Director Office of Academic Affairs

Director – Office of Academic Affairs

Location: Sonipat, Haryana (Delhi-NCR)

Department: Office of Academic Affairs

Reports To: Dean – Office of Academic Affairs

Role Type: Full-time [Permanent]

Experience: At least 20 years

ABOUT THE ROLE

Initiative, ownership and accountability are integral to the role. The Director should foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive workplace that mentors, develops, and inspires junior colleagues. The Director is also expected to develop a deep and nuanced understanding of how operations and processes are implemented, recognising that thoughtful improvements at the operational level can have a lasting and positive impact. Accordingly, the Director should strive for a comprehensive mastery of institutional processes, lead by example, and adopt a consultative, collaborative, and supportive leadership style. Above all, the Director should be a strong advocate for initiatives and practices that strengthen the organisation, effectiveness, and quality of academic life.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Responsibilities

● Implements and assesses the strategic plan for academic affairs at the University.

● Coordinates with administrators, departmental managers, the faculty, and the academic and student affairs staff to ensure quality, continuity, innovation, and integrity in academic issues.

● Ensures academic affairs compliance with University policy and procedures.

● Creates a culture across the department that values a team-based and collaborative approach to supporting students.

● Knowledge of imminent academic trends likely to affect future educational offerings.

Academic Operations

● Oversee academic planning, course offerings, registration, scheduling, academic calendars, and related processes.

● Ensure accuracy and continuity of student academic records, transcripts, and progression information.

● Oversee academic integrity processes and academic counselling frameworks.

● Coordinating with academic departments about course offerings and academic policies.

● Coordinating with other departments to determine and implement the registration process and other follow-up processes.

● Reviewing student transcripts to ensure flagging and other feedback mechanisms

● Administering the academic integrity policy

● Establishing and administering academic counselling in collaboration with other departments

● Coordinating with other colleges and university officials to ensure that student records are kept up to date

● Collaborate with other administrative departments (e.g., IT, Learning Support, Global Education) to optimize academic processes

Academic Governance & Policy

● Develop, review, implement, and periodically update academic policies.

● Ensure compliance with University policies, academic regulations, and applicable statutory/regulatory requirements.

Institutional Effectiveness & Process Improvement

● Develop a deep understanding of institutional academic processes.

● Identify inefficiencies, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

● Lead initiatives that improve quality, consistency, efficiency, and the overall academic experience.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qualifications

– 20+ years of professional experience in academics, with a minimum of 10 years in academic or institutional leadership

– Master's degree required, Doctoral degree strongly preferred. A minimum of 10 years in Education, with considerable academic management experience, preferably in a Private University in India or an international university.

– Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional academic initiatives and working with senior university leadership.

Who You Are

● A strategic and collaborative academic leader with a deep understanding of higher education, academic governance, and university operations.

● Experienced in translating institutional strategy into effective academic policies, processes, and measurable outcomes.

● Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Deans, Heads of Departments, faculty, senior administrators, and professional staff across a complex university environment.

● Strong understanding of academic governance, curriculum management, academic policies, student progression, academic integrity, and quality assurance.

● A change-oriented leader who can identify opportunities for process improvement and lead initiatives that enhance academic effectiveness, operational efficiency, and student experience.

● Experienced in developing, reviewing, implementing, and monitoring academic policies and procedures.

● Data-informed and technology-enabled, with the ability to use academic information systems, student records, reporting tools, and data to support decision-making and process improvement.

● Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to analyze complex issues, identify root causes, and develop practical and sustainable solutions.

● Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.

ABOUT ASHOKA UNIVERSITY

Ashoka University is India's premier interdisciplinary higher education and research-focused institution, offering world-class opportunities in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Established in 2014 by leaders, thinkers, academics, and philanthropists from diverse fields, it operates on a unique model of collective philanthropy, integrating exemplary governance standards with cutting-edge pedagogy and a faculty body of international acclaim.

Today, the University has a community of 3000+ students and operates seven Schools imparting industry-oriented education, professional skills, and values-based learning to prepare students for global careers. The University espouses principles of inclusivity and diversity, having more than 57% women, 4% international scholars, 100+ students with disabilities, and over 47% students on scholarships. Since its inception, Rs 723 crores have been awarded in scholarships with over 2,000 students receiving full-tuition fee waivers cumulatively and 5400+ students being supported through scholarships. In addition, nearly 5500 of Ashoka's alumni are pursuing careers of their choice in reputed organizations and leading universities across the world.

Ashoka's faculty comprises distinguished authors, scientists, historians, journalists, artists, and entrepreneurs, each of them having contributed to high-quality and pertinent research in their respective fields. Several of Ashoka's faculty members have been honoured with prestigious awards, are recipients of esteemed fellowships, and grants funded by prominent organizations of repute.

Important Links:

● Ashoka Website: https://www.ashoka.edu.in/

● Ashoka Careers Page: https://careers.ashoka.edu.in/

● 10 years of Excellence: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=VWiOCyCGMLQ&t=10s

● Ashoka University - Great Place to Work: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=3QM12zseDGI