Associate – Office of Wellbeing, Employee Engagement and Belonging

Introduction:

Chartered in 1983, it is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, Aga Khan University (AKU) provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it exists and has campuses, programmes and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access; and AKU is a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

Specific responsibilities:

• Play a leading role in the ideation, planning, coordination, and execution of employee engagement initiatives and events across the University, ensuring high-quality delivery and impact.
• Lead end-to-end event management and operational coordination, including logistics planning, vendor liaison, venue coordination, budgeting, and on-ground execution.
• Develop and manage annual engagement calendars and project timelines, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and global observances.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and external partners/vendors to ensure seamless implementation of initiatives.
• Support the design and execution of employee engagement campaigns, including development of key messaging, communication material, presentations, and engagement collateral.
• Assist in initiatives related to wellbeing, inclusion, belonging, providing operational and coordination support where required.
• Develop presentations, dashboards, and reports (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) to track participation, impact metrics, and overall effectiveness of engagement initiatives.
• Track and analyse engagement data, feedback, and participation trends to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
• Manage event budgets, vendor payments, and invoicing processes, ensuring financial compliance and cost-effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to enhance employee experience by benchmarking engagement practices and recommending innovative approaches aligned with global trends.
• Review and streamline internal processes to improve operational efficiency in programme delivery.

Qualifications - External

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.
• A minimum of 1–2 years’ experience in a similar role, ideally within the healthcare and/or academic sectors (preferred).
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.
• Proactive, methodical, and solution-oriented, with a mindset of continuous improvement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong command of written and spoken English; fluency in Urdu.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to listen effectively and positively represent the Office of Employee Wellbeing, Engagement & Belonging.
• Flexibility and willingness to work as part of a global team, while also being comfortable working independently.
• Working knowledge of video editing tools and creative software (e.g., Canva or similar platforms) will be considered an advantage.
• Trustworthy, ambitious and takes initiative; committed to getting the job done

Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted