Job Description
Entity: Aga Khan UniversityLocation: Karachi, PakistanIntroduction:The Aga Khan University is a private, international university committed to international standards of excellence in teaching, research and service. The AKUH’s teaching hospital is accredited by the prestigious Joint Commission International for achieving the highest international healthcare standards.Student Affairs and Services (SA&S) is the one stop department for all activities and support pertaining to student life beyond classrooms and clinics. It works closely with faculty, staff, and leadership across all entities to foster student centeredness and facilitate a successful academic journey at AKU. In line with international best practices adapted to the local context, SA&S functions to prepare students for entering society as innovative, collaborative, and compassionate leaders in their fields.As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.Job Role / Responsibilities:Reporting to the Vice Provost, Students, you will be in role of critical leadership position. You will drive the implementation of the student experience policy and strategies and support student orientation programmes across all academic programmes and entities in Pakistan. You will oversee extracurricular student-related programmes, identify the development needs of students, maintain a productive learning environment and stay up to date on important student affairs.Key Responsibilities:You will be responsible for;developing a broad portfolio of services that support students in Pakistanproviding vision, leadership, and strong strategic direction to enhance the overall quality of the students’ experienceensuring that students are provided with support and activities that promote their social, cultural, and recreational life, build community, and provide opportunities for leadership developmentworking directly with other stakeholders across the University to understand the student experience through student voice feedback channels and analysis of student dataensuring students are well informed and relevant stakeholders are notified of the student experience through an up-to-date communications strategyleading key student experience projects, utilizing data to monitor and evaluate the service's activity and impact and make strategic recommendations for changeworking closely with the academic administration to identify student cohorts requiring assistance and support and proactively organise and ensure delivery of the necessary supportinvolving in managing the onboarding of international students and providing the support needed to settle into the university communityserving as a role model for students; ensure compliance with the University’s Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures; and manage the unit’s budget and other administrative functionsproviding leadership and accountability for the administration, development, and improvement of non-academic, extracurricular, and co-curricular student programmes and experiences both inside and outside the University communityresponding to the academic needs of different programmes and how student life activities are enmeshed with these in collaboration with their academic leadership. In addition, work closely with the academic leadership of programmes to be responsive to the diverse needs of students who join different programmes in Pakistandeveloping a commitment to ethical behaviour by working closely with students to develop and maintain a code of honour and professional and social responsibilitydepending on the issue at hand, serve as the first point of contact for students and any other entity that may need assistance and be stakeholders. Refer matters to the Vice Provost (Students) and/or their designate where appropriatethrough engagement with responsible University personnel, influencing change to ensure strong support for student activities and cultural, recreational and community life initiativesproviding leadership for developing and implementing communication and promotional plans and schedules of student-centered activities and eventsidentifying issues that affect the quality of campus life and bring them to the attention of the Vice Provost (Students) and/or their designate to enable them to keep in touch with the “pulse” of campus lifeengaging students with Aga Khan University as their “Alma Mater” by fostering university citizenship at AKU to develop sustainable connections as future alumni. The incumbent will build a community of ‘alumni in waiting’ by engaging students in various activitiesdeveloping and monitoring the Student Experience office operations budget and coordinating with programmes and staffserving as an advocate for the needs and interests of students in informal and formal situationstaying connected with various student committeesserving as the University officer responsible for administrating the Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures for students enrolled in programmes at AKU in Pakistan. Eligibility Criteria / Requirements:You should have;A Master’s degree with knowledge of the Higher Education Sector and its administration and understanding of a dynamic, diverse university environment. Experience in student counselling, higher education institution policy development and experience in developing and maintaining excellent student experience.IT Skills, including the use of Word, Excel Databases, and Outlook. Knowledge and experience in social media and web content management systems will be preferable.Ability to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusivity, ensuring AKU is a welcoming and inclusive place where all students feel like they belong and can thrive.sensitive and tactful approach to working with a diverse student community and strong cultural awareness with an understanding of and commitment to equal opportunitiesexcellent communication skills (both verbal and written) for interaction with students, university departments, and external organisations. In addition to excellent interpersonal skills with the proven ability to be helpful, patient, and empatheticenthusiasm and ability to work with and motivate others in a teamprevious experience managing a high-volume workload requiring speed and accuracy with variable and often demanding timescales, attention to detail, and ability to work well under pressure. a proactive approach to working maturely and flexiblyan understanding of the importance of confidentiality and safeguarding when dealing with vulnerable populations.Knowledge and ExperienceExtensive knowledge and experience of:Extensive knowledge of developing programmes and proposals for student activities, leadership, counselling, and problem-solving skills.Project management delivery, planning and prioritising work and organising small projects.Data analysis and evaluation and the use of data when influencing decision-making.Building relationships, internally and externally, to provide an excellent student experience.Building and managing a team.Working in a mentoring, counselling, and supportive role.Preparing and delivering workshops for strengthening soft skills.Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted.
