Head of Postdoctoral Affairs

Job Purpose:

MBZUAI is seeking a Head of Postdoctoral Affairs to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the University’s postdoctoral community. The role is responsible for shaping institutional policy, governance frameworks, and professional development strategies that support postdoctoral researchers across all academic divisions and research centers. The Head of Postdoctoral Affairs ensures that postdoctoral scholars are effectively integrated into MBZUAI’s research environment, receive structured mentorship and career development support, and operate within clear institutional guidelines aligned with UAE regulations and international best practices. The role focuses on policy leadership, program design, academic oversight, and cross-functional coordination distinct from admissions, housing, career services, and other graduate operational units.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Policy Framework

• Develop and implement a comprehensive institutional strategy for postdoctoral affairs aligned with MBZUAI’s research mission and academic priorities.
• Establish and maintain postdoctoral governance frameworks, policies, and procedural guidelines in accordance with UAE regulatory requirements and global research standards.
• Standardize appointment categories, performance review processes, and renewal frameworks for postdoctoral researchers.
• Provide policy interpretation and advisory support to faculty and research leadership on postdoctoral matters.

Academic Oversight & Program Governance

• Oversee institutional processes related to postdoctoral appointments, renewals, transitions, and terminations, ensuring academic consistency and compliance.
• Ensure clarity in expectations, roles, and performance standards for postdoctoral scholars across divisions.
• Monitor adherence to institutional guidelines governing supervision, research ethics, and scholarly conduct.
• Lead periodic review and enhancement of postdoctoral governance structures.

Professional Development & Research Integration

• Design and oversee structured professional development programs tailored to postdoctoral researchers, including academic progression, research leadership, grant readiness, and industry pathways.
• Promote mentorship best practices in collaboration with faculty supervisors.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary engagement and integration of postdoctoral scholars within MBZUAI’s research ecosystem.
• Support initiatives that enhance research impact, visibility, and scholarly output of postdoctoral researchers.

Institutional Coordination & Advisory

• Serve as the primary institutional point of contact for postdoctoral matters across academic divisions.
• Coordinate with Academic Affairs, Research Office, HR, and Finance on policy implementation and appointment governance, without duplicating their operational responsibilities.
• Advise senior leadership on postdoctoral workforce planning and capacity strategy.
• Prepare institutional reports and dashboards on postdoctoral population trends, performance metrics, and strategic indicators.

Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of postdoctoral programs and initiatives.
• Benchmark MBZUAI’s postdoctoral policies and frameworks against leading international research universities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the postdoctoral experience and institutional competitiveness.

Representation & External Engagement

• Represent MBZUAI in national and international forums related to postdoctoral affairs.
• Contribute to institutional positioning as a global hub for AI research talent development.
• Engage with relevant regulatory and funding bodies on matters impacting postdoctoral governance.

Other Duties

• Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.

Academic Qualification:

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline or a related field.
• A Doctoral degree will be preferred.

Professional Experience:

Essential

• Minimum 8–12 years of experience in academic research environments, including experience supervising or managing postdoctoral researchers.
• Demonstrated experience in academic governance, policy development, or research administration within a research-intensive institution.
• Experience in higher education leadership roles supporting faculty and research personnel.
• Familiarity with international research ecosystems and postdoctoral career pathways.
• Strong understanding of UAE regulatory and higher education governance frameworks is preferred.

Preferred

• Experience in a STEM or AI-focused graduate education environment.
• Fluency in Arabic and/or prior experience in UAE higher education.