Dean,Design School

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is China’s leading Joint Venture university. Founded in 2006, it now has almost 15,000 students in China; and another 3,500 in Liverpool completing degrees. It plans to grow to about 27,000 students by 2025. The strengths of the university are in Science and Technology, as well as some professional subjects like Architecture and Business. There are currently 865 academic staff, about half of whom are not citizens of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The language of instruction, committees, and administrative work at XJTLU is English.

The university is located in the Higher Education Town of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), well-connected via nearby airports to cities such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei, and via high-speed rail to other major cities in China, including nearby Shanghai. SIP is a significant growth zone, including operations run by more than one-fifth of the Fortune 500 top global companies. Greater Suzhou is now the fourth largest concentration of economic activity in China in terms of GDP, and the SIP has been on the receiving end of both private and public investments into innovation and R&D.

XJTLU seeks to appoint a Dean to its Design School, to be established on 1 September 2020. The university is adopting new organisational and management structures and the position of Dean is crucial to the effective operation of both the School and XJTLU. The Dean holds leadership for the strategic development of the School both within and outside of the University. The Dean is responsible most directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for the entire operation of the School and the professional behaviour of each member of staff. 

The Design School will have an annual total intake of about 600 undergraduate students, as well as a growing number of postgraduate coursework and PhD students. There are 87 members of academic staff. It has Departments of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Industrial Design, Urban Planning and Design. Currently there are five undergraduate degree programs, and three postgraduate coursework programs. The Department of Architecture is RIBA accredited at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

More detailed information on the School, University, and Suzhou may be found at the university website: http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• Be able to provide a strategic vision for the School that aligns with University strategy;
• A strong track record of success in management;
• An internationally distinguished profile and strong commitment to research and education;
• Substitutional experience in curriculum and programme development;
• Experience managing and planning budgets;
• Experience working with and thriving in a multi-cultural environment
• An ability to lead and inspire academic staff from within the school, spanning a range of individual departments.

COMPENSATION PACKAGE:

Salary is by negotiation and will be internationally competitive. There is a generous benefit-package including subsidies towards the costs of housing, travel, and children’s education, as well as the provision of insurance. There is also an allowance for the costs of relocation.

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS:

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas.  Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for PRC work visa.

TO APPLY:

Please send your application to AcademicPositions@xjtlu.edu.cn. In the subject line write the Position you are applying for.

Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:

• A cover letter
• A current CV, including date of birth, country of citizenship, and highest degree level
• Contact Details for Three References

Applications should be received by the closing date stated above.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to the Staff Management Team at AcademicPositions@xjtlu.edu.cn. Please quote the position name in your enquiry.

Further information may be obtained from Professor David Goodman, Vice President Academic Affairs (Email: david.goodman@xjtlu.edu.cn)