Director of Foundation Year

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Foundation Year provides visionary academic and operational leadership for

Kingdom University's Foundation Year programme — a critical gateway experience designed to

prepare newly admitted students for the rigours of undergraduate study. Operating within a

greenfield university environment, this role is responsible for designing, launching, and continuously

improving a high-quality, student-centred Foundation Year that aligns with the academic standards

of Arizona State University (ASU), the requirements of the Education and Training Evaluation

Commission (ETEC), and the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment

(NCAAA).

The Director leads a multidisciplinary team of instructors, coordinators, and academic support staff

across General Education, English Language, Mathematics, and introductory discipline-specific

tracks. This position is accountable for student readiness outcomes, curriculum integrity, faculty

development, and accreditation evidence across all Foundation Year academic operations. In Year

1, the Director will serve as the primary architect of the Foundation Year model — building

structures, policies, and quality systems from the ground up.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Academic Leadership & Programme Design

• Design and oversee the full Foundation Year curriculum framework in alignment with ASU

academic standards, ETEC licensing requirements, and NCAAA accreditation criteria. •

Establish clear learning outcomes, progression standards, and academic policies governing

placement, advancement, and exit from the Foundation Year.

• Lead the development of course syllabi, assessment frameworks, and instructional materials

in collaboration with academic department leads.

• Ensure vertical alignment between Foundation Year outcomes and first-year degree

programme requirements across all colleges.

• Champion innovative, student-centred pedagogy including active learning, blended delivery,

and experiential learning approaches.

2. Team Leadership & Faculty Management

• Recruit, onboard, and lead a diverse team of full-time faculty, part-time instructors, and

academic coordinators across General English, General Education, and introductory

discipline tracks.

• Establish a structured faculty development programme, including peer observation,

coaching, and professional learning communities.

• Conduct regular performance reviews and set clear, measurable objectives for all academic

staff within the Foundation Year.

• Foster a collaborative, high-performance academic culture grounded in evidence-based

teaching practice and continuous improvement.

3. Student Success & Academic Support

• Oversee English placement testing processes and ensure appropriate student grouping and

section management.

• Design and implement early-warning systems to identify and support students at academic

risk.

• Collaborate with the Manager of Student Success and Wellness to provide integrated

academic and wellbeing support services.

• Monitor student attendance, progression, and performance data — reporting regularly to the

Provost on readiness and retention metrics.

• Champion an inclusive, supportive learning environment that reflects Kingdom University's

commitment to student success.

4. Operations & Administration

• Develop and manage the Foundation Year academic calendar, timetabling, and section

scheduling in coordination with the Registrar.

• Oversee day-to-day academic operations of the Foundation Year, ensuring teaching quality,

resource deployment, and issue resolution.

• Manage the Foundation Year budget, ensuring cost-effective staffing models and resource

allocation aligned with enrolment projections.

• Administer and optimise the use of the Learning Management System (Canvas or

equivalent) across all Foundation Year courses.

5. Quality Assurance & Accreditation

• Build and maintain a robust evidence culture for ETEC and NCAAA accreditation readiness,

ensuring all Foundation Year processes are audit-ready from Day 1.

• Develop and implement a Foundation Year Quality Assurance framework including

programme reviews, assessment moderation, and outcome tracking.

• Produce regular academic reports for the Provost, President, and Board documenting

student outcomes, programme health, and improvement actions.

• Lead Foundation Year self-study contributions and accreditation submissions as required.

6. Stakeholder Engagement & Institutional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Foundation Year and academic colleges, ensuring

seamless student transition into degree programmes.

• Collaborate with Admissions and Student Recruitment on enrolment planning, student

profiling, and articulation pathway communications.

• Engage with ASU academic partners to maintain curriculum alignment and leverage best

practices from ASU's General Studies and preparatory frameworks.

• Represent the Foundation Year in academic governance committees, faculty senate

discussions, and external accreditation forums.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education

• A doctoral degree (PhD or EdD) in Education, Applied Linguistics, Curriculum & Instruction,

or a closely related discipline is required.

• A Master's degree with exceptional and extensive relevant experience may be considered in

lieu of a doctorate in exceptional circumstances.

Experience

• A minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in higher education, with at least 3–5

years in an academic leadership or programme director role.

• Demonstrated experience designing and managing Foundation Year, preparatory, or

pathway programmes in a university setting.

• Experience working within or alongside U.S.-affiliated or internationally accredited

universities is highly desirable.

• Prior experience in a greenfield or start-up university environment is a significant advantage.

Technical & Domain Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of Foundation Year and General Education curriculum design, outcomes

based assessment, and academic support best practices.

• Familiarity with ETEC and NCAAA accreditation standards, or equivalent international quality

assurance frameworks.

• Proficiency in Learning Management Systems (Canvas preferred) and academic reporting

tools.

• Strong understanding of English language instruction methodologies, placement testing, and

EFL/ESL learning progression frameworks.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

• Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary academic teams in a multicultural, high

growth environment.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills — able to work effectively with

faculty, students, senior leadership, and external partners.

• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills, with experience using student data

to drive instructional improvement.

• High levels of initiative, adaptability, and resilience — essential qualities for operating in a

start-up institutional context.

Language

• Full professional proficiency in English is required (written and spoken).

• Proficiency in Arabic is strongly preferred, facilitating effective engagement with students,

faculty, and government partners