Head, Academic Events

MBZUAI
Anywhere
Workplace: RemoteFull timeFunction: Administration & Executive AssistanceExperience: 10+ yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Leadership","Stakeholder management","Risk management","Written and verbal communication","Budget control"]

Lead the strategy, planning, and end-to-end delivery of MBZUAI’s academic events portfolio within OSPA, including Commencement and major academic ceremonies. Own the annual academic events calendar, set standards and governance processes, manage portfolio risks, and ensure events are delivered on schedule and within budget. Oversee delegated budgeting, procurement, supplier performance, and representation with stakeholders. Manage the Associate Head and build capability across event design, stakeholder management, and delivery.

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FursaFursa
MBZUAI
MBZUAI
1 day ago

Head, Academic Events

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Last checked: 19 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead the strategy, planning, and end-to-end delivery of MBZUAI’s academic events portfolio within OSPA, including Commencement and major academic ceremonies. Own the annual academic events calendar, set standards and governance processes, manage portfolio risks, and ensure events are delivered on schedule and within budget. Oversee delegated budgeting, procurement, supplier performance, and representation with stakeholders. Manage the Associate Head and build capability across event design, stakeholder management, and delivery.
Location: Anywhere
Workplace: Remote
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Administration & Executive Assistance
Seniority: Sr. Director level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Develop and manage OSPA’s annual academic events calendar aligned with institutional and OSPA priorities, including governance, scope, scale, and success measures.
  • •Hold overall accountability for delivery of Commencement, IOAI, and the wider academic events program, ensuring quality, schedule, cost, and outcomes.
  • •Maintain the portfolio risk register, determine mitigations, and escalate material risks through OSPA governance and leadership channels.
  • •Manage delegated academic events budget: forecasting, allocation across events, in-year reallocation, and reporting on financial position and value for money.
  • •Lead people management for the Associate Head and assemble extended delivery teams for major events, including capability building across the function.

Key Requirements

  • •Bachelor’s degree in event management, communications, public relations, higher education administration, business, or related field.
  • •At least 10 years of progressive experience in event leadership with senior accountability for a portfolio, budget, people, delivery, vendor management, and outcomes.
  • •Demonstrated ownership of large-scale, high-profile events with accountability beyond individual event delivery.
  • •Experience in a university, research institute, or comparable academic environment.
  • •Proven ability to lead procurement/contracting, manage supplier performance, and manage delegated budget authority with forecasting and in-year allocation.
Experience:10+ yearsEducationHigher educationAcademic eventsEvent managementUniversityResearch institute
Education:Bachelor's
Skills:LeadershipStakeholder managementRisk managementWritten and verbal communicationBudget control
Certifications:Project Management Professional (PMP)
Languages:EnglishArabic

Company Brief

MBZUAI
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence is a graduate-level research university in Abu Dhabi focused on AI education, research, and industry collaboration. It offers advanced programs in machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and related fields.
Industry: Higher Education
Company Size: Large (251 to 1,000 employees)
Growth: Government & Public Sector
Funding: Government Funded
Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Founded: 2019
WebsiteLinkedIn