Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Dean is responsible for providing strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the School, including but not limited to the following:

Strategic and Institutional Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation, and periodic review of the GSPP Strategic Plan in alignment with the University Strategy.
• Contribute to the University’s strategic governance as a member of senior academic and management bodies and represent the School on University committees and to external stakeholders, including policy makers and government officials.
• Ensure that the School’s activities measurably contribute to University priorities, including:
  • graduate employability and career outcomes
  • sustainability and SDG‑aligned research and education
  • diversification of non‑governmental revenue
  • improvement of international rankings
• Promote academic freedom, ethical standards, and a culture of excellence in teaching, research, and public service, in line with University regulations.
• Foster strong internal collaboration with other Schools and Research Centers to support interdisciplinary education and research within NU.

Academic Quality, Teaching, and Student Outcomes

• Ensure high academic quality and continuous improvement of degree and non‑degree programs, aligned with international best practices.
• Oversee teaching and learning, assessment, and quality assurance processes within the School.
• Approve and implement the School’s teaching and learning strategy, in line with the University strategy and in consultation with the Provost and Vice Provost Academic Affairs.
• Plan and deliver student recruitment targets, including fee‑paying and international students, contributing to projected tuition revenue KPIs.
• Promote joint, dual, and executive education programs with leading international partners.
• Support initiatives that enhance graduate employability, professional skills, and policy impact.

Research, Innovation, and Policy Impact

• Develop and implement the GSPP’s research strategy in alignment with the University research agenda and SDG priorities.
• Foster a strong research culture with a focus on:
  • high‑quality publications in leading journals (Q1 and top decile)
  • policy‑relevant and impact‑driven research
  • international visibility and collaboration.
• Support growth in external research income from governmental, international, and non‑governmental sources.
• Encourage and support faculty participation in international conferences, forums, and policy platforms.
• Liaise with the Vice‑Provost for Research and Innovation, and relevant University units on research performance, collaboration, research infrastructure, funding, and compliance matters.

External Engagement and Reputation

• Represent GSPP to government bodies, international organizations, universities, donors, and industry partners.
• Reinforce GSPP’s national and international reputation through partnerships, policy dialogue, and public engagement.
• Promote the School’s contribution to public policy development in Kazakhstan and internationally.
• Support organization and hosting of international conferences, forums, and executive programs in coordination with the University.

Financial and Resource Management

• Lead the GSPP’s annual and medium‑term budgeting processes and ensure financial sustainability.
• Take responsibility for achieving agreed financial and management performance targets, including non‑governmental revenue from academic and executive education programs.
• Ensure that financial operations comply with University internal regulations and approved procedures.
• Oversee effective use of facilities, digital resources, and infrastructure in support of strategic objectives.
• Ensure the effective functioning of School‑level committees and governance structures.

People Management and Talent Development

• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, and retention of academic and professional staff.
• Take part in the recruitment and performance evaluation of senior academic staff.
• Mentor, develop, and appraise direct reports and promote a culture of high performance and engagement.
• Support faculty development, promotion, and succession planning, including advancement of women and under‑represented groups in senior academic roles.
• Contribute to increasing the proportion and development of national faculty in line with University objectives.

Compliance, Ethics, and Well‑Being

• Ensure that all School activities comply with University policies, internal regulations, and applicable legislation.
• Promote a strong culture of integrity, academic ethics, health, safety, and well‑being within the School.

​​​​​​The candidate must be eligible for appointment at the rank of Full Professor or equivalent

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel internationally and work beyond regular office hours as required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and operate with a high level of professional integrity.

Application Information

This position is open to external and internal candidates and open till February 25th 2026. Review of applications will begin after the deadline. Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter addressing qualifications and leadership vision
• A curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information for three professional references (at least one being a current or former line manager).

Employment at Nazarbayev University is subject to verification of academic credentials and compliance with institutional policies.

Recruitment and selection process
Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation.

Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process.
They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English.
You are encouraged to share your views and values  to identify how they fit into  Nazarbayev University core values