Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Senior Project Manager of AI Talent leads MBZUAI’s career strategy, ensuring students and alumni receive comprehensive career guidance, professional development, and employment support. This role oversees career services, internships, alumni engagement, and industry partnerships to enhance employability and lifelong career success. Key responsibilities include career coaching, job search support, policy development, and organizing career events such as job fairs and workshops. The incumbent collaborates with Admissions, Marketing, and industry stakeholders to align services with market trends. Through strategic planning and continuous improvement, the role strengthens alumni relations, employer connections, and career readiness initiatives.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Framework Development
- Develop and implement the Undergraduate (UG) AI Talent strategy, policies, and operational frameworks to promote excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee the university’s comprehensive UG career services and alumni engagement programs, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives, student needs, and global best practices.
- Ensure that all career development initiatives, AI talent programs, internships, co-ops, and alumni relations are integrated within the university’s broader academic and innovation ecosystem.
- Monitor unit performance against defined KPIs, quality assurance standards, and regulatory requirements to ensure consistent service excellence.
Career Development and Student Success
- Manage day-to-day operations of AI talent programs, including internships, co-ops, and employer engagement, ensuring relevance to current and emerging AI technology markets.
- Collaborate with faculty to connect academic content to practical career pathways, integrating industry exposure and professional readiness into the student experience.
- Design and deliver workshops, events, and advisory sessions that enhance employability, job-search readiness, and career awareness, including resume preparation, interview skills, and industry insight.
- Provide personalized support to UG students and alumni, addressing inquiries related to career exploration, placement procedures, and professional development.
- Partner with the Postgraduate Student Careers and Internship Office to ensure consistent employer engagement and coordinated talent initiatives across all student levels.
Industry and Employer Engagement
- Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with AI, technology, and innovation driven organizations to generate internship, employment, and project opportunities.
- Plan and lead career fairs, employer panels, and networking events, connecting UG students with potential employers and global industry leaders.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to promote MBZUAI’s talent ecosystem and showcase success stories, partnerships, and student impact.
- Attend local and international industry events and conferences to expand employer networks and identify future partnership opportunities.
Alumni Relations and Community Building
- Oversee all aspects of alumni engagement, maintaining a dynamic database and ensuring continuous communication through events, initiatives, and digital platforms.
- Develop outreach programs that promote lifelong engagement, mentorship, and collaboration between alumni and current students.
- Coordinate alumni events, advisory board activities, and graduation functions, strengthening the university’s reputation as a connected and supportive academic community.
- Partner with the Marketing and Communications to keep UG alumni-related content current on the university website and official channels.
Data Management, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement
- Collect and analyze data on student placement, career outcomes, and alumni engagement, producing regular reports and performance dashboards for senior leadership.
- Use analytics to measure the impact of programs, identify gaps, and guide decision-making to improve student and employer satisfaction.
- Ensure documentation, reporting, and communication meet institutional standards for transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across all career and alumni functions to enhance service quality and operational efficiency.
Leadership and Team Development
- Supervise and mentor the Student Career and Industry Engagement Specialists, Career Advisors, and Alumni Coordinators, ensuring high levels of professional competence, service orientation, and collaboration.
- Foster a student-centered and results-driven culture that values innovation, responsiveness, and partnership across all functions.
- Promote internal collaboration with Admissions, Academic Affairs, Research and Academic Divisions to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
Other Duties
- Undertake any other related duties as assigned by the line manager.
Academic Qualification:
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- A postgraduate degree is preferred.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in career services, workforce development, or academic program management.
- Proven ability to design, deliver, and manage career and internship programs, including workshops and training sessions on career readiness, job search strategies, and professional skills.
- Demonstrated success in building and maintaining partnerships with employers, industry leaders, and alumni to expand internship and employment opportunities.
- Strong leadership and project management skills, with experience supervising staff and managing multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to collect and report data to assess program effectiveness and student outcomes.
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship management capabilities, with a student-centered and service-oriented approach.
- Highly detail-oriented and adaptable, capable of prioritizing competing demands while maintaining high standards of delivery and collaboration
Preferred
- Knowledge of AI/technology sectors and higher education operations is desirable.
- Prior involvement in strategic planning and program development aligned with institutional goals and student employability outcomes.
