Job description

Karachi, Pakistan

Habib University seeks an agile and pioneering academic leader to serve as its next Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA)—a forward-facing role working closely with the President and the Board to shape the University’s academic direction in response to the complex challenges and opportunities of our time. As the chief academic officer, the VPAA will play a critical role in defining Habib’s academic trajectory in its second decade. The VPAA will steward a bold, student-centered vision that integrates cutting-edge pedagogy, interdisciplinary excellence, and global engagement—ensuring Habib remains an institution of choice for outstanding students and exceptional faculty across Pakistan and beyond.

The VPAA will lead over 130 faculty, fellows, and staff across the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and the Dhanani School of Science and Engineering (DSSE), while also chairing the Board of Faculty. The VPAA will manage the office of academic affairs with the support of a team of Associate Deans and Directors to drive institutional initiatives that elevate teaching, research, and student learning outcomes. Under the President’s leadership, the incumbent joins a senior leadership including the Vice President Student Success, Vice President for Operations and Finance and Senior Director for Institutional Development and Global Engagement.

Habib’s Distinctive Approach to Higher Education

Habib University, Pakistan’s first American-style liberal arts and sciences institution, embraces a reparative approach to education—redefining learning that is deeply rooted in local contexts while engaging meaningfully with global perspectives. Now in its second decade, Habib has moved beyond its pioneering phase into a period of sustained growth – backed by robust financial stewardship and a governance model that balances innovation with institutional resilience. Beyond its start-up phase, Habib now stands as a proven success, with a well-defined mission and the capacity to scale its impact.

At the heart of its academic experience is the Habib Liberal Core Curriculum, a signature requirement cultivating critical consciousness, civic responsibility, and intellectual rigor among all students. Habib’s programs balance disciplinary depth with interdisciplinary insight, while a strong teaching-research integration ensures that scholarly work directly informs classroom learning. This model equips students to engage with pressing global challenges – from historical, social, and climate-conscious curricula perspectives to use of ethical technology, data literacy and global awareness.

As higher education undergoes profound transformation, the VPAA will steer the University’s academic evolution—advancing multiple priorities with equal rigor and vision:

• Preparing students for a world of polycrises, uncertainty, and interconnected challenges through interdisciplinary and globally conscious curricula;
• Ethical Integration of AI and emerging technologies in learning and pedagogy;
• Embedding sustainability and climate action across disciplines;
• Developing programs attuned to the Global South, while engaging academic networks inclusive of the Global North;
• Harnessing data analytics to inform teaching, learning, and institutional decision-making, while cultivating data fluency as a core student competency.

Role Summary

The position of Vice President of Academic Affairs is a full-time, senior leadership role that reports directly to the President. This three-year contractual appointment is a pivotal opportunity for a dynamic academic leader to steer the next phase of Habib’s intellectual and institutional growth. As the University charts its course for the next decade, guided by a newly conceptualized strategic plan, the VPAA will play a central role in translating that vision into academic reality. This includes shaping forward-looking programs, cultivating a robust and engaged faculty culture, and ensuring that Habib’s distinctive liberal arts and sciences model remains innovative and relevant. Working closely with the President’s senior leadership team and academic leadership, the VPAA will oversee the design, implementation, and continuous refinement of academic programs that prepare students to navigate complexity, uncertainty, and transformation. Key areas of responsibility include:

• Academic Strategy and Innovation: Leading the academic evolution of the University by integrating emerging tools like AI and data analytics into pedagogy, embedding sustainability and climate consciousness across disciplines, and fostering inquiry that responds to the realities of the Global South.
• Faculty Stewardship and Academic Culture: Supporting a dynamic and diverse faculty body through effective governance, development, and evaluation systems—ensuring excellence in teaching, research, creative practice, and service.
• Academic Operations and Student Learning: Overseeing core academic infrastructure including the Registrar, Library, and Academic Operations, while strengthening learning outcomes, curricular cohesion, and holistic student development.
• Institutional Planning and Implementation: Aligning academic priorities with the University’s strategic direction, driving evidence-based planning through collaboration with the Office of Institutional Research, and ensuring that academic affairs contribute meaningfully to institutional resilience and innovation.

This role calls for an agile and pioneering academic leader—one who is committed to building future-ready institutions and reimagining the role of higher education in a region and era defined by complexity, transformation, and urgency.

For a detailed job description and information about Habib University, please click here .

About Karachi, Pakistan

Karachi is one of the world’s great unsung megalopolises—vast, dynamic, and deeply layered defying easy definitions. As Pakistan’s economic engine and cultural capital, it offers an experience that is both globally connected and uniquely local. For those considering a move to Karachi with their families, the city presents a compelling mix of opportunity, affordability, and adventure. Karachi is home to a wide range of excellent schools that follow international curricula, world-class hospitals and medical centers, and a cost of living that allows for a high quality of life. Whether you’re looking for beachfront recreation, curated arts spaces, or quiet residential neighborhoods, the city offers multiple lifestyles within a single urban sprawl.

At the heart of this vibrant metropolis lies Habib University—an intellectual and cultural epicenter that reflects the best of what Karachi has to offer. The city’s rich history is visible in its colonial-era architecture, its diverse culinary scene, and the generosity and warmth of its people. Living in Karachi means immersing yourself in a city that rewards curiosity, from bustling markets and historic districts to thriving startup hubs and creative communities. Foreign faculty often find themselves welcomed not only into the university, but also into Karachi’s wider ecosystem of professionals, artists, and thinkers. It’s a city of stories, energy, and surprising moments—a place where life is full, vibrant, and deeply human.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A distinguished academic record and a PhD, with qualifications meriting appointment at the level of Full Professor.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education, preferably in North America or at an American-style institution abroad.
• A strong commitment to liberal arts education, student-centered learning, and climate-conscious pedagogy.
• Experience in faculty mentoring, curriculum innovation, and institutional strategy development.
• A collaborative leadership style rooted in shared governance, ethical decision-making, and cultural sensitivity.
• Proven ability to build consensus, communicate vision, and deliver results in dynamic academic settings.
• An appreciation for emerging challenges in higher education, including AI, sustainability, equity, and digital transformation.

How to apply

Applications should consist of a CV, ideally accompanied by a brief cover letter addressing the criteria outlined in the Personal Specifications noted above. These documents can be sent to Mr. Salman Khimani, Director Academic Operations at [email protected]. For additional questions, please feel free to reach out to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Nigel Boyle ([email protected]).

The deadline for applications is August 31, 2025.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Habib University in September and October 2025 with an anticipated start date between January 1 and August 1, 2026 – depending on the candidate’s availability.

This post is based in Karachi. Extensive local and international travel may be required.

An appointment will be made subject to receipt of satisfactory references. The appointed candidate will be offered a salary that is commensurate with their experience and appropriate to the seniority of this position.