Important Links

• IIM Udaipur Head – AI CoE Official Notification & Application Page
• IIM Udaipur Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for IIM Udaipur Head – AI CoE recruitment?

The last date to submit the online application for the Head – AI Centre of Excellence position at IIM Udaipur is 15 October 2026.

Is this a permanent government job?

No. This is a contractual appointment for a three-year term. Renewal will be considered based on performance and the CoE's progress toward self-sustainability. This is not a permanent or sanctioned cadre post and does not carry regular government pension or job security benefits.

What is the salary or remuneration for the Head – AI CoE at IIM Udaipur?

Remuneration is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The applicable pay band or grade will be indicated during the selection process. No fixed salary figure has been disclosed in the notification.

Is there an application fee?

The official notification does not state any application fee for this position.

What are the minimum qualifications required?

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science or a related field, with typically 10+ years of relevant leadership experience in academic, research or innovation-focused environments.

Where is the job location?

The position is based onsite at the Indian Institute of Management Udaipur campus in Udaipur, Rajasthan.