Head of Postdoctoral Affairs

About the role

The Head of Postdoctoral Affairs leads the strategic direction, program design, and daily operations of MBZUAI's postdoctoral portfolio. Reporting to senior university leadership, the incumbent owns the postdoctoral program area, setting priorities, designing guidelines, and representing postdoctoral affairs across the institution.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for postdoctoral affairs aligned with university research goals.
• Liaise with divisional deans and academic leaders to gather governance input, ensure alignment of guidelines, and address discipline‑specific development needs.
• Convene and participate in governance mechanisms, representing postdoctoral affairs on university committees and contributing to policy development.
• Continuously evaluate and innovate postdoctoral programs, adopting new tools and approaches to improve efficiency and quality.
• Coordinate onboarding, orientation, and appointment processes in partnership with HR, immigration, and academic units.
• Design and deliver career development and mentoring programs, oversee Individual Development Plans, and provide resources to strengthen PI‑postdoc relationships.
• Build a vibrant postdoctoral community through events, networking, and support for a postdoctoral association.
• Maintain a data dashboard tracking population, engagement, outcomes, and report on career placements and KPIs.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, AI, computer science, engineering or related field; doctoral degree preferred.
• 8–12 years of experience in academic research environments, including supervision or management of postdoctoral researchers.
• Demonstrated experience in academic governance, policy development, or research administration at a research‑intensive institution.
• Experience in higher‑education leadership supporting faculty and research personnel, preferably in a STEM or AI‑focused graduate environment.
• Familiarity with international research ecosystems, postdoctoral career pathways, and UAE higher‑education regulatory frameworks.
• Fluency in Arabic and/or prior experience in UAE higher education is a plus.