Head of Department (HOD) – Computer Science at City University Abuja

City Business and Information Technology School (CBITS) was established in response to the growing demand for a new generation of professionals equipped with both business acumen and technological expertise. Founded in 2024 CBITS emerged from a collaborative initiative between academic visionaries, industry leaders, and policymakers who recognized the urgent need for hybrid talent in today’s digitally-driven economy. CBITS started as a modest institute offering diploma programs in Business Administration and Computer Science and has since evolved into a full-fledged academic institution with undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional development programs.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Department (HOD) - Computer Science

Location: Central Business District, Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role

• We are seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial academic leader to serve as the founding Head of Department (Computer Science) at a new private university in Abuja.
• This is a rare opportunity to build a cutting-edge Computer Science department from the ground up. You will shape the curriculum, recruit the founding faculty, establish industry partnerships, and mentor the very first cohort of graduates. Your leadership will define the department's culture and reputation for decades to come.

Key Responsibilities
Academic Leadership & Curriculum Development:

• Design and develop innovative, NUC-compliant postgraduate programs incorporating emerging fields like AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and IoT.
• Ensure curricula align with international standards (ACM/IEEE) and industry needs.
• Foster a research culture and encourage scholarly output among faculty.

Faculty & Team Management:

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performance team of academics.
• Allocate teaching workloads fairly and conduct annual performance reviews.
• Support junior faculty in teaching, research, and academic administration.

Student Experience & Employability:

• Serve as the primary academic advisor for CS students.
• Implement retention strategies, including tutoring and coding clinics for at-risk students.
• Champion employability through industry guest lectures, hackathons, field trips, and internship placements within Abuja's thriving tech ecosystem.

Operations & External Engagement:

• Manage departmental operations, budgets, and resources, including computing laboratories and software licenses.
• Lead preparations for NUC accreditation and professional body certifications (NCS, CPN).
• Build partnerships with Abuja's tech hubs (e.g., CcHub, Ventures Park), government agencies (NITDA), and corporate partners (e.g., MTN, Andela, Galaxy Backbone).

Qualifications & Experience
Essential:

• PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related field – awarded by a recognised, reputable university.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of university teaching and research experience, with at least 5 years at the postgraduate level (MSc and PhD supervision).
• Proven track record of scholarly output: consistent publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals (Scopus/Web of Science), successful supervision of completed master’s and doctoral theses, and evidence of research grants or funded projects.
• Previous experience as a Head of Department (HOD) or equivalent academic leadership role (e.g., Dean, Programme Coordinator for a postgraduate programme) at a reputable, accredited university – mandatory.
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and reviewing postgraduate curricula (PGD, MSc, PhD) in line with NUC Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and international best practices.
• Experience leading accreditation processes (NUC, NCS, CPN, or other professional bodies) for postgraduate programmes.
• Strong record of fostering a research culture: organising seminars, securing internal/external research funding, and establishing research groups or centres.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching or equivalent pedagogical qualification.
• Industry experience in senior technical roles (e.g., Chief Data Scientist, Head of AI, R&D Director) or consulting for public/private sector organisations.
• Active membership in recognised professional bodies: NCS, CPN, IEEE, ACM, or ISOC.
• Experience liaising with international partners for joint postgraduate supervision, dual-degree programmes, or research collaborations.
• Evidence of successful supervision of postdoctoral fellows or mentoring early-career academics.

Skills & Competencies:

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead a postgraduate department, manage academic staff with diverse research interests, and drive strategic growth of postgraduate enrolment and quality.
• Research Acumen: Deep understanding of research methodologies, ethical approval processes, grant writing, and publication strategies.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to position the postgraduate department within national and continental research agendas (e.g., Nigeria’s • Digital Economy, AU’s STISA) and link with PhD consortia.
• Communication: Exceptional skill in writing postgraduate programme documents (handbooks, proposals, accreditation briefs) and communicating with external examiners, funding bodies, and accreditors.
• Student Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to guide postgraduate students through thesis milestones, from proposal to final defence, with high completion rates.
• Operational & Budget Management: Experience managing laboratory infrastructure, research budgets, and postgraduate teaching allocations.

Salary & Benefits

• N500,000 - N600,000 / Month.
• A competitive and attractive remuneration package commensurate with the seniority and strategic importance of the role. This includes:
• Competitive Base Salary
• Pension
• And other attractive benefits

Application Closing Date
22nd May, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letter to: citybiz.infotech.school@gmail.com using “Head of Department (HOD) – Computer Science” as the subject of the email.