A higher learning institution’s success is defined by the performance of its leadership, employees and the quality of service produced. Thinking and acting strategically about human resource is one of the core functions of human resource management. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory study is to investigate the factors affecting job expectation and job satisfaction among academic professionals in a private institution of higher learning. The results indicated that the private institution of higher learning needs to give attention to both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors to motivate and influence new academic staff from a state of uncertainty to that of job satisfaction so as to retain existing academic staff and make the profession an attractive option for new applicants. Therefore, private institutions of higher learning should take necessary steps to not only increase the satisfaction level of academic professionals but also to maintain it.