Head of Student Success | University of Kalba

Job Description

The Head of Student Success position at the University of Kalba is a full-time leadership role focused on improving student academic progress, engagement, retention, and successful completion.

The successful candidate will lead the University’s Student Success Unit and oversee strategies, programmes, early-alert systems, intervention processes, and integrated student support services.

Employer: University of Kalba
Location: Kalba, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Position: Head of Student Success Unit
Job Category: Leadership Jobs
Job Schedule: Full Time
Job Identification: 100186
Posting Date: September 9, 2026

Head of Student Success – Position Overview

The Head of Student Success Unit is responsible for leading, developing, and overseeing initiatives that support student progression, engagement, persistence, retention, and graduation.

The role combines strategic planning, student support leadership, data analysis, early intervention, case management, advising, programme development, and cross-university coordination.

In addition, the successful candidate will work closely with Deans, Department Chairs, faculty members, administrative units, and student-service teams to ensure students receive timely and coordinated support.

Strategic Leadership and Planning

The Head of Student Success will:

• Lead the Student Success Unit.
• Develop the Unit’s strategy.
• Prepare operational plans.
• Align programmes and initiatives with University strategic objectives.
• Monitor implementation of plans.
• Evaluate progress against established objectives.
• Recommend improvements based on evidence and institutional needs.

The role therefore requires both strategic leadership and the ability to translate plans into effective operational delivery.

Student Success, Retention and Graduation

The successful candidate will develop and oversee programmes that promote:

• Student academic progress.
• Persistence.
• Retention.
• Engagement.
• Successful completion.
• Graduation.

The Unit will also support students who may face academic difficulties or be at risk of withdrawal.

Early-Alert and Intervention Systems

A major responsibility of the role is overseeing the University’s early-alert system.

The Head of Student Success will:

• Monitor processes for identifying students at academic risk.
• Ensure appropriate and timely interventions.
• Oversee follow-up procedures.
• Coordinate individual support plans.
• Work with colleges, faculty members, and relevant University units.
• Monitor student cases until appropriate closure.

Strong candidates should therefore have direct experience with early-alert and student intervention systems.

Student Case Management

The position includes responsibility for developing and monitoring standards for:

• Student case management.
• Referrals.
• Follow-up.
• Intervention planning.
• Case closure.

The successful candidate will help ensure that student-support processes remain consistent, effective, and appropriately documented.

Academic Advising and Student Guidance

The Unit will oversee student guidance, advising, and support services.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring students receive appropriate guidance.
• Identifying students who require additional support.
• Referring students to relevant University services when needed.
• Coordinating with academic and administrative departments.
• Supporting students experiencing academic or personal challenges that affect their studies.

Orientation, Transition and Student Integration

The Head of Student Success will oversee programmes that help new students transition successfully into university life.

These may include:

• Orientation programmes.
• Transition support.
• Student integration initiatives.
• Academic skills activities.
• Personal development workshops.
• Student-success events.

The role also involves promoting student participation in relevant activities.

Student Data and Performance Monitoring

The successful candidate will use student data to evaluate programmes and improve outcomes.

Responsibilities include:

• Analysing student performance data.
• Monitoring student-success indicators.
• Developing performance measures.
• Preparing periodic reports.
• Producing relevant statistics.
• Evaluating outcomes from student-success programmes.
• Using findings to improve services and interventions.

The role therefore requires strong analytical skills alongside student-support expertise.

Student Feedback and Continuous Improvement

The Head of Student Success will monitor student satisfaction with Unit services.

This includes:

• Analysing feedback.
• Reviewing survey results.
• Identifying improvement opportunities.
• Recommending service enhancements.
• Monitoring trends and best practices in student success and retention.

The successful candidate will then adapt relevant practices to the University’s needs.

Cross-University Collaboration

The role requires continuous coordination with:

• Deans.
• Department Chairs.
• Faculty members.
• Academic units.
• Administrative departments.
• Student service centres.
• Other relevant University units.

This collaboration is intended to ensure that student-support services remain integrated and responsive.

Policies, Procedures and Quality Improvement

The successful candidate will develop and review:

• Policies.
• Procedures.
• Guidelines.
• Forms.
• Student-support processes.

The Head will also contribute to continuous improvement across Student Success Unit operations.

Team Leadership

The role includes direct supervision of Unit staff.

Responsibilities include:

• Assigning responsibilities.
• Monitoring staff performance.
• Identifying professional development needs.
• Supporting staff training.
• Building an effective student-support team.

The Head of Student Success will also represent the Unit in relevant University committees, meetings, and institutional initiatives.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in one of the following areas:

• Higher Education.
• Student Affairs.
• Educational Administration.
• Counseling.
• Psychology.
• Management.
• A related field.

Professional qualifications or certifications in student success, academic advising, student affairs, or a related field are preferred.

Experience Requirements

Candidates should have:

• Five to seven years of relevant experience in higher education, student affairs, student success, academic advising, or student-support services.
• Demonstrated experience managing or leading student-success programmes.
• Experience with early-alert systems.
• Experience with student intervention systems.
• Experience analysing student data.
• Experience preparing reports.
• Experience developing performance indicators.
• Supervisory and administrative experience.

Experience leading a team is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

Applicants should demonstrate strength in:

• Leadership and management.
• Strategic and operational planning.
• Student-success programme management.
• Academic advising and guidance.
• Case management.
• Early intervention.
• Student-data analysis.
• Performance monitoring.
• Report writing.
• Presentation skills.
• Communication.
• Relationship building.
• Cross-functional coordination.
• Collaboration.
• Problem solving.
• Decision making.
• Project and initiative management.
• Team management.
• Staff development.
• Organisation and time management.
• University information systems.
• Confidentiality and student-data protection.

Candidates must also demonstrate proficiency in:

• Arabic
• English

Professional Development Recommendation

🎓 Recommended Course: Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization

This leadership role requires a combination of strategy, programme implementation, team management, cross-functional coordination, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.

The Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aligns well with the management dimension of the position.

👉 Explore the Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization on Coursera

It may be relevant to student-affairs leaders, academic administrators, programme managers, and higher-education professionals seeking to strengthen their strategic and organisational leadership skills.

Affiliate disclosure: Arab Academic Jobs may receive a commission if you enroll through this link, at no additional cost to you.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply through the University of Kalba’s official recruitment system.

Applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates:

• Student-success leadership experience.
• Early-alert and intervention-system experience.
• Academic advising or student-support experience.
• Data-analysis and reporting capability.
• Team-management experience.
• Relevant higher-education experience.
• Arabic and English proficiency.

Candidates should verify all vacancy information and application requirements through the official University of Kalba recruitment page before applying.