Job Title: Executive Director of Graduate Studies
Institution: American University in the Emirates (AUE)
Reporting To: Vice President for Research

POSITION OVERVIEW

The American University in the Emirates (AUE) seeks an experienced and visionary Executive Director of Graduate Studies to lead, develop, and enhance the quality and impact of the University’s graduate programs. This role provides strategic direction, academic oversight, and administrative leadership for all Master’s and Doctoral programs, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, regulatory requirements, and international standards.
The Executive Director is responsible for academic policy development, student lifecycle management, faculty coordination, and research integration. A key function of this position is to cultivate a supportive, innovative, and globally engaged graduate education environment through collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including colleges, industry, alumni, and government bodies.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Ph.D. from a recognized, accredited institution.
• Full Professor rank held for at least five years.
• Minimum 5 years of academic and administrative leadership, including 2 years specifically in graduate education management.
• Strong publication record in Scopus-indexed journals.
• Proven experience supervising Master’s and Ph.D. theses.
• Chaired or actively served on doctoral viva committees.
• Deep understanding of UAE and GCC higher education systems.
• Demonstrated success in program development, accreditation, and research administration.
• Experience in managing cross-functional academic teams and governance bodies.
• Familiarity with national and international accreditation standards (CAA, SACSCOC, ABET, AACSB, NASAD, ACEJMC).
• Bilingual proficiency (Arabic and English) is preferred

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic leadership and planning.
• Academic and operational governance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Data-driven decision-making and reporting.
• Organizational and administrative efficiency.
• Familiarity with digital tools and systems in higher education

• Strategic and Academic Leadership
• Provide visionary leadership and long-term strategic planning for graduate studies at AUE.
• Drive innovation in program design, curriculum development, and delivery of graduate programs.

Policy, Compliance, and Accreditation

• Develop, implement, and review graduate education policies and procedures in accordance with local (CAA) and international accreditation standards (e.g., SACSCOC, ABET, AACSB, NASAD, ACEJMC).
• Oversee compliance with academic policies, regulations, and institutional governance structures.
• Lead institutional and programmatic accreditation and reaccreditation processes related to graduate education.

Graduate Program Oversight

• Oversee admissions criteria, progression benchmarks, thesis/dissertation processes, and graduation requirements.
• Coordinate academic quality assurance and standardization across all graduate programs in collaboration with Deans and Program Directors.
• Ensure the integrity and transparency of student assessment and supervision processes.

Student Support and Services

• Manage graduate student services, including scholarships, research assistantships, academic advising, and professional development.
• Oversee initiatives related to graduate student success, retention, and career readiness.
• Support digital transformation in graduate student services for enhanced user experience and accessibility.

Research, Reporting, and Data Analysis

• Maintain an active research portfolio and support graduate research initiatives.
• Prepare strategic reports, benchmarking data, and performance indicators (KPIs) on enrollment, retention, completion rates, and research output.
• Supervise thesis compliance and support processes.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and sustain partnerships with industry, alumni, and government entities to ensure relevance and applicability of graduate education.
• Represent AUE at academic forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships at national and international levels.

Faculty Engagement

• Promote professional development, mentoring, and engagement of graduate faculty.
• Foster cross-college collaboration and faculty participation in graduate governance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Director of Thesis Support and Compliance
• Graduate Studies Support Officer
• Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Ph.D. from a recognized, accredited institution.
• Full Professor rank held for at least five years.
• Minimum 5 years of academic and administrative leadership, including 2 years specifically in graduate education management.
• Strong publication record in Scopus-indexed journals.
• Proven experience supervising Master’s and Ph.D. theses.
• Chaired or actively served on doctoral viva committees.
• Deep understanding of UAE and GCC higher education systems.
• Demonstrated success in program development, accreditation, and research administration.
• Experience in managing cross-functional academic teams and governance bodies.
• Familiarity with national and international accreditation standards (CAA, SACSCOC, ABET, AACSB, NASAD, ACEJMC).
• Bilingual proficiency (Arabic and English) is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic leadership and planning.
• Academic and operational governance.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Data-driven decision-making and reporting.
• Organizational and administrative efficiency.
• Familiarity with digital tools and systems in higher education.