University Registrar

Job Purpose

The University Registrar provides strategic leadership and oversight of all academic records, registration, and student lifecycle management functions at KAUST. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Students, the Registrar ensures seamless coordination across the University’s four academic Divisions and KAUST Academy, as well as with key administrative units supporting the student journey.

The Registrar leads the modernization and continuous improvement of academic operations, ensuring alignment with the University’s goals for excellence in education, research, and student experience. The role collaborates closely with the Head of Academic Excellence and Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with accreditation standards, data integrity, and academic policy coherence.

Major Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership: Provide vision and direction for the Registrar’s Office to deliver a student-centered, efficient, and compliant academic services environment.

Digital Transformation: Working with the centralized Provost Systems Team, support the digitalization of Registrar functions and academic information systems, ensuring integration across all student touch-points from Admissions through Alumni.

Collaboration and Alignment:

• Work closely with Admissions, Graduate Operations, Alumni Affairs, and KAUST Academy to ensure consistency and accuracy of student records and processes across the full student lifecycle.
• Partner with the Head of Academic Excellence and Quality Assurance to support institutional accreditation and academic program reviews.
• Liaise with the Deans, Associate Deans and Graduate Program Student Advisors (GPSAs) across the four academic Divisions to uphold academic standards, student success, and process efficiency.

Policy and Compliance: Develop and enforce academic and administrative policies related to registration, records management, graduation, and academic standing.

Operational Oversight:

• Manage class scheduling, instructional space assignments and certification of graduation transcripts.
• Ensure compliance with national and international data privacy and academic integrity requirements.

Academic Information Management: Oversee the preparation and publication of key academic documents such as the Program Guide, Course Catalogue, Academic Calendar and other official materials.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation Support:

• Working with the Head, Academic Excellence and Quality Assurance, ensure Registrar functions provide accurate, auditable data for internal and external accreditation bodies.
• Contribute to institutional self-studies, program reviews, and performance reporting.

Stakeholder Engagement: Serve on institutional committees and task forces related to student success, academic policy, and digital systems integration.

Continuous Improvement: Identify systemic process enhancements to improve efficiency, service quality, and the student experience.

Competencies

• Demonstrated experience in leading Registrar operations within a graduate-level, STEM-focused, research-intensive university.
• Proven track record of digital transformation in academic administration.
• Strong understanding of the student lifecycle from Admissions through Graduation and Alumni engagement.
• Experience collaborating with Quality Assurance and Accreditation units to support institutional accreditation and compliance.
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills across diverse academic and administrative units.
• Strategic leadership, project management, and team supervision capabilities.
• Deep understanding of academic policies, records management, data governance, and confidentiality standards.
• Commitment to student experience, service excellence, and institutional integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or relevant postgraduate qualification strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in Registrar leadership or equivalent higher education administration roles, with substantial exposure to academic systems, policy, and accreditation processes.