Head of Career Development & Experiential Learning

About the role

The Head of Career Development & Experiential Learning leads KAUST's career development, internship and industry engagement strategy to improve student employability and strengthen pathways from education to meaningful careers. The role supports Saudi and international students across graduate and academic programmes, and works with the Office of Alumni and Graduate Employment to create internship, experiential learning and full-time employment opportunities for graduates.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement a career development strategy aligned with KAUST's priorities, Vision 2030 and Saudi Arabia's workforce needs.
• Design and deliver career programmes such as career coaching, professional skills development, industry preparation, networking, interview preparation and employment readiness.
• Work with Alumni Affairs and Graduate Employment on workshops, employer events, career academies and professional development.
• Build relationships with Saudi industries, government entities, research organisations and innovation ecosystems to expand internship and employment opportunities.
• Develop an internship and experiential learning strategy, including access to high-quality internships locally and internationally, and track participation, outcomes and employer satisfaction.
• Lead the development of visiting student engagement pathways with Recruitment and Admissions, covering onboarding, engagement and transition support.
• Set up career services metrics, dashboards and reporting with Education & Advancement Operations Systems, and prepare regular reports for leadership.
• Represent KAUST at external events and forums, and support recruitment, orientation and commencement activities as needed.