United States International University - Africa is located in the Kasarani area, off Thika Road in the suburb of Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi. The university is an independent, not-for-profit institution serving 6512 students representing 69 nationalities. It offers 24 degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral level, all of which are accredi...

Job Type: Full Time
Qualification: PhD/Fellowship
Experience: 5 years
Location: Nairobi
Job Field: Education / Teaching / Training

The Role

USIU-Africa seeks a strategic, compassionate Deputy Vice Chancellor, Student Life to provide strategic direction, oversight, coordination and leadership for an integrated student experience that enables every student to thrive academically, personally and socially. The mandate brings together student success, wellbeing, advocacy, engagement, inclusion and development, recognising that academic achievement is closely connected to mental health, belonging and resilience.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor will lead the student success lifecycle, from enrolment and transition into University through academic progression, completion and preparation for life beyond graduation. Working across academic and administrative divisions, the role will remove barriers to achievement, champion student voice and advocacy and strengthen accessible, proactive and preventive support. The role combines strategic oversight with active participation in student life, including the planning, organisation and implementation of policies and procedures governing extracurricular activities.

The mandate is to translate an integrated student experience into demonstrable improvements in retention, academic progression, timely graduation and employability. This includes strengthening engagement and campus participation, improving enrolment and the responsiveness of student support, and sustaining students’ lifelong connection to USIU-Africa. The Deputy Vice Chancellor will work with academic and professional teams to establish baselines, agree on measurable targets and use evidence to assess progress and direct resources where they will have the greatest effect. Technology will underpin this approach through student success dashboards, progress tracking and coordinated interventions, enabling the University to identify emerging needs, act early and evaluate the effectiveness of support.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Accountability

• Translate the University’s Strategic Plan into measurable student success outcomes, implementation plans and performance targets across the student lifecycle. Lead an integrated approach that connects academic achievement with wellbeing, inclusion, engagement and personal development.
• Serve as the Vice Chancellor’s chief advisor on student success, wellbeing, advocacy and the wider student experience, keeping the Vice Chancellor informed. Participate in the Management Board, contribute to institutional goals and represent the student success, wellbeing and advocacy portfolio on University committees and community groups.
• Lead the planning, implementation and review of policies, standards, programmes and services for student success, wellbeing and advocacy. Guide the transition from reactive services to proactive, coordinated and preventive support, with clear responsibilities and accountability for delivery.

Academic Progression and Completion

• Collaborate with academic schools and administrative divisions to identify and remove barriers to retention, academic progression and timely graduation. Coordinate academic advising, mentoring and early interventions for students who need additional support.
• Oversee enrolment and retention, financial aid and orientation, working across the University to support new, transfer and re-entry students, including those transitioning from high school. Connect these services to continued engagement and successful progression.
• Work with academic leaders to ensure wellbeing informs the curriculum and classroom experience. Collaborate with the Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible for Academics, Transformative Teaching, Learning and Research to plan and direct graduation ceremonies.

Student Wellbeing and Inclusion

• Provide strategic oversight of counselling, wellness, student advocacy and services that meet students’ daily needs. Ensure support is accessible, inclusive and responsive, and strengthens mental health, resilience and psychological safety.
• Oversee international student services, study abroad and multicultural programmes. Recognise the needs of students from different backgrounds and coordinate support that enables equitable participation and achievement.
• Manage facilities and services that enhance students’ quality of life and learning. Use student feedback and service evidence to improve access, response times and the coordination of support.

• Translate the University’s Strategic Plan into measurable student success outcomes, implementation plans and performance targets across the student lifecycle. Lead an integrated approach that connects academic achievement with wellbeing, inclusion, engagement and personal development.
• Serve as the Vice Chancellor’s chief advisor on student success, wellbeing, advocacy and the wider student experience, keeping the Vice Chancellor informed. Participate in the Management Board, contribute to institutional goals and represent the student success, wellbeing and advocacy portfolio on University committees and community groups.
• Lead the planning, implementation and review of policies, standards, programmes and services for student success, wellbeing and advocacy. Guide the transition from reactive services to proactive, coordinated and preventive support, with clear responsibilities and accountability for delivery.
• Collaborate with academic schools and administrative divisions to identify and remove barriers to retention, academic progression and timely graduation. Coordinate academic advising, mentoring and early interventions for students who need additional support.
• Oversee enrolment and retention, financial aid and orientation, working across the University to support new, transfer and re-entry students, including those transitioning from high school. Connect these services to continued engagement and successful progression.
• Work with academic leaders to ensure wellbeing informs the curriculum and classroom experience. Collaborate with the Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible for Academics, Transformative Teaching, Learning and Research to plan and direct graduation ceremonies.
• Provide strategic oversight of counselling, wellness, student advocacy and services that meet students’ daily needs. Ensure support is accessible, inclusive and responsive, and strengthens mental health, resilience and psychological safety.
• Oversee international student services, study abroad and multicultural programmes. Recognise the needs of students from different backgrounds and coordinate support that enables equitable participation and achievement.
• Manage facilities and services that enhance students’ quality of life and learning. Use student feedback and service evidence to improve access, response times and the coordination of support.

• Strategic leadership and planning
• Student success and lifecycle management
• Student wellbeing, advocacy and inclusion
• Policy, programme and service oversight
• Performance target setting and evidence-based evaluation
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Student support coordination and early intervention
• Stakeholder and committee representation

• PhD/Fellowship