Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU, www.aku.edu) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access.
Launched in 2015, the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) is the premier source of education and tailored training for journalists, communicators and media executives and entrepreneurs in East Africa and beyond. Guided by the principles of global excellence and local relevance, GSMC helps individuals to transform their careers and organizations to seize opportunities and reap the benefits of innovation.
Reporting to the Dean, the Chief of Staff will serve as the right hand of the dean, effectively operating as Chief Operating Officer of the school. He/she will oversee day-to-day financial and operational management of the school, help identify and coordinate strategic priorities, manage operations, oversee grant proposals and management, and represents the dean as directed to senior university leaders, campus officials and critical external constituencies.
The selected candidate must possess the ability to build consensus and collaborate with internal and external constituents, creating a balance between institutional strategy and other emerging priorities. This position requires exceptional people, project management, and verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to work effectively with a group of diverse, highly motivated peers.
The incumbent will be, based in Nairobi Kenya.