Director for Academic and Student Affairs, School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence

Job description

Academic and Student Affairs Management and Coordination: Provides administrative management and coordination of the School's academic and student affairs to ensure their continuous, coordinated, and effective operation. Functions: Organizes and coordinates the work of staff responsible for the School's academic and student affairs within the scope of delegated authority. Plans and monitors the execution of the School's budget related to academic and student affairs, including expenditure forecasting and preparation of proposals for budget reallocation within delegated financial authority, and reports to the Vice Dean and Dean. Coordinates cross-functional initiatives aimed at standardizing and improving academic administration and reporting processes within the School. Upon the Vice Dean's instruction, coordinates specific operational and administrative matters during the Vice Dean's absence within delegated authority, without acting in the respective position unless otherwise specified by a separate administrative document. Administrative Support of the Educational Process Coordinates the administrative and operational support of the educational process in accordance with the University's internal regulations to ensure the effective delivery of the School's academic programs. Functions : Coordinates operational support for the School's academic activities, including administrative support for faculty members and ensuring that classrooms and educational facilities are properly equipped in cooperation with relevant University units. In collaboration with the Vice Dean, coordinates and participates in the development, review, and approval of the School's academic programs and/or courses. Participates in quality assurance activities for academic programs and in the preparation and implementation of accreditation processes. Supports the planning, implementation, and monitoring of academic modules. In collaboration with the Vice Dean, coordinates the preparation of class schedules and allocation of teaching workload among faculty members. Advises newly hired employees and faculty members on academic policies, teaching, and learning matters within the School. Admissions, Student Support, and Academic Analytics: Organizes and coordinates administrative processes related to student admissions and support, as well as the analysis of academic data to improve the quality of services provided by the School. Functions: Coordinates the activities of the School's admissions committees and the administrative support of student recruitment and admissions processes. Cooperates with relevant University units on student support matters, including student accommodation on campus. Coordinates the monitoring of students' academic performance, attendance, and achievements, analyzes results, and prepares recommendations for improving academic services. Ensures the preparation of statistical and analytical reports related to students, academic programs, and courses within the scope of responsibility. Partnerships and School Development Develops cooperation with internal and external partners and participates in implementing the School's development plans within the scope of functional responsibilities. Functions: Coordinates the academic component of joint projects and collaborative initiatives with local and international partners. Ensures cooperation with other University schools, as well as public and private sector organizations, on matters related to academic collaboration. Participates in the development and implementation of the School's strategic plan and action plan, as well as in the preparation of materials for the School's marketing plan in cooperation with the relevant University unit. Risk Management, Process Improvement, and Compliance Ensures compliance with applicable requirements and participates in risk management and process improvement activities to support the sustainable operation of the School. Functions: Participates in identifying, assessing, managing, controlling, and monitoring risks within the assigned area of responsibility and prepares relevant reports. Contributes to the continuous improvement and optimization of the School's academic and student administration business processes. Promotes the University's values, ethical principles, and standards. Performs assignments from the immediate supervisor and the University management in a timely and proper manner within the scope of assigned duties and authority. Complies with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the University's internal regulations. Ensures proper recordkeeping, safeguarding, and transfer of official documentation, digital information, and tangible assets in accordance with the University's established procedures, including upon termination of employment or transfer to another position. Higher education, preferably a Master's degree, in one or more of the following fields: - Education management; - Information technology; - Computer science; - Mathematics; - Social sciences/Humanities; - Management; Preference will be given to candidates who obtained their degree from a higher education institution where English is the language of instruction. A PhD degree is considered an advantage. Fluency in Kazakh, Russian, and English (both written and spoken). One of the following qualifications is required: -At least seven years of professional experience in a relevant or related field, including at least three years in a managerial position with staff management responsibilities; or -For candidates holding a PhD degree – at least three years of relevant professional experience obtained after the award of the PhD. Experience in higher education and/or an international environment is preferred. Knowledge: Legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of education and science, including the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Status of Nazarbayev University, Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, and Nazarbayev Fund" ; Principles of organizing and administering the educational process, curriculum development, and quality assurance; Student admissions, academic support, and student services processes; Fundamentals of budget planning and control within the scope of functional responsibilities; Fundamentals of risk management; Local and international education markets; Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace applications (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, Drive). Skills and Competencies: Leadership and coordination of team activities, including planning and monitoring work processes; Project and change management; Analytical skills, report preparation, and data-driven decision-making; Negotiation, business communication, and presentation skills; Ability to coordinate and collaborate effectively with faculty members, students, and external stakeholders; Understanding of the principles of student support, advising, and student development; Strong organizational skills, accountability, and results-oriented mindset. Recruitment and selection process Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation. Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process. They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English. You are encouraged to share your views and values to identify how they fit into Nazarbayev University core values