Job ID
46215
Job Title
Head of Professional Development Centre (PDC)
To work for
Aga Khan Foundation
Country
Syria
City
Damascus
Field of Work
Education/Training - Humanitarian/Disasters
Job Type
Full time
Military service
Not Specified
Minimum Education Level
Master
Responsibilities
The Aga Khan Foundation in Syria seeks to employ a full-time Head of Professional Development Centre (PDC) for its office in Salamieh or Damascus.
JOB NUMBER: AKF/ 01
JOB SUMMARY:
Two Professional Development Centres (PDCs) are being established in Syria at Damascus and Salamieh respectively. The PDCs will play a crucial role in offering specialized programs and initiatives to address the unique educational needs in Syria. These centres would be multi-disciplinary in nature and offer in-person and hybrid programs in the field of education, nursing, allied health among others. This is a unique opportunity to lead a continuing education entity in an area of great need in the country.
The Head of the Professional Development Centres, will play a central role in advancing quality education and professional development initiatives across Syria, aligning efforts with the strategic objectives of AKDN. This role involves promoting regional and national partnerships, managing continuing education programmes, and ensuring sustainability and systemic of AKF’s work in the country. The incumbent will report directly to the Vice Provost of Aga Khan University, Pakistan.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership to guide PDC’s mission in Syria, including setting annual goals, planning activities, and evaluating outcomes in alignment with AKDN’s vision for continuing education and lifelong learning.
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of all PDC programmes, including professional development courses, community learning initiatives, tailored to the Syrian educational landscape
- Support programmes in Lifelong Learning Education and Development of Skills through a multi-sectoral/-disciplinary approach
- Ensure programmes respond to the evolving needs of educators, school leaders, and communities within Syria
- Manage financial operations, including budget planning, expenditure control, compliance with the organization’s financial policies, and efficient utilization of resources within the Syrian context.
- Develop and implement fundraising and resource mobilization strategies, including securing grants, donor partnerships, and endowments to support PDC’s programmes and long-term sustainability in Syria
- Strengthen human resource planning and development, including mentoring staff, supporting professional growth, and fostering a positive, collaborative organizational culture
- Plan faculty requirements in coordination with management, ensuring the PDC has adequate instructional capacity and high-quality academic delivery
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with local government entities, education authorities, NGOs, UN agencies, community organizations, AKDN institutions, and academic bodies operating in Syria
- Ensure effective operational management of PDC, including administrative oversight, facility management, coordination with any co-located AKDN agencies, and adherence to organizational policies
- Assess the global needs of continuous development, identify and coordinate the development of courses to offer through the PDC
- Oversee quality assurance, monitoring, and evaluation of all programmes, research initiatives, capacity-building efforts, and community outreach activities delivered by PDC.
- Represent AKDN in local, regional, and international forums, strengthening institutional visibility, partnerships, and influence across the education sector
- Travel as required within Syria and internationally for academic delivery, partnership development, programme oversight, and institutional representation.
JOB NUMBER: AKF/ 01
JOB SUMMARY:
Two Professional Development Centres (PDCs) are being established in Syria at Damascus and Salamieh respectively. The PDCs will play a crucial role in offering specialized programs and initiatives to address the unique educational needs in Syria. These centres would be multi-disciplinary in nature and offer in-person and hybrid programs in the field of education, nursing, allied health among others. This is a unique opportunity to lead a continuing education entity in an area of great need in the country.
The Head of the Professional Development Centres, will play a central role in advancing quality education and professional development initiatives across Syria, aligning efforts with the strategic objectives of AKDN. This role involves promoting regional and national partnerships, managing continuing education programmes, and ensuring sustainability and systemic of AKF’s work in the country. The incumbent will report directly to the Vice Provost of Aga Khan University, Pakistan.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership to guide PDC’s mission in Syria, including setting annual goals, planning activities, and evaluating outcomes in alignment with AKDN’s vision for continuing education and lifelong learning.
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of all PDC programmes, including professional development courses, community learning initiatives, tailored to the Syrian educational landscape
- Support programmes in Lifelong Learning Education and Development of Skills through a multi-sectoral/-disciplinary approach
- Ensure programmes respond to the evolving needs of educators, school leaders, and communities within Syria
- Manage financial operations, including budget planning, expenditure control, compliance with the organization’s financial policies, and efficient utilization of resources within the Syrian context.
- Develop and implement fundraising and resource mobilization strategies, including securing grants, donor partnerships, and endowments to support PDC’s programmes and long-term sustainability in Syria
- Strengthen human resource planning and development, including mentoring staff, supporting professional growth, and fostering a positive, collaborative organizational culture
- Plan faculty requirements in coordination with management, ensuring the PDC has adequate instructional capacity and high-quality academic delivery
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with local government entities, education authorities, NGOs, UN agencies, community organizations, AKDN institutions, and academic bodies operating in Syria
- Ensure effective operational management of PDC, including administrative oversight, facility management, coordination with any co-located AKDN agencies, and adherence to organizational policies
- Assess the global needs of continuous development, identify and coordinate the development of courses to offer through the PDC
- Oversee quality assurance, monitoring, and evaluation of all programmes, research initiatives, capacity-building efforts, and community outreach activities delivered by PDC.
- Represent AKDN in local, regional, and international forums, strengthening institutional visibility, partnerships, and influence across the education sector
- Travel as required within Syria and internationally for academic delivery, partnership development, programme oversight, and institutional representation.
Qualifications
- The applicant must have a Master’s degree in Education, Development Studies, Management, or a closely related field; a PhD in Education or a relevant field will be strongly preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in education, development, or a related sector, with proven expertise in program design, community engagement, and resource management.
- Ability to define and execute the strategic vision, driving major institutional change and leading transformation initiatives (e.g., lifelong learning models).
- Proven expertise in teacher education, curriculum design, and ensuring the overall quality and innovation of academic programs.
- Strong analytical skills and experience in designing/supervising research, using evidence to inform strategic planning, monitoring, and program improvement.
- Demonstrated competence in budgetary control, financial planning, and successfully mobilizing resources (fundraising/grants).
- Excellence in building and sustaining strategic partnerships with government bodies, donors, NGOs, and community stakeholders.
- Experience in effective staff supervision, performance management, delegation, and ensuring administrative efficiency and compliance.
- Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills required for academic discourse, public speaking, negotiation, and representing the institution regionally/professionally.
- Exceptional proficiency in English, including both written and oral communication.
- At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in education, development, or a related sector, with proven expertise in program design, community engagement, and resource management.
- Ability to define and execute the strategic vision, driving major institutional change and leading transformation initiatives (e.g., lifelong learning models).
- Proven expertise in teacher education, curriculum design, and ensuring the overall quality and innovation of academic programs.
- Strong analytical skills and experience in designing/supervising research, using evidence to inform strategic planning, monitoring, and program improvement.
- Demonstrated competence in budgetary control, financial planning, and successfully mobilizing resources (fundraising/grants).
- Excellence in building and sustaining strategic partnerships with government bodies, donors, NGOs, and community stakeholders.
- Experience in effective staff supervision, performance management, delegation, and ensuring administrative efficiency and compliance.
- Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills required for academic discourse, public speaking, negotiation, and representing the institution regionally/professionally.
- Exceptional proficiency in English, including both written and oral communication.
Specific Vacancy Requirements
Deadline for application submission is Monday January 19th 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The base station (location) is subject to negotiations.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The base station (location) is subject to negotiations.
Salary and Benefits
As per AKF Salary Scale.
Health and Life Insurance.
Health and Life Insurance.
About us
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of development agencies with mandates that include the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, and the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalization of historic cities. AKDN agencies conduct their programmes without regard to faith, origin or gender.
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected incumbent must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Safeguarding Commitments:
AKF is committed to maintaining the highest standard of ethical behaviour among its staff, representatives, and partners to make sure of do no harm of the beneficiaries and whom they deal with. In line with this commitment; the selected incumbent must adhere to the AKF Code of Conduct and the relevant Safeguarding policies
Required employees number
1
Posted On
Jan 05, 2026
Expiry Date
Feb 04, 2026
CV Language
English
