Associate Academic Specialist - CBGL

New York University; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 200,880 - 290,160; Full time

Job summary

New York University in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Associate Academic Specialist to enhance community-based global learning experiences in varied courses. This role integrates faculty instruction and community partnerships to foster student engagement and social responsibility.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields and experience in education or program coordination. Strong abilities in logistics, instructional design and community development are crucial.

A passion for experiential education and cultural competence is essential, as is the ability to manage multiple academic activities simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Experience working with faculty and students in a tertiary education environment.
• Strong passion for social responsibility and community-based learning.
• Proven ability to design and deliver educational programs.

Responsibilities

• Support the academic and operational delivery of community-based global learning activities.
• Coordinate logistics for CBGL activities including transportation and scheduling.
• Maintain relationships with experts, institutions, and community organizations.

Skills

Community-based global learning

Experiential education

Academic program support

Faculty collaboration

Instructional design support

Adult learning

Student engagement

Fieldwork coordination

Community partnership development

UAE cultural orientation

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, community development, social sciences, humanities, international education, adult learning, or a related field

Job description

Job Details

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Higher Education

Function: Education

Experience: Experience working with faculty and students at tertiary education level

Job Type: Full-time fixed-term contract

Salary: 18000-26000

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Role Context

The Associate Academic Specialist - CBGL will support the academic and operational delivery of community-based global learning activities across semester, J-Term, and summer courses. The role connects faculty instruction, student preparation, local community partnerships, logistics, risk planning, and educational programming into a coherent learning experience. This position is important because it helps transform classroom learning into applied, place-based engagement where students can understand social responsibility, cultural context, community development, and discipline-specific fieldwork through carefully designed academic activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Review course syllabi and recommend appropriate community-based global learning activities that support faculty teaching goals and student learning outcomes.
• Work with faculty members on the development, refinement, and finalization of CBGL activities for J-Term, summer, and regular semester courses.
• Assist with instructional design for fieldwork assignments, community engagement activities, reflective learning tasks, and experiential education components.
• Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with experts, institutions, community organizations, and co-educators in the UAE and wider region.
• Conduct feasibility visits across the UAE to evaluate community partnership options, support instructional planning, and assess health, safety, access, and risk considerations.
• Coordinate logistics for CBGL activities, including reservations, transportation, payments, permits, scheduling, venue arrangements, and health and safety requirements.
• Support student mobility needs when required, including visa coordination and purchasing of flight or train tickets for approved academic activities.
• Prepare students and faculty for engagement in the UAE cultural and legal context through pre-departure orientations, briefing materials, and cultural etiquette guidance.
• Organize the Local Education Officers program, including selection, training, supervision, and ongoing support for student LEOs assisting faculty with CBGL activities.
• Supervise student assistantships and provide guidance on assigned academic support, programming, and administrative tasks.
• Oversee and plan the operational budget for office essentials, gifts, stock management, ordering, and related administrative needs.
• Support reporting requirements for the CBGL Team by compiling updates, activity summaries, participation details, and program documentation.
• Collaborate with NYUAD departments to develop programs while following established policy guidelines, internal procedures, and academic expectations.
• Create and update programming materials such as presentation slides, reports, handbooks, orientation resources, and faculty-facing documents.
• Maintain the team Google Shared Drive and Global Education shared drive with organized files, current templates, records, and program materials.
• Keep an updated understanding of literature and best practices in community-based learning, experiential learning, place-based learning, adult education, and fieldwork design.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in education, community development, social sciences, humanities, international education, adult learning, or a related field.
• Experience working with faculty and students in a tertiary education, university, academic affairs, global education, student learning, or program coordination environment.
• Higher degree holders with interest in academic support, experiential education, community engagement, or adult learning will also be considered.
• Strong passion for social responsibility, community-based learning, global education, cultural engagement, and meaningful student development.
• Proven ability to design, support, or deliver educational programs for adult learners or university students.
• Understanding of instructional methodologies, experiential learning models, field-based education, and reflective learning practices.
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills with the ability to prepare clear reports, handbooks, presentations, and orientation materials.
• Strong interpersonal skills with empathy, cultural competence, and the ability to work with diverse students, faculty, community partners, and administrative teams.
• Practical coordination skills across logistics, scheduling, documentation, budgeting, travel support, and program operations.
• Ability to assess feasibility, identify risk factors, support health and safety planning, and follow institutional policy requirements.
• Comfortable managing multiple academic activities across different terms while maintaining accuracy, responsiveness, and service quality.
• Organized, collaborative, and confident working in a multicultural university environment.

Skills Set

• Community-based global learning
• Experiential education
• Academic program support
• Faculty collaboration
• Instructional design support
• Adult learning
• Student engagement
• Fieldwork coordination
• Community partnership development
• UAE cultural orientation
• Pre-departure orientation
• Risk and safety coordination
• Program logistics
• Student mobility support
• Visa coordination
• Travel coordination
• Budget tracking
• Student assistant supervision
• Local Education Officers program
• Presentation development
• Report writing
• Handbook preparation
• Google Shared Drive management
• Academic administration
• Stakeholder coordination
• Higher education operations
• Cultural competence
• Written English communication
• Oral English communication
• Social responsibility programming