Director – Academic Strategy & Administration

Director – Academic Strategy & Administration

• Company Name: KIU Sri Lanka (KIU University)

• Job Location: Battaramulla (Full-Time | Senior Leadership Appointment)

About KIU University

KIU University is one of Sri Lanka’s leading non-state higher education institutions, recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education and operating under the regulatory framework of the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. With a strong commitment to academic excellence, innovation, internationalization, and institutional growth, KIU continues to strengthen its position as a dynamic higher education institution with both national and international engagement.

As part of our continued institutional strengthening and strategic expansion, KIU University invites applications from highly accomplished academic leaders for the position of Director – Academic Strategy & Administration.

Position Overview

The Director – Academic Strategy & Administration will serve as a senior academic leadership figure responsible for strengthening the University’s academic governance, institutional quality, academic administration, and strategic operational effectiveness.

This role requires a highly capable academic professional who combines scholarly credibility, leadership maturity, and strong administrative execution capability. The successful candidate must possess the ability to work effectively across faculties, academic administration, quality assurance functions, governance structures, and executive leadership to ensure the effective management and advancement of institutional academic operations.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Strategy & Institutional Development

• Support the formulation and execution of the University’s academic strategy aligned with institutional priorities and growth objectives.

• Provide strategic leadership in academic programme development, curriculum enhancement, institutional benchmarking, and academic innovation.

• Identify opportunities for academic expansion, institutional partnerships, international collaborations, and transnational education initiatives.

• Contribute to strategic academic transformation and institutional strengthening initiatives.

Academic Administration & Operations

• Oversee and strengthen academic administrative systems and operational effectiveness across the University.

• Coordinate with Deans, Heads of Departments, the Registrar, Examination functions, academic support divisions, and other relevant institutional units.

• Ensure efficient implementation of academic calendars, approval processes, governance workflows, policy execution, and academic operational timelines.

• Drive institutional discipline, accountability, and execution excellence within academic administrative functions.

Governance, Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Strengthen academic governance structures, policies, frameworks, and institutional academic compliance systems.

• Oversee institutional quality assurance processes including programme reviews, internal audits, accreditation readiness, and continuous quality enhancement.

• Ensure alignment with national higher education regulatory requirements and institutional governance expectations.

• Support preparations for institutional reviews, academic audits, accreditation exercises, and compliance reporting.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a strategic bridge between academic leadership and operational administration.

• Work collaboratively with senior institutional leadership, faculties, academic administrators, and regulatory stakeholders.

• Support executive decision-making through institutional analysis, operational insight, and academic leadership recommendations.

• Provide leadership during periods of institutional growth, restructuring, transformation, or operational transition.

Institutional Performance & Excellence

• Establish institutional performance monitoring systems relating to academic operations and governance effectiveness.

• Develop governance dashboards, academic KPIs, accountability mechanisms, and performance improvement initiatives.

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, execution discipline, and academic excellence.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications

• Doctoral qualification (PhD / DBA / EdD or equivalent) from a recognized university.

• Significant senior academic leadership experience within a higher education institution.

• Demonstrated expertise in academic administration, governance, quality assurance, and institutional operations.

• Strong knowledge of accreditation systems, regulatory compliance frameworks, and higher education governance structures.

• Proven experience in academic policy implementation and operational leadership.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working directly with Vice Chancellors, Boards, Senate / Academic Councils, Registrars, or senior executive leadership.

• Experience in institutional reviews, accreditation processes, quality assurance audits, or governance enhancement initiatives.

• Exposure to international higher education collaborations or transnational education frameworks.

• Experience in academic restructuring, institutional transformation, or organizational leadership.

Core Competencies

• Strategic leadership with strong execution capability

• Academic governance expertise

• High-level administrative and operational management capability

• Strong academic credibility and leadership presence

• Stakeholder management and institutional diplomacy

• Policy implementation and governance discipline

• Problem-solving and crisis management capability

• Ability to operate effectively in complex institutional environments

• Strong communication and leadership maturity

Reporting Line

Reports directly to Senior Institutional Leadership.

Confidentiality Notice: Given the strategic importance of this appointment, professional discretion and confidentiality are essential.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application via LinkedIn, including:

• A detailed Curriculum Vitae

• A cover letter outlining your suitability for the role

• Contact details for two professional referees

Please note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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