Higher Education Governance and Management Advisor

Addis Ababa (Ministry of Education) with possible travel to regions
Location Type : Office

Deadline : March 28th, 2026

Career Level : Executive(VP, Director)

Language : 1

Employment Type : Full time

Number of people required : 1

Work Experience : 8-12 years

About the Job

The e-Learning for Strengthening Higher Education is a project led by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University, and Shayashone PLC. It is one of the transformative projects under the ministry with the primary mission of supporting Ethiopian higher education institutes to realize digital education. Along this trajectory, the e-SHE addresses critical ecosystem-level issues that undermine the teaching and learning process, quality of education, and act as a barrier to the transformational aspirations of the education sector.

To deepen the impact-level results of e-SHE and enhance the Higher Education’s reform agenda delivery excellence, the Higher Education Delivery Excellence Enhancement Program (HDEEP) has been designed as a strategic extension to the project. The program aims to consolidate and scale the achievements of e-SHE by strengthening Ethiopia’s higher education system, addressing systemic gaps in quality, relevance, equity, and efficiency. It focuses on building the capacity of universities to effectively implement reform initiatives that enhance teaching quality, institutional performance, and inclusivity, thereby fostering graduate employability, innovation, and an entrepreneurial culture across the higher education landscape.

Main intervention areas of the program include: (1) strengthening universities’ implementation capacity through delivery units, leadership development, and institutionalized teaching and learning centers; (2) developing reform-oriented policies, guidelines, and manuals to enhance quality and sustainability of higher education ; (3) building capacity in monitoring, evaluation, and data-driven supervision to improve performance; and (4) advancing leadership development to enhance governance, teaching quality, and graduate employability. Together, these interventions aim to build a more effective, inclusive, and future-ready higher education ecosystem in Ethiopia.

About You

Roles, Responsibilities, and Qualifications 

Short Description of Position

The Higher Education Governance and Management Advisor will serve as a key strategic and operational advisor to the state minister, providing high-level technical, policy, and administrative advice. This role is primarily focused on strengthening institutional governance and driving management excellence across the higher education portfolio. The Advisor will lead efforts to develop and implement performance monitoring frameworks, oversee the execution of university governance and management systems, and support the formulation and review of evidence-based policies and reforms. Additionally, the Advisor will engage with key stakeholders, monitor program implementation, recommend strategies for institutional strengthening, and support communication and representation efforts on behalf of the state minister. This position requires a deep understanding of the higher education landscape in Ethiopia and globally, as well as strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills.

Roles and Responsibilities 

Strategic Advisory & Performance Management

• Provide expert advice on the development and implementation of a comprehensive performance management framework for public higher education institutions.
• Support the State Minister in setting measurable strategic priorities and key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with national development goals.
• Oversee the execution of university performance management systems, including the coordination of annual performance evaluations, analysis of institutional scorecards, and monitoring of corrective action plans to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
• Analyze institutional data and global trends to advise on strategies for improving efficiency, quality, and overall sector performance.
• Lead the monitoring and evaluation of institutional performance against national benchmarks and development plans. 

Institutional Management and Performance Improvement

• Support universities in developing and implementing strategic plans, performance contracts, and accountability systems.
• Facilitate institutional self-assessments and external evaluations focused on governance and management.
• Strengthen mechanisms for resource utilization efficiency, financial transparency, and human resource management in HEIs.
• Promote digital and data-driven management systems for planning, monitoring, and reporting.

Governance 

• Review and update higher education governance and leadership frameworks, regulations, and guidelines.
• Support the design of autonomy and accountability frameworks for HEIs, including university councils, senates, and boards.
• Advise on legal and policy issues affecting higher education governance, institutional autonomy, and accountability.
• Develop policy briefs and advisory notes on leadership, governance, and management reforms.

Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership Management

• Coordinate with university councils, boards, development partners, and higher education regulatory bodies to harmonize governance reforms.
• Liaise with regional education bureaus and university networks to enhance decentralized leadership and governance.
• Represent MoE in national and international forums related to higher education governance and leadership.

Required Qualification:

Educational and Experience 

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership, Educational Management, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field
• At least 8 years (PhD) or 10 years (Master’s) of progressively responsible experience in higher education, leadership, management, or governance.
• Demonstrated track record in supporting university governance, policy implementation, and institutional performance improvement.
• Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including government, universities, and development partners, at national and international levels.

Core Competencies 

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and negotiation abilities.
• Integrity, professionalism, and commitment to public service ethics.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams
• Strategic and systems-thinking abilities to guide institutional transformation.
• Visionary leadership and management skills.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and network building.
• Capacity to mentor and develop leadership pipelines within the sector.
• Commitment to gender equity, inclusiveness, and good governance principles.

Technical Competencies

• Advanced understanding of higher education governance, institutional leadership, management systems, and strategic planning.
• Strong knowledge of higher education reform processes, performance management systems, and leadership development frameworks.
• Understanding of Ethiopian higher education reforms, national policies, and global higher education trends.
• Experience in developing and implementing performance management frameworks, including the design of KPIs, institutional scorecards, and monitoring systems to track organizational performance and drive accountability.
• Ability to analyze institutional data, assess leadership gaps, and design evidence-informed interventions.
• Familiarity with policy frameworks, higher education quality assurance, and change management processes.

Leadership Competencies 

• Strategic and results-oriented leadership with the ability to translate vision into actionable outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership-building skills across government, universities, and international partners.
• Strong mentorship, coaching, and talent development capabilities.
• Commitment to gender equality, inclusivity, and promoting innovation in higher education leadership.
• High professional integrity, accountability, and capacity for independent decision-making.
• Ability to foster collaborative, high-performance teams and promote knowledge sharing across institutions

Requirement Skill

• Research skill
• Analytical skill
• Communication

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