NTA General Manager TCNO Recruitment 2026

National Testing Agency (NTA) is hiring 1 General Manager - Test Centre Network & Operations (GM-TCNO) on a contract basis at its head office in New Delhi. If you have a B.E./B.Tech or graduate degree with a postgraduate qualification in Management and 12+ years of large-scale operations experience, you can apply by email. The last date to apply is 24 August 2026. This senior leadership role comes with a competitive, negotiable consolidated monthly pay package for an initial 3-year contract, extendable based on performance, and you will report directly to the Director General of NTA.

National Testing Agency (NTA) General Manager - Test Centre Network & Operations Recruitment 2026 - 1 Post

National Testing Agency (NTA), the autonomous testing body under the Ministry of Education that conducts JEE (Main), NEET (UG), UGC-NET, CUET and several other national-level exams, has released a notification for 1 General Manager - Test Centre Network & Operations (GM-TCNO) post on contract basis. NTA is going through a major operational transformation and wants a senior leader to run its nationwide network of Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Pen-and-Paper Test (PBT) centres spread across 500-plus cities in India and select international locations. This is one of the most operationally critical positions in NTA — the incumbent reports directly to the Director General and will travel extensively across India to coordinate with State and District authorities, empanelled vendors, and field staff. Your key result areas will include zero major centre-level disruptions during every examination cycle, on-time and accurate centre allotment for every candidate, and measurable improvement in candidate satisfaction on infrastructure, hygiene and security.

Who Can Apply?

NTA is looking for a proven operations leader with a track record of running large-scale, multi-site, mission-critical operations. Here is what you need:

• Qualification: You need a B.E./B.Tech or graduate degree from a recognised university or institution of repute, plus a postgraduate qualification (MBA/PG Diploma in Management/Master's degree) in Operations Management, General Management, Public Administration or an allied discipline.
• Experience: You need a minimum of 12 years of post-qualification experience in large-scale, multi-site operations or network management, and at least 5 years of that must be at a senior leadership level (Head of Operations, Regional Operations Head, Senior GM - Network) with end-to-end accountability for a network of 200+ sites or locations.
• Preferred background: Prior experience in examination operations, online assessment delivery, or computer-based testing (CBT) network management is desirable. Experience in banking branch networks, retail/QSR chains, telecom tower/circle operations, fuel-station/logistics networks, or election-machinery deployment is also valued, along with familiarity with GFR, GeM and public procurement norms.
• Skills: You should have strong operations and process discipline, excellent project-management skills, outstanding stakeholder-management ability, a data-driven decision-making orientation, and strong crisis-management capability with a willingness to travel extensively.

Age Limit

• You should preferably be below 55 years old as on the last date of application.
• Age Relaxation: Relaxation may be considered for exceptional candidates as per NTA norms.

Salary

• You will get a consolidated monthly pay package, commensurate with your qualifications, experience and industry benchmarks.
• The package is competitive and negotiable for exceptional candidates, as decided by the competent authority at NTA.
• This is a purely contractual engagement and does not confer any right to a regular appointment or absorption in NTA.

Selection Process (No Written Exam)

The selection will be done in 2 stages:

1. Shortlisting: Based on your qualifications, experience and suitability for the position.
2. Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview before a Selection Committee, with the option of a short presentation on your vision for test-centre network excellence at NTA.

Meeting the minimum qualifications and experience does not guarantee an interview call — NTA can fix its own shortlisting criteria and limit the number of candidates called. The Selection Committee's decision will be final and binding, and NTA reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process at any stage without assigning any reason.

How to Apply

1. Download the application format at Annexure-I from the official NTA notification.
2. Fill in your personal, educational and experience details.
3. Attach a detailed CV and a brief (maximum 2-page) write-up on your vision for test-centre network excellence at NTA.
4. Attach self-attested copies of certificates supporting your qualifications and experience.
5. Email your application to dir-admin@nta.gov.in with the subject line "Application for the Post of GM - Test Centre Network & Operations, NTA".
6. If you are already employed in Government/PSU/Autonomous Bodies, route your application through proper channel or carry a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the interview.

Your application must reach NTA within 30 days from 25 July 2026, i.e. by 24 August 2026. Applications received late, or in any form other than prescribed, will not be entertained. Incomplete applications, or applications not accompanied by the required supporting documents, are liable to be summarily rejected, and canvassing in any form will lead to disqualification.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 25 July 2026
• Last Date to Apply (by email): 24 August 2026

• Define and maintain a comprehensive empanelment framework for CBT and PBT test centres across India, covering infrastructure, technology and security standards
• Lead the technical evaluation, due-diligence and selection of new test centres in coordination with State and District authorities
• Plan and allocate centre capacity for each examination cycle, ensuring fair, transparent city-wise candidate distribution
• Enforce centre-quality standards covering hygiene, drinking water, seating, ventilation and accessibility for PwBD candidates
• Lead real-time examination-day operations, coordinating control rooms, flying squads and observers across the country
• Build and maintain institutional linkages with State and District authorities for security, logistics and infrastructure support
• Manage empanelled vendor and service-provider relationships, including SLAs, audits and performance scoring
• Lead and mentor the in-house Test Centre Operations team and report operational KPIs to the Director General