Chief of Staff

Sharjah Education Academy; Sharjah; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Sharjah is looking for a Chief of Staff to manage key institutional initiatives and support the Chancellor. The role requires a Master's degree and over 10 years of experience in a leadership position, along with strong skills in communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. The incumbent will oversee operations, serve as an advisor, and facilitate collaboration across departments. This fast-paced role is central to maintaining effective executive functioning and institutional excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of significant experience in a leadership position within a large public university or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and coordinate all administrative and operational activities of the Chancellor’s Office.
• Ensure alignment across departments and support effective decision-making.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chancellor and primary liaison to stakeholders.
• Build consensus and cohesion among departments and leaders.
• Assist in the implementation of the Academy’s strategic plan.

Skills

Ability to manage large, diverse organizations

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving skills

Decision-making skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Ability to handle sensitive data with discretion

Interpersonal and people management skills

Bilingual (Arabic/English)

Education

Relevant post-graduate qualification (minimum Master’s level)

Job description

The Chief of Staff is a new senior executive role within the Chancellor’s Office at Sharjah Education Academy. The position represents the interests, priorities, and strategic agenda of the Chancellor by managing, integrating, and advancing key institutional initiatives and objectives.

As part of the senior leadership team, the Chief of Staff oversees and coordinates all administrative and operational activities of the Chancellor’s Office, ensuring alignment across departments and supporting effective decision-making.

The role is fast-paced, highly collaborative, and central to maintaining the smooth functioning of the Academy’s executive operations. The incumbent serves as a trusted advisor to the Chancellor and acts as a primary liaison to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity, cohesion, and institutional excellence in all engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Strategic Implementation: Assures efficient operation of assigned functional areas of the Academy and provides direct support to the Chancellor with the primary goal of implementing the institution’s vision and mission.
• Operations Management: Ensures the efficient operation of the Chancellor’s office, carries out special projects, and works with senior leadership on matters with institution-wide impact.
• Advising and Communication: Serves as a trusted advisor to the Chancellor. The role involves representing the institution at various meetings and events, conveying perspectives, and serving as a spokesperson for the Academy when necessary.
• Coordination: Serves as a liaison to high-level university stakeholders. The Chief of Staff works to build consensus and cohesion among different departments and leaders toward common goals. Oversees the planning of committee meetings, focus groups, etc. Serves on different groups (i.e. councils, committees, or task forces) to coordinate activities and facilitate goals and initiatives.
• Planning: Assists in the implementation of the Academy’s strategic plan and provides feedback on policies and procedures in coordination with senior staff.

Required Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Relevant post-graduate qualification (minimum Master’s level). Significant experience (10+ years) in a leadership position within a large public university or a related field is expected.
• Skills and Competencies:
  • Demonstrated ability to manage large, diverse organizations.
  • Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present information to top management and public groups effectively.
  • Ability to handle sensitive, confidential data with the highest discretion.
  • Proven ability to develop strategic plans and policies, and a deep understanding of the higher education landscape.
  • Strong interpersonal and people management skills.
  • Bilingual (Arabic/English).

Sharjah Education Academy aims to spread a culture of continuous improvement in all educational institutions.