Manager/Assistant Manager, Institute for Educational Development

Aga Khan University (AKU), established in 1983 as Pakistan’s first private international university, is dedicated to delivering education, research, and healthcare services of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED), founded in 1993, aims to lead educational reform and improvement, particularly in developing countries, by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of schools and educational institutions through innovation, policy development, training, and research. The University operates across Pakistan, East Africa, the UK, and Afghanistan and is part of the Aga Khan Development Network. This is an eighteen-month grant-funded contractual position based in Karachi, Pakistan.

Key Responsibilities:
The Manager/Assistant Manager will report to the Project Director and support the project team in planning and executing project activities and events. Responsibilities include managing day-to-day academic, administrative, financial, and coordination tasks, supervising project support staff, and liaising with internal departments such as Planning and Development, Research and Policy Studies, Finance, HR, Legal, Security, and Procurement. The role requires coordination with the funding agency (UNICEF) and government stakeholders at provincial and district education departments.

Specific duties include providing administrative, financial, and HR support; assisting academic teams in capacity-building program planning and execution; ensuring timely completion of deliverables; reviewing and adapting educational materials; guiding the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (MER) Specialist in database management, documentation, and reporting; revising work and M&E plans as necessary; organizing events such as meetings, seminars, and policy dialogues; conducting field visits to monitor project implementation; and maintaining effective communication with all stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must hold a master’s degree (16 years of education) in social or natural sciences from a reputable national or international university. A minimum of five to seven years of relevant experience is essential, preferably in managing educational development or social development projects. Proven skills in day-to-day project operations, staff supervision, performance monitoring, and capacity-building program design and execution are required. Expertise in project progress monitoring, report writing, and strong interpersonal, communication (English and Urdu), analytical, organizational, leadership, and management skills are critical. Proficiency in MS Office, SPSS, Excel, and related software is necessary. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to maintain confidentiality, work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and be willing to travel as required.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits:
While specific benefits are not detailed, the position offers the opportunity to work within a prestigious international university committed to diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding standards. Comprehensive employment reference checks will be conducted to ensure candidate suitability.

This role provides a unique chance to contribute to impactful educational development projects in collaboration with UNICEF and government partners, supporting capacity building and policy reform in Pakistan’s education sector. The position is contractual and based in Karachi, with a closing date for applications on November 11, 2026.