Head Of Academic Affairs Jenniez School of African Interior Design
full-time
Role Overview
The Head of Academic Affairs will provide leadership and oversight of all academic activities at JSAID. The successful candidate will ensure that programmes are properly structured, facilitators deliver effectively, students meet academic expectations and the institution maintains high standards of academic quality.
The role requires a highly organised, proactive and results-driven academic leader with the ability to manage people, systems, processes and academic performance.
The successful candidate must be able to translate the institution's academic vision into structured programmes, effective teaching systems and measurable learning outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Academic Leadership and Strategy
Develop and implement JSAID's annual academic strategy in alignment with the institution's vision and objectives.
Oversee the planning, coordination and delivery of all academic programmes.
Develop and maintain academic policies, procedures and operational guidelines.
Ensure consistency and excellence in academic delivery across all programmes.
Lead academic planning meetings and provide regular reports to management.
Curriculum Development and Programme Management
Review, develop and update course curricula to reflect current interior design industry standards and professional practices.
Ensure that course content balances design theory, technical skills, practical studio work and business knowledge.
Coordinate the development of course outlines, lesson plans, teaching materials and assessment frameworks.
Ensure that all programmes have clear learning outcomes, delivery schedules and assessment criteria.
Work with industry professionals to integrate relevant industry knowledge and practical experience into the curriculum.
Identify opportunities for new academic programmes and specialised training.
Faculty and Facilitator Management
Recruit, onboard, supervise and evaluate facilitators and academic staff.
Develop facilitator performance standards and academic delivery expectations.
Ensure facilitators prepare lesson plans, deliver classes and submit assignments and assessment results within agreed timelines.
Monitor attendance, punctuality, classroom engagement and teaching effectiveness.
Organise facilitator training, development sessions and academic reviews.
Address poor performance and ensure accountability among academic staff.
Student Academic Management
Oversee student academic progress from admission through graduation.
Ensure proper student orientation and academic onboarding.
Monitor attendance, punctuality, assignment submission and classroom participation.
Establish systems for tracking student performance and identifying students requiring academic support.
Coordinate student assessments, examinations, presentations, practical projects and final evaluations.
Ensure students meet the required academic standards before graduation.
Oversee academic complaints, appeals and student performance interventions.
Academic Quality Assurance
Establish and implement academic quality assurance systems.
Monitor the quality of teaching, learning materials and student assessments.
Conduct periodic reviews of academic programmes and facilitator performance.
Maintain accurate academic records, including attendance, grades, assessments and student progression.
Coordinate internal academic audits and programme evaluations.
Ensure that academic policies and procedures are consistently implemented.
Drive continuous improvement in teaching and learning outcomes.
Academic Calendar and Programme Coordination
Develop and manage the annual academic calendar.
Coordinate JSAID's quarterly three-month programme intakes.
Ensure facilitators, classrooms, learning materials and academic resources are ready before each intake.
Coordinate academic schedules for full-time programmes, short courses, executive education and specialised training.
Work with the Admissions and School Readiness teams to ensure students are academically prepared before programme commencement.
Oversee examination schedules, project presentations, graduation requirements and academic ceremonies.
Academic Administration and Reporting
Ensure timely preparation and submission of academic reports.
Maintain an effective academic records management system.
Develop academic performance dashboards and reporting templates.
Monitor departmental budgets and academic resource requirements.
Provide management with regular updates on student performance, facilitator effectiveness and programme delivery.
Ensure academic departments operate within approved budgets and institutional policies.
Industry Engagement and Institutional Development
Build relationships with interior design professionals, industry practitioners and academic institutions.
Facilitate guest lectures, industry masterclasses, workshops and professional development opportunities.
Support JSAID's partnerships with local and international institutions.
Contribute to the development of academic standards and professional education frameworks for the African interior design industry.
Support institutional accreditation, certification and quality enhancement initiatives where applicable.
Requirements and Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in Education, Interior Design, Interior Architecture, Architecture, Arts, Business Education or a related discipline.
A Master's degree in Education, Educational Management, Interior Design, Business Administration or a relevant field is an advantage.
Professional certifications in education, academic management, quality assurance or related fields will be an added advantage.
Experience
Minimum of 7 years' relevant professional experience in education, academic administration, training or programme management.
At least 3 - 5 years in a leadership, supervisory or academic management position.
Demonstrable experience managing facilitators, lecturers, trainers or academic teams.
Experience in curriculum development, programme coordination and academic quality assurance.
Experience managing academic calendars, student assessments and institutional reporting.
Experience in a tertiary institution, professional training organisation, vocational institution or EdTech environment is desirable.
Required Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate must demonstrate:
Strong academic leadership and people management skills.
Excellent organisational and administrative abilities.
Strong knowledge of curriculum development and instructional delivery.
Ability to develop and implement academic policies and procedures.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Ability to manage multiple programmes and deadlines simultaneously.
High attention to detail and strong record-keeping skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace and digital learning platforms.
Ability to use technology and data to monitor academic performance.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage diverse teams.
High integrity, discipline, professionalism and accountability.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The successful candidate will be evaluated against measurable academic performance indicators, including:
Academic Programme Delivery: All programmes delivered according to approved academic calendars and schedules.
Facilitator Performance: Timely lesson preparation, class delivery, assignment marking and submission of results.
Student Academic Progression: Effective monitoring of attendance, assessments, completion and graduation rates.
Curriculum Quality: Regular curriculum reviews and updates to maintain relevance to industry standards.
Academic Quality Assurance: Implementation of academic audits, evaluations and corrective actions.
Student Satisfaction: Improved student feedback on teaching quality, academic support and learning experience.
Academic Administration: Accurate and timely submission of academic records and management reports.
Programme Readiness: Academic resources, facilitators and schedules prepared ahead of every quarterly intake.
Graduation and Certification: Timely completion of assessments and verification of graduation requirements.
Continuous Improvement: Implementation of initiatives that improve teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes.
What We Offer
An opportunity to lead academic development in a growing African design education institution.
A strategic leadership position with direct access to executive management.
Opportunity to contribute to curriculum innovation and professional education development.
Competitive remuneration based on experience and qualifications.
Opportunities for professional development and industry engagement.
Who Should Apply?
We are looking for a disciplined, forward-thinking and highly organised academic leader who understands that running a successful professional training institution requires more than scheduling classes.
The ideal candidate must be capable of building systems, managing facilitators, enforcing academic standards, improving student outcomes and ensuring that every programme delivers on its learning objectives.
This is a leadership role for someone who takes ownership, follows through on deliverables and can build a strong academic department.