Senior Manager, Registrar

About RUA RUA is a forward-thinking institution for cross-cultural arts education and creative innovation in the Middle East that fosters bold ideas that inspire progress and transform society by cultivating industry and academic collaboration and rethinking creative education, all while creating a space for global ideas to flourish in a culturally inspiring environment. • Our Vision • To be an inspiring beacon of knowledge for future generations, integrating culture and arts, empowering students to discover passions and develop talents while fostering creativity and cultural exchange. • Our Mission • To cultivate an innovative educational environment in culture and arts, delivering cutting-edge programs that foster cultural and artistic engagement, enriching both the Saudi and global communities. • Our Aspirations • The leading cultural university across the Middle East and North Africa. • Ranked among top 50 universities worldwide specializing in cultural education. • A global hub for cultural education and knowledge exchange. Job Summary Manages the end-to-end registration function by administering the academic calendar, timetable build, enrollment controls, eligibility rules, and policy-compliant exceptions to ensure accurate student records and a seamless registration experience. Coordinates with academic units, Student Life and Experience, Academic Excellence, Finance, and Digital and Technology to support progression transactions, graduation eligibility verification, assessments, examinations, grading, appeals, and timely reporting for students and stakeholders. General Accountabilities Strategy and Planning • Contribute to the development of Admissions, Registrar & Student Affairs department’s business plan from Registrar standpoint. • Develop the operational plan for Registrar section in line with Admissions, Registrar & Student Affairs department’s business plan. • Implement plans and provide input to enable achievement of Registrar section’s goals that support Admissions, Registrar & Student Affairs department’s plans. Budget Management • Participate in Admissions, Registrar & Student Affairs department’s budgeting exercise and provide input from Registrar section’s standpoint. • Ensure effective utilization of the section’s budget and report accurately on progress made and challenges encountered Policies, Processes, and Procedures • Lead the design and implementation of Registrar related policies and procedures covering all areas of activity so that all relevant procedural / legislative requirements are fulfilled. • Stay up to date on leading practices and new trends related to Registrar and identify recommendations for corrective measures. • Monitor day-to-day activities to ensure compliance with stipulated policies and procedures. • Periodically review policies, processes, guidelines and procedures to ensure alignment with RUA's requirements and evolving market trends. People Management • Participate in the identification and recruitment of key talent. • Guide, mentor and support direct reports to execute duties according to set policies and processes. • Develop individual performance objectives, provide necessary support, evaluate/appraise team and provide regular feedback on performance. • Foster a strong student-centric culture by ensuring teams are equipped with the right skills and capabilities to consistently deliver high-quality support and experience. • Establish a high-performance working environment and promote RUA's values. Project Management • Lead and guide project management teams in planning and organizing functional or organizational projects. • Manage and control projects to ensure project cycle completion and commitment to guidelines, i.e. cost, budget, timelines, scope, and quality, and monitor and maintain RUA's quality and standards. Job Specific Accountabilities Academic Registration Management • Manage the academic registration calendar, including registration windows, add/drop periods, withdrawal deadlines, and related communications to students and academic units. • Coordinate enrollment cycles, timetable release support, section openings and closures, and waitlist administration in line with approved policies. • Maintain registration workflows and escalation paths to resolve exceptions, holds, and approvals within agreed timelines. Enrollment Eligibility and Controls • Verify enrollment eligibility, including prerequisites, co-requisites, standing, degree plan rules, and other registration conditions. • Apply registration and progression related student-facing policies consistently and route complex cases through the appropriate college, program, or university escalation path. • Administer policy-compliant exceptions and overrides through approved workflows and maintain clear documentation. • Maintain seat allocations, capacity controls, and course availability data to support accurate enrollment decisions. Academic Progression and Graduation Support • Maintain progression records and related transactions, including program changes, leaves, returns, transfer credit recording, and graduation eligibility checks. Assessments, Examinations, Grading, and Appeals • Coordinate administrative processes related to assessments, examinations, grading, and academic appeals with schools, colleges, and relevant academic units. • Provide scheduling support, manage mark submission and aggregation, and coordinate related record updates in line with approved timelines. • Route exceptions and unresolved cases through the appropriate academic approval and escalation channels. Student Records and Compliance • Maintain the accuracy, confidentiality, and completeness of registration, progression, and graduation records. • Review adherence to registration policies, academic regulations, and data governance requirements • Support audits, reconciliations, and documentation requests related to registration activities and student records. Reporting and Continuous Improvement • Coordinate KPI tracking and reporting for registration volumes, accuracy, turnaround times, service performance, graduation readiness, and appeals cycle times. • Perform root-cause analysis on recurring issues and recommend process improvements. • Support system testing, policy updates, and change implementation for registration, progression, assessments, examinations, grading, and appeals processes. Knowledge & Experience • 7+ years of progressive experience in registration, student records, academic administration, or higher education operations, including at least 2 years in a managerial capacity • Strong knowledge of registration controls, timetable management, enrollment eligibility, student information systems, records management, and data governance requirements • Proven ability to use service metrics, process improvement methods, and stakeholder coordination to improve accuracy, compliance, and student experience Education & Certifications • Master degree in higher education, business administration, public administration, information management, or a related field is required • Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline is preferred • Training or certification in student information systems, records management, scheduling, or process improvement is an advantage. Why joining RUA: RUA represents a platform for discovery, a space where talent is nurtured, and a gateway for Saudi art and culture to the world. We welcome you to join us on this exceptional journey. Together, we will shape the ambitious cultural future of the Kingdom and inspire the world. As the first of its kind in the MENA region, RUA serves as a center of creativity, knowledge, and innovation, contributing to shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s cultural ecosystem and creative economy, driving the growth of Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.