Head / Director of Career Development & Experiential Learning

About the Role

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) in Thuwal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, is seeking a Head / Director of Career Development & Experiential Learning. This full-time role involves developing and leading KAUST’s comprehensive strategy for career development, internships, and industry engagement. The objective is to enhance student employability and establish clear pathways from education to professional career opportunities for both Saudi and international students across KAUST’s graduate and academic programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive career development strategy aligned with KAUST’s institutional priorities, Vision 2030, and Saudi Arabia's workforce development needs.
• Lead the design and delivery of career development programs, resources, and initiatives for students.
• Establish a structured career development framework including coaching, professional skills development, industry preparation, networking, and employment readiness.
• Collaborate with the Office of Alumni Affairs and Graduate Employment to enhance career programming, workshops, employer events, and professional development initiatives.
• Utilize data, student feedback, and employer insights to measure impact and improve career services.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with Saudi industries, government entities, and research organizations to expand career and internship opportunities.
• Build an employer engagement strategy to increase internship placements and graduate recruitment pipelines.
• Identify emerging workforce needs and collaborate with academic leaders to ensure students develop relevant skills.
• Oversee a comprehensive internship and experiential learning strategy, establishing processes and partnerships to increase access to high-quality opportunities.
• Lead the strategic development and management of visiting student engagement pathways, ensuring a high-quality experience and meaningful connections.
• Establish career services metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to monitor engagement, outcomes, and partnerships.
• Represent KAUST at external events, industry forums, and professional networks.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Over 10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic career development and employability programs within a higher education environment.
• Strong knowledge of STEM career pathways, workforce trends, and industry talent needs.
• Understanding of the Saudi higher education, industry, and innovation ecosystem.
• Proven experience in building and managing relationships with corporate, government, and institutional partners.
• Experience working with culturally diverse student populations and international environments.

Key Competencies

• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to operate strategically while managing complex programs and initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use data to drive decision-making and measure impact.

Work Environment

This role involves working collaboratively with Academic Divisions, Faculty, Student Affairs, Alumni Affairs and Graduate Employment, KAUST National Transformation Institute (NTI), and external partners. The position is based in Thuwal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and is a full-time commitment.

Application Process

Further details regarding the application process will be provided upon inquiry. The salary for this position is not disclosed.