Senior Associate - Academic Affairs

Position Summary
Lead the design and development of academic programs in alignment with the KAPSARC School of Public Policy’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. Collaborate with faculty members and subject matter experts to refine curricula, ensure the highest standards of education are met, remain current with industry demands and best practices, and identify gaps affecting overall program effectiveness and performance to recommend improvement plans and corrective actions.

Major Accountabilities

Strategy and Planning

• Contribute to the design and implementation of Academic Programs’ strategic and operational plans, objectives, and goals, ensuring alignment with the KAPSARC School of Public Policy strategy.

• Develop Academic Programs performance indicators, drive the achievement of targets, and continuously monitor progress toward the realization of objectives.

• Prepare and present regular reports on Academic Programs’ progress and outputs to relevant stakeholders in line with reporting requirements.

Budget Management

• Participate in the Academic Programs budgeting cycle and provide input to the budgeting process.

• Ensure the effective utilization of the Academic Programs budget and report accurately on progress made and challenges encountered.

• Investigate and propose initiatives that result in a positive financial impact for Academic Programs and mitigate financial and operational risks.

Academic Programs Planning

• Research and analyze the latest trends, standards, teaching methods, instructional techniques, and assessment approaches in public policy education to integrate best practices into Academic Programs.

• Project management of the design and implementation of academic programs’ structure and foundation based on approved program goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with the KAPSARC School of Public Policy strategy.

• Review academic programs’ admission criteria, define academic standing and graduation criteria, determine potential delivery methods, and submit them to the Standing Committee for necessary approvals.

• Develop and update the programs catalog, ensuring adherence to the National Qualifications Framework and the Unified Saudi Standard Classification of Educational Levels and Specializations, and submit it to the College Council and Standing Committee for necessary approvals.

• Manage the internal assessment of resource capabilities, identify required faculty profiles and expertise, and ensure proper program development and execution.

• Collect and follow up on the development of evaluation frameworks, guidelines, and performance metrics to assess learning effectiveness and ensure alignment with program objectives and accreditation standards.

Program Development and Execution

• Manage the implementation of the design of course offerings, ensuring alignment of materials, textbooks, syllabi, and multimedia resources with program objectives, as well as regulations and frameworks set by the College Council and Standing Committee.

• Build and maintain communication channels with relevant subject matter experts, fostering their active involvement in shaping program outlines and structures while ensuring adherence to higher education standards, accreditation requirements, and best practices.

• Review and follow up to obtain approvals for developed program schedules, and coordinate with the Admissions and Registration function to ensure effective course enrollment and academic program delivery.

• Provide support to faculty members and facilitate access to necessary resources and professional development opportunities to maintain high teaching standards.

• Manage academic program delivery and operational logistics in line with prescribed qualifications and high-quality program delivery standards.

Program Evaluation and Improvement

• Analyze and assess existing programs to identify gaps, coordinate with external stakeholders, including industry experts, to evaluate strengths and weaknesses, and recommend necessary improvements.

• Review and assess program KPIs, identify challenges, and define relevant corrective and quality assurance measures to ensure high-quality course delivery.

• Assess the KAPSARC School’s program KPIs and academic program requirements in coordination with the Associate Dean, collect necessary feedback, and identify relevant corrective actions and improvement plans.

• Review periodic reports highlighting performance evaluations, identify gaps and areas for improvement, including program expansions, curriculum revisions, new courses, and instructional approach adjustments, and formulate relevant training needs and corrective actions.

• Follow up on the implementation of corrective actions and assess the effectiveness of changes through ongoing evaluation.

• Perform any other duties the organization may require.

Policies and Processes

• Manage the implementation of academic policies, processes, procedures, and controls across all areas of activity, ensuring high-quality and cost-effective results.

• Ensure the continuous improvement of academic systems, processes, and practices, taking into account leading practices, changes in international standards, and shifts in the business environment that require proactive action plans.

• Monitor day-to-day activities to ensure compliance with stipulated policies and procedures.

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes, and practices, considering global standards, productivity enhancement, and cost reduction.

People Management

• Contribute to fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment within the Academic Affairs function.

• Support knowledge sharing and effective coordination among team members and relevant stakeholders.

• Provide guidance and constructive feedback, when applicable, to ensure alignment with academic and operational objectives.

• Promote adherence to institutional policies, professional standards, and ethical practices.

Reporting

• Analyze information and prepare reports and dashboards in a timely and accurate manner to meet requirements, policies, and quality standards.

Related Assignments

• Undertake other duties as directed, including supporting other areas of administration across the college department, as needed.

Qualifications and Experience 
Recommended Qualifications and Years of Experience
•    Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field, with 4-6 years of relevant experience; or
•    Master’s degree in Business Administration or a related field, with 3-5 years of relevant experience.