Executive Director - Office of the Managing Partner

Khalifa University; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Executive Director for the Office of the Managing Partner. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, ensuring operational excellence and stakeholder alignment while managing all functions within the office. Candidates should have at least 14 years of experience, including 5 years at the executive level, along with a Master's degree or higher. This role will drive capacity building and manage complex relationships within the educational landscape of Abu Dhabi.

Qualifications

• Minimum: A Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration, or a related field. Preferred: Ph.D.
• Minimum: 14 years with at least 5 years at an executive level (e.g. Vice President, Assistant Vice Chancellor, or equivalent) within a higher education institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide global oversight of all relevant functions, including General Support Services and Academic Services.
• Ensure effective operation of section leads and maintain robust internal governance.
• Define and execute the facility strategy in alignment with institutional goals.
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with all relevant stakeholders.

Job description

This position is with Khalifa University in partnership with a leading government entity. The Executive Director - Office of the Managing Partner (OMP) provides strategic leadership and institutional oversight for all functions within the OMP. This role is responsible for the advancement of an Abu Dhabi leading entity, ensuring operational excellence, robust stakeholder alignment, and the phased activation of the Managing Partner function. The Executive Director acts to maintain strong internal governance, facilitate collaboration among internal and external partnerships and guarantee compliance with all contractual obligations.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Institutional Management & Governance

• Provide global oversight of all relevant functions, including but not limited to: General Support Services, Academic Services, Student Services, and Quality Assurance of all Academic Partners.
• Ensure relevant section leads operate effectively within scope, avoiding duplication and inefficiency.
• Direct and maintain robust internal governance across the Operating Campus.
• Lead OMP-wide performance evaluation processes.

Resource Management & Staffing

• Oversee hiring and onboarding of senior management, faculty, and staff
• Ensure appropriate resource allocation and prioritization across functions
• Drive capacity building to support the transition of this entity from the Initial Operating Capability to the Full Operating Capability

Strategy & Executive Decision-Making

• Define and execute the facility strategy in alignment with the afore-mentioned institutional goals and philosophy of the partnership requirements.
• Establish and enforce governance structures that ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Lead OMP activation, including phased rollout of organizational functions and hiring of key roles.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Act as the senior executive representative of the Managing Partner in engagements and Academic Partner relevant counterparts.
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with all relevant stakeholders both internally and externally, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Represent the identities Academics as a whole both internally and externally, as required by the operating model.

Other Considerations

• Demonstrated success in leading and managing large, multidisciplinary teams and executing large-scale organizational change and/or institutional activation/startup projects.
• Proven ability to manage complex contractual and relationship-based obligations ensuring all parties adhere to set standards.
• Expertise in resource management, budget oversight, and strategic prioritization of institutional initiatives.
• Deep understanding of higher education governance structures, compliance, and regulatory requirements (especially those related to academic quality assurance and program accreditation).
• Experience in defining, executing, and monitoring institutional strategy and translating high-level goals into operational plans.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum: A Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration, or a related field. Preferred: Ph.D.
• Minimum: 14 years with at least 5 years at an executive level (e.g. Vice President, Assistant Vice Chancellor, or equivalent) within a higher education institution.