Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) Director

Zayed University; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive tax-free salaries in the U

Cash housing

Annual vacation airline tickets for员工及

Educational subsidies for children

Healthcare for employee and sponsored

Job summary

Zayed University is seeking a seasoned leader to direct the Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) activities in Dubai. You will steer strategic planning, programme development, business growth, and stakeholder engagement to align with market demand and university policies.

Responsibilities include leading strategy, budget management, partnerships, and the delivery of short courses, certifications, and hybrid learning models while ensuring quality and compliance across all PaCE activities.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required; 15+ years of experience with at least 10 years in a managerial role.
• Professional certifications in a relevant field are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and monitor the department strategy aligned with Zayed University's objectives.
• Oversee KPI performance and drive improvements to support strategic goals.
• Manage budget allocation and ensure adherence to approved plans.
• Lead business development to expand professional training services and partnerships.
• Direct delivery of PaCE programs, including short courses, certifications, and hybrid models.
• Coordinate with external experts to maintain high-quality content.
• Develop and maintain a central training catalog and LMS infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance through documentation, reporting, and QA across PaCE activities.
• Support faculty and student participation in entrepreneurial training and incubator programs.

Education

Master's Degree

Job description

The Opportunity

Responsible for directing Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) activities, including strategic planning, development, and execution of PaCE programmes, business development, training catalog oversight, and stakeholder engagement, to ensure alignment with market demand, client expectations, and the University’s policies and procedures.

The Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial

• Lead the development and monitor the execution of the Department's strategy and align with ZU's strategic objectives, ensuring effective and efficient achievement of departmental operations.
• Oversee the Department’s performance through defined KPIs and targets, and continuously identify and recommend improvements to support the realisation of ZU's strategy.
• Direct the allocation of budget across the Department and ensure full adherence to approved plans and rectify any deviations in a timely manner.
• Provide the relevant organisational unit with consolidated budget input as required, ensuring that the Department’s requirements are appropriately addressed in the overall budget planning process.

Operational

• Lead the development and execution of business development strategies to expand B2B and B2C professional training services in line with University’s objectives.
• Lead the establishment of strategic partnerships with industry, government, and community stakeholders to generate revenue, expand reach, and ensure programme sustainability.
• Lead the development of tailored proposals and promotional strategies to position PaCE as a leading provider.
• Direct the development, planning, and internal coordination of full-scale and customised training programmes to ensure strategic alignment, resource optimisation, and successful delivery of the same.
• Lead the development and delivery of professional education programmes, including short courses, certifications, and hybrid learning models, to meet evolving market demands.
• Lead the engagement with external subject-matter experts to maintain high-quality content development and delivery across all training programmes.
• Lead the development and maintenance of a centralised training catalog and digital infrastructure, including LMS platforms, to ensure seamless access to current and upcoming training offerings.
• Direct institutional compliance by ensuring documentation, reporting, and quality assurance mechanisms across all PaCE training activities.
• Direct institutional initiatives that promote faculty and student participation in entrepreneurial training, venture creation, and business incubation programmes offered by the PaCE department.
• Perform ad-hoc activities related to the job duties, as requested by the direct supervisor.

People Management

• Review consolidated workforce planning reports, talent acquisition strategies, and budgets at the Department level to ensure adequate staffing for optimal operational smoothness, and submit to the appropriate authority for final approval.
• Set performance management objectives for all reportees and perform mid-year and year-end performance reviews.
• Identify talent for pivotal roles from a succession management standpoint to ensure business continuity.
• Provide guidance to reporting managers on people management matters.
• Manage organisational units within the Department and ensure effective leadership to adequately manage human capital.

The Requirements

• Master's Degree with a minimum of 15 years of experience and at least 10 years in a managerial position.
• Certification in a relevant field is preferred.

The Benefits

The University’s benefits package is highly attractive, with competitive tax-free salaries in the U.A.E., cash housing, annual vacation airline tickets for the employee and immediate family, educational subsidies for children, and healthcare for the employee and sponsored family members.

• competitive tax-free salaries in the U.A.E.
• cash housing
• annual vacation airline tickets for the employee and immediate family
• educational subsidies for children
• healthcare for the employee and sponsored family members