Head of Student Relations and Wellbeing

About Us:

A dynamic and exciting startup initiative in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: a higher education institution specialized in arts and creativity, the first of its kind in the region. This initiative aims to significantly expand opportunities across all artistic and creative sectors. The institution will offer a comprehensive range of creative academic programs, from vocational courses to doctoral degrees, through various modes of learning.

With an innovative outlook and entrepreneurial spirit, the institution will play a central role in nurturing the next generation of creative leaders and practitioners who will join a dynamic and growing hub for arts and creativity. It will also focus on fostering values, social responsibility, and cultural enrichment, playing an important role in celebrating the Kingdom’s rich heritage and contributing to shaping its future.

We are currently seeking an outstanding, enthusiastic, and committed individual to join us and contribute to the transformation of arts and creative education across the Kingdom. We invite you to be part of this exciting journey toward an exceptional beginning.

Job Roles and Key Responsibilities:

General Responsibilities

• Lead the higher education institution efforts in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and engaging campus environment by managing student relations, wellbeing, and support services.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for student concerns, grievances, and feedback, ensuring resolution and continuous improvement.
• Oversee programs and services that promote mental health, emotional support, and student wellbeing across the institution.
• Collaborate with student affairs, academic departments, and external professionals to ensure a holistic approach to student life and care.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive student wellbeing and engagement strategy aligned with the culture, mission, and cultural context of the higher education institution
• Establish policies and mechanisms to capture and respond to student needs, challenges, and satisfaction across all touchpoints.
• Launch initiatives to raise awareness of mental health, wellness, and student support resources.
• Partner with national health organizations, cultural entities, and wellness service providers to enhance offerings.
• Embed wellbeing and student voice into institutional planning, student services, and extracurricular life.
• Design programs tailored to the needs of creative and cultural discipline students, including stress management and performance wellbeing.

Operational Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of student support services including counseling, student case management, and complaints resolution.
• Manage the intake, follow-up, and resolution of student concerns and wellbeing-related incidents.
• Maintain confidential records of student cases and ensure timely response to wellbeing risks and emergencies.
• Monitor and report on key indicators such as student satisfaction, wellbeing access, mental health referrals, and retention risk.

Ideal Experience, Capabilities and Skills:

Industry Experience

• 10+ years of experience in student affairs, counseling services, or student engagement in higher education or cultural institutions.
• Experience managing student wellbeing or case resolution functions in multicultural and creative environments.
• Familiarity with wellness frameworks, safeguarding policies, and mental health protocols in the Saudi context.

Management Capabilities

• Proven ability to design and implement student support programs.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary support teams and managing sensitive issues.
• Skilled in developing escalation protocols, service feedback loops, and wellbeing reporting tools.
• Capable of working cross-functionally with academic and operational teams to enhance student experience.

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills

• Empathetic, culturally sensitive leader with a deep understanding of student needs.
• Strong conflict resolution, case handling, and communication skills in both Arabic and English.
• Calm under pressure, able to manage crises and emotional support situations effectively.
• Passionate about student empowerment, belonging, and positive campus culture.
• A trusted advocate who upholds confidentiality, fairness, and equity.