Executive Director, Student Experience and Success

Women’s University in Africa is recruiting an Executive Director, Student Experience and Success in the Student Affairs Department. They want dynamic, experienced, and qualified candidates.

Role overview:
The Executive Director will lead the university-wide strategy for student experience and success, aligned with institutional goals. You’ll work with the Academic Registry to manage the full student lifecycle from onboarding through graduation and alumni transition, focusing on engagement, progression, and retention. The job includes building systems to improve retention, progression, and completion rates, and overseeing support services like counselling, disability support, scholarships, accommodation, discipline, sport, and spiritual care.

Other key duties:
- Develop and run structured mentoring programs with peers, academics, alumni, and industry
- Lead student engagement through sports, clubs, societies, recreation, and leadership structures
- Build a strong sense of belonging, university identity, and positive campus culture
- Partner with faculties and Deans to connect academic advising, tutoring, and learning support to success initiatives
- Use student feedback to guide decisions and continuous improvement
- Oversee graduate readiness, employability, and career development programs
- Ensure compliance with quality standards, regulations, and risk management frameworks
- Manage budgets, staff, and resources in the Student Experience and Success portfolio

Required attributes and competencies:
- Strategic, student-centred leadership
- Strong change management and organisational transformation skills
- Data-driven decision making
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams
- Expertise in student engagement, mentoring, and wellbeing initiatives
- Commitment to inclusive, holistic student development and success

Qualifications and experience:
- Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education Management, Student Affairs, Psychology, Counselling, Social Sciences, Management and Entrepreneurship, or related field
- A PhD in those areas is an advantage
- At least 5 years in higher education, with 3+ years in senior leadership in student affairs, student success, or institutional strategy

Contract and application:
- 4-year fixed-term, performance-based contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance
- Apply with one PDF file emailed to careers@wua.ac.zw and copy registrar@wua.ac.zw
- Include a cover letter, detailed CV with three referees, and certified copies of academic and professional qualifications
- Send to: The Deputy Registrar – Human Resources and Administration, 549 Acturus Road, Manresa, Harare
- Closing date: 30 April 2026