Director of Human Resources (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic)

Department: Human Resources
Reports to: Rector
Duty Station: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic (with travel throughout Central Asia)
Deadline: 31 May 2025

About the University of Central Asia
The University of Central Asia (UCA) is a world-class centre for knowledge and learning, connecting isolated rural communities with the global community and building human capital needed for modern economies and stable governance.
It was founded in 2000 as a private, not for profit, secular university through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan; ratified by their respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. The Presidents are the Patrons of the University and His Highness is the Chancellor. UCA’s mission is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education, developing into an international research university, and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future. For more information, visit: www.ucentralasia.org

UCA consists of three schools including the School of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Development, and the School of Professional and Continuing Education.

• The School of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor’s degree programmes with majors in Computer Science, Communications and Media, Global Economics, and Earth and Environmental Sciences at its residential campuses in Khorog and Naryn.
• The Graduate School of Development serves as a hub for conducting multidisciplinary research. Its research institutes have established thematic, multidisciplinary expertise in the economies, societies, culture and environment of Central Asia and UCA’s first master’s programmes are planned for 2026.
• The School of Professional and Continuing Education is the region’s leading provider of short cycle professional education courses designed to improve employment and income-generating opportunities. These courses are offered at 17 learning centers in Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan

Summary of Position
The Director of Human Resources will provide strategic and operational leadership of the human resources function at UCA. This includes working closely with the Rector, Chief Operating Officer, other members of the leadership team, and with department heads to align UCA’s human resources with the strategic needs of the University while also leading a team of human resource professionals to deliver a broad range of human resource services.
The position offers an unparalleled opportunity for a highly motivated candidate with experience of managing human resource functions in complex and diverse working environments. Experience of leading human resource functions in the higher education sector would be strongly preferred, as would an understanding of the cultural and educational context of Central Asia.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the human resources function and develop an approach which enables the University’s human resources to be effectively utilized to meet its strategic goals.
• Serve as business partner to all UCA units/departments/Schools by helping them with their HR initiatives.
• Develop and implement operational and strategic management of HR functions of the university.
• Manage and direct all aspects of the HR function, including the development of HR strategy, policies, processes, and systems that are aligned with the strategy of the University and are developed in consultation with key internal stakeholders.
• Support the modernization and renewal of the University’s pay, grading and compensation policies.
• Develop and implement strategies for talent acquisition, succession planning, development, management and retention.
• Initiate and sustain a productive work environment, build trust, accountability, innovation, and growth opportunities for all staff.
• Position UCA as an employer of choice in regional and international markets and ensure UCA deploys an innovative multiplatform recruitment strategy that attracts talented academic and administrative staff to the University.
• Support the development of an academic recruiting and talent development specialism.
• Ensure all employees are aware of UCA’s Safeguarding principles and policies and that the university adopts a robust approach to the reporting, investigation and response to cases of harassment, bullying and assault within the UCA community.
• Oversee a positive employee relations climate at UCA, in which employees are provided opportunities to pursue individual and collective grievances in a fair and supportive manner and disciplinary action is managed in a professional and structured way.
• Develop the University’s chosen human resource information system, SAP, to provide accurate and relevant employee data and performance metrics and support the key internal HR processes.
• In addition to maintaining strong working relationships with the University work closely and share best practice with HR colleagues within the AKDN agencies and the Central Asian HR community.
• Develop initiatives to improve the effectiveness of internal communication and employee engagement across a complex, multi-site university.
• Serve as an approachable and positive role model for the university and one which the UCA management team regards as a valued partner in facilitating institutional improvement and change.
• Provide effective leadership and mentor an enthusiastic and talented team of the human resources.

Relationships
The Director of Human Resources will:

• Report to the Rector.
• Be a member of the UCA Management Executive Committee

Required Qualifications and Experience
The successful candidate for this position will possess:

• An advanced degree in a relevant field, preferably with a specialization in human resource management.
• Significant demonstrated success at a senior level in the field of human resources management.
• Human resources experience in, and/or demonstrable interest and knowledge of, the higher education sector will be given preference.
• The ability to make a significant contribution to the strategic development of an organization, while also being willing to proactively lead by example in day-to-day HR operational matters.
• Well-developed skills in coaching and mentoring a senior leadership team to demonstrate best practice human resource principles.
• Experience and/or knowledge of (or a willingness to immerse in) the Central Asian or post-Soviet higher education environment.
• Experience of managing complex compensation and benefits strategies.
• A strong track record of developing human resources professionals to attain the professional skills, knowledge and competences required by modern human resource practitioners.
• Ability to manage conflict in a skillful and measured way while ensuring compliance with the legal requirements of the Founding States of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English, UCA’s business language.
• Cultural and gender sensitivity, flexibility, and demonstrated evidence of being able to work effectively with diverse constituencies at the local, regional, and international level.
• Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience of working in Central Asia or other post-Soviet countries or being able to operate successfully in other complex intercultural settings.

Languages:

• Advanced proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. Russian is preferred but not essential.
• Knowledge of other Central Asian languages (Kyrgyz, Tajik, Kazakh) would be beneficial.

The position will be based in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic and would require regional and international travel.

Salary and Package:
Salary and package to attract the best candidate.