Manager, Graduate Academic Services - Graduate & Postdoctoral Programs Office

UAE nationals are encouraged to apply 

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Manager, Graduate Academic Services reporting to Associate Vice Provost of Research Staff, Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs.

The Manager, Graduate Academic Services manages the administration and continuous improvement of graduate academic services at NYU Abu Dhabi. The incumbent will oversee the development, implementation, and assessment of programs and initiatives that enhance graduate student engagement, academic success, retention, progression, and graduation. This role is responsible for a wide range of academic services duties that monitor student progress from matriculation through degree conferral, including advising on curriculum development at the master’s and doctoral levels; recordkeeping and data analysis; effective individual student case management; and communicating major policy changes affecting students and faculty. Collaboration with the divisional deans, program faculty, the registrar’s office, accreditation and assessment staff, Institutional Research, and faculty and staff at NYU New York is anticipated. The post-holder will also be available to students and faculty to consult on program academic requirements and milestones, and their impact on individual circumstances. This position is pivotal in shaping the graduate experience at NYU Abu Dhabi, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that attracts and nurtures top-tier graduate students. The Manager reports to the Senior Director of Graduate & Academic Services, and is a member of the Graduate & Postdoctoral Programs Office team. This role will serve both graduate programs that are wholly managed by NYUAD, and those that are delivered in collaboration with NYU New York (and/or other university campuses).

This position requires a strategic thinker with a strong background in higher education administration, excellent leadership skills, and a commitment to student success. Experience with graduate education is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the student point of contact for addressing and resolving intricate academic issues/grievances related to graduate programs. Counsel students and faculty on program academic requirements and milestones. Consult on student cases, interfacing with deans, program heads, faculty, registrar, and other staff as necessary. Review probationary terms; petitions for academic exceptions/leaves of absence/returns from leave, etc. and draft formal communications. Ensure annual/bi-annual reviews of students are efficient and effectively communicated. Process thesis/dissertation submissions
• Work with GPPO leadership to develop and implement a strategic vision for graduate student advising that aligns with the institution's goals and objectives. Partner with academic departments, faculty, and administration to create and implement an integrated advising framework that supports student success and addresses the academic, career, and personal development needs of graduate students. Develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of advising and student support services, and utilize these metrics to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and inform strategic decisions. Develop procedures related to graduate student advising and support services, ensuring compliance with institutional regulations and guidelines. Recommend policy enhancements or new policies as needed
• Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of academic data for graduate students. Maintain ongoing accurate records and data for graduate student files. Regularly perform audits of all graduate student records to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate courses, credits, and milestones; manage and maintain all student records, ensuring they are accurate and up-to-date
• Leverage data and analytics to evaluate the impact of current policies and initiatives. Monitor student success data closely and adjust student retention and completion strategies as necessary
• Evaluate the systems infrastructure that supports graduate education at NYUAD. Enhance student-information systems to facilitate the tracking of student progress, achievements, and research outcomes, and degree audit, as needed. Implement policies that ensure a cyber secure technological environment. Work closely with NYU New York staff in aligning reports, billing, registration, and progress information on NYU Abu Dhabi graduate students
• Serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for graduate academic programs and develop and nurture stakeholder relationships with faculty, staff, students, and internal constituents. Serve on committees concerned with advancement of academic advising and/or student success at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU New York. Provide resources and co-curricular learning opportunities aimed at enhancing the academic performance and overall engagement of graduate students
• Stay abreast of accreditation and licensure requirements for the UAE, New York, and appropriate discipline-specific bodies. Coordinate with NYU schools (Tandon, GSAS, etc.) to ensure that all changes to policy are reflected accurately in Abu Dhabi. Meet regularly with NYU New York counterparts
• Other duties as assigned

Required Education: 

• Bachelor's Degree

 Preferred Education: 

• Master’s Degree

 Required Experience: 

• 3+years working in similar faculty- and student-facing roles in an academic setting with demonstrated initiative and success
• Experience with the use and deployment of student-information systems
• Superior written and oral communication skills in English
• Capacity to work across multiple projects concurrently with a high level of service orientation Professional and resourceful, using initiative and discretion in all activities – including ability to work within a team environment and deal with people from different backgrounds and nationalities

 Preferred Experience: 

• Arabic language proficiency (written and spoken)

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.