Executive Director, Higher Education

Job Summary

The Executive Director – Higher Education will provide strategic leadership and oversight for a diverse higher education portfolio, ensuring excellence across academic operations, research, innovation, student success, institutional collaboration, and organizational performance.

The position will lead cross-functional strategic initiatives, promote operational excellence, ensure effective governance and resource management, and foster a culture of academic excellence, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic vision and direction for the higher education portfolio.
• Provide executive leadership and oversight of academic and administrative operations across higher education entities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with university leadership, government authorities, strategic partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead initiatives aimed at enhancing student experience, academic excellence, research impact, innovation, and institutional performance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable governance, accreditation, regulatory, and quality assurance requirements.
• Oversee budgets, financial performance, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness across the portfolio.
• Drive organizational transformation, modernization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish performance frameworks and monitor the achievement of strategic and operational objectives.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across higher education institutions and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, innovation, research collaboration, and institutional development.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing executive and leadership teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Represent the higher education portfolio at senior-level meetings, forums, and strategic engagements.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior leadership on higher education matters, emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Higher Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree required; doctorate/PhD highly preferred, particularly for candidates coming from an academic leadership background.
• Strong understanding of higher education governance, accreditation, quality assurance, academic operations, research, innovation, and institutional strategy.
• 15–20+ years of progressive leadership experience, ideally within higher education, education, government, public-sector, or large complex institutional environments.
• At least 8–10 years in senior leadership / executive management positions with responsibility for strategy, operations, governance, and organizational performance.
• Experience managing or overseeing multiple institutions, campuses, academic entities, or a diversified higher education portfolio is highly desirable.
• Proven experience working with university presidents/rectors, provosts, senior government officials, boards, regulators, and other high-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation, institutional development, organizational change, or strategic initiatives.