Executive Director, Higher Education

PPL Dynamics; Doha; On-site; QAR 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

PPL Dynamics in Qatar seeks an Executive Director – Higher Education to provide strategic leadership and oversight for a diverse portfolio of higher education institutions. The role will shape academic operations, research, student success, and institutional collaboration while guiding governance and resource management.

You will lead cross‑functional initiatives, foster innovation, ensure quality assurance, oversee budgets, and build senior partnerships with universities, government

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Higher Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or related discipline.
• Master's degree required; doctorate/PhD highly preferred, particularly for academic leadership.
• Strong understanding of higher education governance, accreditation, quality assurance, academic operations, research, innovation, and institutional strategy.
• 15–20+ years of progressive leadership experience, ideally within higher education, education, government, public‑sector, or large complex institutional environments.
• At least 8–10 years in senior leadership / executive management positions with responsibility for strategy, operations, governance, and organizational performance.
• Experience managing or overseeing multiple institutions, campuses, academic entities, or a diversified higher education portfolio is highly desirable.
• Proven experience working with university presidents/rectors, provosts, senior government officials, boards, regulators, and other high-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation, institutional development, organizational change, or strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision and direction for the higher education portfolio.
• Provide executive leadership and oversight of academic and administrative operations across higher education entities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with university leadership, government authorities, strategic partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead initiatives aimed at enhancing student experience, academic excellence, research impact, innovation, and institutional performance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable governance, accreditation, regulatory, and quality assurance requirements.
• Oversee budgets, financial performance, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness across the portfolio.
• Drive organizational transformation, modernization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish performance frameworks and monitor the achievement of strategic and operational objectives.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across higher education institutions and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, innovation, research collaboration, and institutional development.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing executive and leadership teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Represent the higher education portfolio at senior-level meetings, forums, and strategic engagements.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership on higher education matters, emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance & compliance

Stakeholder management

Budget & financial oversight

Change management

Executive leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Doctorate/PhD preferred

Job description

Job Summary

The Executive Director – Higher Education will provide strategic leadership and oversight for a diverse higher education portfolio, ensuring excellence across academic operations, research, innovation, student success, institutional collaboration, and organizational performance.

The position will lead cross-functional strategic initiatives, promote operational excellence, ensure effective governance and resource management, and foster a culture of academic excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision and direction for the higher education portfolio.


• Provide executive leadership and oversight of academic and administrative operations across higher education entities.


• Establish and maintain strong relationships with university leadership, government authorities, strategic partners, and other key stakeholders.


• Lead initiatives aimed at enhancing student experience, academic excellence, research impact, innovation, and institutional performance.


• Ensure compliance with applicable governance, accreditation, regulatory, and quality assurance requirements.


• Oversee budgets, financial performance, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness across the portfolio.


• Drive organizational transformation, modernization, and continuous improvement initiatives.


• Establish performance frameworks and monitor the achievement of strategic and operational objectives.


• Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across higher education institutions and stakeholders.


• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, innovation, research collaboration, and institutional development.


• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing executive and leadership teams.


• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.


• Represent the higher education portfolio at senior-level meetings, forums, and strategic engagements.


• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership on higher education matters, emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Higher Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a related discipline.


• Master's degree required; doctorate/PhD highly preferred, particularly for candidates coming from an academic leadership background.


• Strong understanding of higher education governance, accreditation, quality assurance, academic operations, research, innovation, and institutional strategy.


• 15–20+ years of progressive leadership experience, ideally within higher education, education, government, public‑sector, or large complex institutional environments.


• At least 8–10 years in senior leadership / executive management positions with responsibility for strategy, operations, governance, and organizational performance.


• Experience managing or overseeing multiple institutions, campuses, academic entities, or a diversified higher education portfolio is highly desirable.


• Proven experience working with university presidents/rectors, provosts, senior government officials, boards, regulators, and other high-level stakeholders.


• Experience leading large-scale transformation, institutional development, organizational change, or strategic initiatives.