Job description

Position Title: Manager – President’s Office, Strategy & Institutional Performance

Reports To: President

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the American International University

American International University (AIU) is a private institution in Kuwait, founded in 2019, offering undergraduate programs in Engineering and Computing, Architecture and Design, Business, Arts and Sciences, and Education. The programs are delivered in English and follow the American model of higher education.

AIU serves a community of more than 4,000 students and is implementing the RISE Strategy 2026–2030, a five-year institutional transformation strategy focused on research development, international accreditation, student success, employability, and community engagement.

For more information, visit www.aiu.edu.kw.

Position Overview

The Manager – President’s Office, Strategy & Institutional Performance provides executive administrative, coordination, and institutional performance support to the President. The position ensures the effective coordination of the President’s Office while supporting the implementation and monitoring of AIU’s RISE Strategy 2026–2030, institutional KPIs, strategic initiatives, and executive reporting requirements.

The role coordinates the collection and consolidation of institutional performance data, prepares executive reports and presentations, monitors strategic project progress, and follows up on Presidential decisions and assigned actions. It also supports the evaluation of emerging technologies and strategic opportunities in coordination with the CIO and relevant university departments.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong organizational, analytical, communication, and coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, handle confidential matters, and work effectively with senior leadership and internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy Execution and Institutional Performance

• Support the implementation and monitoring of AIU’s RISE Strategy 2026–2030 by coordinating strategic plans, milestones, KPIs, and progress updates.
• Maintain and update the institutional Balanced Scorecard and related KPI tracking tools.
• Coordinate the cascading and alignment of institutional KPIs across schools, departments, and relevant individual accountability levels.
• Manage the strategic planning and reporting calendar, following up with VPs, Deans, and department heads on submissions and deadlines.
• Consolidate and analyze institutional KPI results, identify performance gaps, and prepare reports highlighting progress, risks, and areas requiring management attention.
• Coordinate periodic strategy and performance review meetings and document agreed actions, responsibilities, and deadlines.
• Support the preparation of the Annual Strategic Progress Report for the Board of Trustees by consolidating performance results, explanations for variances, achievements, and proposed priorities.
• Coordinate with the Institutional Research Office to ensure that reported data is validated and sourced from approved institutional systems.
• Maintain the institutional strategic risk register, track mitigation actions, and escalate significant concerns to the President.
• Identify opportunities to improve institutional reporting, performance monitoring, and accountability processes.

2. Strategic Project Monitoring and Coordination

• Coordinate with the PMO and Special Projects structure to monitor the progress and strategic alignment of major institutional initiatives.
• Consolidate project updates covering milestones, deliverables, risks, dependencies, and matters requiring Presidential attention.
• Follow up on strategic projects assigned by the President and coordinate with project owners to obtain timely progress updates.
• Coordinate with the Accreditation Liaison Officer, PMO, and relevant departments to monitor accreditation-related milestones and highlight potential delays or risks.
• Organize strategic project review meetings and prepare concise progress reports and action summaries.
• Follow up with project sponsors, external consultants, VPs, Deans, and department heads on agreed deliverables and outstanding actions.
• Support consistent project reporting and escalation procedures without assuming responsibility for the PMO’s day-to-day project execution.

3. President’s Office and Executive Coordination

• Manage the President’s calendar, appointments, meetings, and scheduling priorities.
• Coordinate Senior Leadership Team and Board meetings, including agendas, presentations, reports, minutes, and follow-up actions.
• Serve as a coordination point between the President’s Office, university departments, senior leadership, external stakeholders, consultants, and official visitors.
• Track Presidential decisions, assigned actions, deadlines, and commitments, ensuring timely follow-up and escalation of outstanding matters.
• Prepare and consolidate executive correspondence, presentations, briefings, and institutional reports.
• Coordinate the preparation of monthly institutional reports and the Annual Report by collecting, reviewing, and consolidating departmental submissions.
• Coordinate departmental submissions and documentation required for PUC and other institutional reporting, as applicable.
• Coordinate expenses, invoices, approvals, and supporting documentation related to the President’s Office.
• Maintain confidential records, correspondence, approvals, and executive documents using SharePoint and other document-management systems.
• Coordinate university events, ceremonies, VIP visits, and official engagements as required.
• Support the President with special assignments and other executive priorities.

4. Emerging Technology and Strategic Research Support

• Monitor developments in emerging technologies relevant to higher education, including artificial intelligence, adaptive learning, learning analytics, research tools, and administrative automation.
• Prepare periodic technology updates and briefing notes highlighting potential applications, benefits, risks, and strategic implications for AIU.
• Coordinate the initial review of technology proposals submitted to the President’s Office and consolidate relevant information for management consideration.
• Work with the CIO and relevant departments to coordinate the evaluation and piloting of emerging technologies, subject to appropriate approvals.
• Maintain an emerging technology watchlist and document potential opportunities for institutional evaluation.
• Gather information on relevant practices and developments among regional and international higher education institutions.
• Support the preparation of evidence-based recommendations on technology initiatives aligned with AIU’s institutional priorities.

5. Executive Reporting and Institutional Coordination

• Prepare regular briefing materials for the President covering institutional performance, strategic project progress, accreditation developments, and significant risks.
• Consolidate information from university departments to support executive decisions and institutional planning.
• Coordinate the preparation of strategic communications, executive statements, presentations, and institutional updates as assigned.
• Support the coordination of Senior Leadership Team agendas and strategic discussions.
• Maintain records of significant institutional decisions, approvals, and related follow-up actions.
• Coordinate information requests and follow-up activities involving internal and external stakeholders.
• Handle confidential institutional, financial, personnel, governance, and strategic information with professionalism and discretion.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Strategy, Higher Education Management, Public Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
• A doctoral degree in a relevant field is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in executive administration, institutional planning, performance management, project coordination, or higher education operations.
• Previous experience supporting a university President, CEO, senior executive, or comparable leadership office is highly desirable.
• Experience coordinating institutional reports, KPIs, strategic plans, and management presentations.
• Familiarity with Balanced Scorecard frameworks, performance dashboards, and institutional reporting processes.
• Experience monitoring cross-functional projects, tracking deliverables, and coordinating with multiple departments.
• Knowledge of higher education accreditation, governance, or regulatory reporting is an advantage.
• Experience in GCC higher education, particularly in Kuwait, is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong organizational, administrative, and executive coordination skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to consolidate data, interpret performance results, and identify issues requiring follow-up.
• Excellent report writing, presentation preparation, and document management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate records.
• Strong stakeholder coordination and relationship management skills.
• Working knowledge of strategic planning, KPI monitoring, and project reporting.
• General understanding of emerging technologies and their potential applications in higher education.
• High standards of confidentiality, integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with senior leadership and university departments.

Technical Proficiency

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of SharePoint and digital document-management systems.
• Familiarity with KPI dashboards, data visualization, and institutional reporting tools.
• Knowledge of project management tools and reporting methodologies is an advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience with WSCUC or comparable institutional accreditation processes.
• Previous experience in a President’s Office, executive administration, institutional effectiveness, or strategic planning function.
• Familiarity with PUC requirements and Kuwait’s private higher education environment.
• Experience supporting AI adoption, technology evaluation, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience coordinating Board meetings, executive reviews, or institutional reporting cycles.

Key Working Relationships

Reports to: President.

Internal stakeholders: VPs, Deans, CIO, PMO and Special Projects, Institutional Research Office, Accreditation Liaison Officer, and department heads.

External stakeholders: Government and regulatory entities, accreditation bodies, external consultants, technology providers, and higher education partners.

General Responsibilities

• Perform other duties and special assignments as delegated by the President and consistent with the position’s scope.
• Ensure all responsibilities are carried out in accordance with AIU policies, applicable regulatory requirements, institutional governance standards, and confidentiality obligations.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the Job Opportunities section on our website and submit a resume and cover letter via: https://aiu.edu.kw/careers/jobs

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The successful candidate is expected to commence employment immediately.