Executive Director, University Careers and Student Employability Service

Are you passionate abouts students & their career prospects? Do you want to lead a centre of excellence and influence the national development agenda?

The UAEU is embarking on an exciting initiative to enhance student employability and develop a careers service aligned in scale and function with services of high ranking international universities with a strong reputation for graduate employability.   This is part of a wider transformation programme within the University to equip students to contribute to the nation’s ambitious development and diversification plans.

The services and programs will emphasize employability through skills and competency development for career readiness, educating students to make informed choices, proactive student-employer networking and the creation of pathways to fulfilling careers and lifelong learning.

The services will design and develop the tools students need to identify and access employment opportunities. It will itself become a centre of expertise in the region, attuned to the skills requirements of the local and national development agenda across a broad range of industries.  As a key partner working with the academic Colleges it will offer evidence-based strategic direction for the UAEU academic curricula and student activities.

The role requires an experienced strategic approach to development of the service and fostering sustainable connections within and outside the University.  In addition, the Director will have considerable operational careers advisory experience to develop and lead the function effectively. Reporting to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs) the Director will lead three service units.

Objectives

1. Lead an ambitious redevelopment and expansion of the UAEU Employability, Development and Careers Education Service
2. Advise on and oversee the direction and management of the service to assist all student, alumni, faculty, staff and employer clients
3. Steer the design and implementation of mechanisms and programs for career education, career identification and search, and pursuit of employment opportunities commensurate with formal academic pursuits
4. Identify /design mechanisms to expand the client/user base and scope of services to ensure provision of the widest array of services possible to the broadest mix of students, faculty members, staff, and corporate clients.
5. Champion professional development, professional standards, and performance enhancement  across the institution.

Candidate requirements Qualifications

Master's degree in a discipline directly related to employment, career development and planning, or other relevant human resources specialisms.

Experience and skills

A minimum of 10 years of combined university career services and/or corporate recruitment management experience is preferred.

Skilled in leadership, strategic direction, operations and people management in support of service and institutional priorities. Demonstrating a strong understanding of the global and regional career development context; nationwide professional contacts in both the university and employment sectors.

Demonstrated ability to achieve active collaboration with academics, employers, alumni and professional organisations to enhance the provision of services.  A confident public speaker with excellent written and oral communication skills in English and, preferably, also in Arabic.

A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered based on qualifications and experience

Application process

Informal enquiries can be made to contact name and email Professor Rachel Johnson Student Affairs Adviser, racheljohnson@uaeu.ac.ae, tel +971 3 713 5447

Applications including a full CV and covering letter should be made through the UAEU jobs website https://jobs.uaeu.ac.ae/index.jsp

position reference 310013, post number 2562

Closing date for applications 30 June 2020