Academic Program Manager

About Us

The Role

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement academic program strategies aligned with institutional objectives, academic standards, student needs, and industry requirements.
• Manage the full lifecycle of academic programs from initial concept and curriculum development through implementation, evaluation, review, and renewal.
• Coordinate curriculum development and ensure programs maintain appropriate academic rigor, relevance, structure, and learning outcomes.
• Work closely with academic leaders, faculty members, subject-matter experts, instructional designers, and external stakeholders to develop and enhance curricula.
• Ensure academic programs are aligned with applicable educational regulations, accreditation standards, qualification frameworks, and institutional policies.
• Coordinate program approvals, academic reviews, accreditation activities, and regulatory submissions where applicable.
• Develop and maintain program specifications, course structures, learning outcomes, assessment strategies, academic calendars, and program documentation.
• Monitor academic delivery and ensure courses are delivered consistently in accordance with approved curricula and academic standards.
• Coordinate faculty planning, course assignments, teaching schedules, academic resources, and program delivery requirements.
• Work with Faculty and HR teams to identify staffing requirements and support faculty recruitment, onboarding, development, and performance management.
• Monitor student enrollment, progression, retention, completion, academic performance, and overall program outcomes.
• Analyze student performance and identify academic, operational, or engagement issues requiring intervention.

Candidate Profile

• The successful candidate should have strong experience in academic program management, higher education, curriculum development, academic administration, educational operations, or a related discipline.
• Experience within universities, colleges, professional education, vocational institutions, online education, executive education, or other structured learning environments would be advantageous.
• The candidate should have strong academic and operational capabilities combined with excellent stakeholder-management, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Experience working with UAE education regulators, accreditation bodies, qualification frameworks, or GCC higher-education environments is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in academic program management, higher education, curriculum development, or academic administration.
• Strong understanding of academic governance and program-management principles.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and improving curricula and academic programs.
• Knowledge of academic quality assurance and accreditation requirements.
• Experience working with faculty, academic leaders, students, and external stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of student lifecycle management and academic performance.
• Experience developing academic reports, program reviews, business cases, and performance dashboards.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Performance will be measured through a combination of academic, operational, student, quality, and commercial KPIs, including:
• Student enrollment
• Enrollment growth
• Student retention
• Student progression
• Graduation/completion rate
• Student satisfaction
• Academic achievement
• Graduate outcomes
• Faculty performance
• Course evaluation results
• Curriculum review completion