Executive Director, Higher Education
Job Summary
The Executive Director Higher Education will provide strategic leadership and oversight for a diverse higher education portfolio ensuring excellence across academic operations research innovation student success institutional collaboration and organizational performance.
The position will lead cross-functional strategic initiatives promote operational excellence ensure effective governance and resource management and foster a culture of academic excellence innovation collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Develop and execute the strategic vision and direction for the higher education portfolio.
- Provide executive leadership and oversight of academic and administrative operations across higher education entities.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with university leadership government authorities strategic partners and other key stakeholders.
- Lead initiatives aimed at enhancing student experience academic excellence research impact innovation and institutional performance.
- Ensure compliance with applicable governance accreditation regulatory and quality assurance requirements.
- Oversee budgets financial performance resource allocation and organizational effectiveness across the portfolio.
- Drive organizational transformation modernization and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Establish performance frameworks and monitor the achievement of strategic and operational objectives.
- Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across higher education institutions and stakeholders.
- Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships innovation research collaboration and institutional development.
- Lead mentor and develop high-performing executive and leadership teams.
- Foster a culture of accountability excellence innovation and continuous improvement.
- Represent the higher education portfolio at senior-level meetings forums and strategic engagements.
- Provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership on higher education matters emerging trends opportunities and challenges.
Requirements:
- Bachelors degree in Education Higher Education Business Administration Public Administration Management or a related discipline.
- Masters degree required; doctorate/PhD highly preferred particularly for candidates coming from an academic leadership background.
- Strong understanding of higher education governance accreditation quality assurance academic operations research innovation and institutional strategy.
- 1520 years of progressive leadership experience ideally within higher education education government public-sector or large complex institutional environments.
- At least 810 years in senior leadership / executive management positions with responsibility for strategy operations governance and organizational performance.
- Experience managing or overseeing multiple institutions campuses academic entities or a diversified higher education portfolio is highly desirable.
- Proven experience working with university presidents/rectors provosts senior government officials boards regulators and other high-level stakeholders.
- Experience leading large-scale transformation institutional development organizational change or strategic initiatives.