Executive Office Manager; Dubai - Executive and Corporate Office Grade 7

Job Description Position Details

Dubai Professional Services

Executive and Corporate Office

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary:
Competitive

Grade: 7

No. of positions: 1

Full time

Duration: 3-year fixed contract (renewable at the University’s discretion)

Location:

Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 22nd February 2026

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have now moved to our new state-of-the-art campus which opened in Sept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our long‑term strategic mission in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence in Dubai.

Our ethos as a Professional Services team has been developed in line with the principles of being a Birmingham Professional. In particular here in Dubai this means that all Professional Services colleagues seek to collaborate effectively to ensure the needs of the whole campus community and our stakeholders are met. It also means that we work constructively together to provide a flexible range of service and support that adapt to the changing needs of the Campus as we grow.

There are specific focal points in the academic cycle when all Professional Services team members will be expected to contribute regardless of their primary role, for example Welcome or Graduation. In addition, the duties listed below are illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of this post which is likely to change over time in response to the needs of the Campus and as you develop your experience and skills.

You will have the opportunity to develop and may also need to specialise your duties further, over time, in agreement with your manager.

In order to contribute to the success of the team and the University’s vision for the Dubai Campus the Professional Services team will be seeking to continue to recruit and develop colleagues who display:

• a high level of intellectual aptitude.
• strong agility and a portfolio of skills that can adapt to meet changing circumstances.
• an innovative and creative mind‑set; and
• both an enterprising and entrepreneurial nature to support our growth and pursuit of excellence.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Executive Office Manager is responsible for managing high quality support to the leadership of the Dubai campus to assist in delivering the vision and mission set out by Council and the University Executive Board for the campus. The Executive Office team will support the provision of the strategic ambitions through the delivery of central corporate services functions.

The Office works closely with the Dubai Provost, the COO other senior colleagues in Dubai and colleagues from the UK campus in order to ensure that governance, policy and processes required are effective in meeting the needs of both the Edgbaston and the Dubai campuses.

• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
• Undertake continuous personal and professional development.

• Manage the Executive Office functions for the ECO, providing administrative support to the corporate functions the office is responsible for.
• Manage the staff in the Executive Office.
• Manage the budget resources designated for the operation of the Executive Office.
• Identify and manage projects independently, to improve services and support and undertake desk research and source data to contribute to wider campus projects as needed.
• Undertake complex diary management and meeting planning, usually 6‑12 months ahead, making decisions on the best use of time. Proactive inbox management, with confidence to make decisions on behalf of others where appropriate.
• Dealing with a wide range of more complex, confidential and sensitive enquiries and correspondence independently.
• Arranging complex overseas and UK travel, including…