Director, Academic Affairs (Senior Leadership)

About the role

The Director of Academic Affairs provides strategic leadership for the development, accreditation, and delivery of academic programmes at Kenya Utalii College, ensuring alignment with industry standards and global hospitality trends.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the formulation, review and implementation of academic policies, curricula and accreditation processes.
• Oversee the annual academic calendar, coordinating teaching, examinations, industrial training and student activities.
• Promote scholarly activities such as seminars, workshops and research initiatives to enhance academic excellence.
• Manage performance, recruitment and development of academic staff and external examiners.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local and international institutions and stakeholders.
• Prepare academic reports for the Council and advise on strategic planning, budgeting and risk management.
• Supervise the Learning Resource Centre and ensure availability of up‑to‑date learning resources.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in a relevant field and a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Hospitality or related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of work experience, including at least 5 years in a senior management position.
• Completion of a leadership course of at least four weeks.
• At least two publications in reputable journals or experience delivering capacity‑building programmes aligned with the institution’s mandate.
• Demonstrated record of high performance and compliance with Chapter 6 of the Kenyan Constitution.

Required skills

• Strategic leadership and visioning.
• Negotiation and stakeholder management.
• Corporate governance and financial management.
• Change, project and risk management.
• Analytical, conceptual and report‑writing abilities.
• Effective communication, team management and conflict resolution.