Higher Education Development Lead (evolving into Founding Business School Campus Director)

Kühne Logistics University; Hamburg; Vor Ort; EUR 100.000 - 125.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading business school is seeking a Higher Education Development Lead for its expansion into South Africa. This role focuses on establishing a branch campus, enhancing business development, and creating collaborative degree programs. Ideal candidates have extensive experience in higher education, strong project management skills, and excellent interpersonal communication in diverse cultural contexts. A master's degree and a valid South African work permit are required.

Leistungen

Flexible Work Culture

Professional Development

International Environment

Qualifikationen

• 10 years of work experience in higher education in South Africa.
• Experience in establishing joint degree programs and accreditation is a plus.
• Excellent English language skills both written and spoken.

Aufgaben

• Drive KLUs new business development in Southern Africa.
• Coordinate the curriculum design for a degree program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
• Oversee the legal setup of a KLU subsidiary company in South Africa.

Kenntnisse

Business Development

Sales Experience

Direct Sales

B2B Sales

Marketing

Negotiation

Strategic Planning

Ausbildung

Master's degree in business administration, management, logistics, or related field

Jobbeschreibung

Higher Education Development Lead

Location: Johannesburg South Africa

Are you passionate about higher education and international learning environments with strong knowledge of South Africans higher education landscape Kühne Logistics University (KLU) a leading research-based not-for-profit business schools (AACSB-accredited) headquartered in Hamburg Germany is seeking a Higher Education Development Lead to support its global expansion . In this role you will lead market assessment and entry for KLUs planned branch campus in South Africa (short-term) and support its local operations and business development (mid- to long-term) positioning KLU as one of Africas leading management educators in logistics and supply chain management.

Who We Are

Founded in 2010 Kühne Logistics University (KLU) is a private internationally accredited and highly ranked business school in Hamburg Germany specializing in logistics and supply chain management. Following the successful launch of our Asia campus in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam we are now looking into expanding our global footprint to Southern Africa by possibly establishing a second international branch campus in - as things currently stand and based on our current level of knowledge - Johannesburg South Africas business and logistics hub. To support this endeavor KLU became the first German institution to affiliate with the Association of African Business Schools (AABS) the continents leading network for quality business education with a focus on relevance impact and sustainability.

Through this international expansion goal we pursue our mission to foster global skill development and knowledge transfer in logistics operations and supply chain management. We embed KLUs distinctive operations mindset in all our programs emphasizing resilience data-driven analysis and action-oriented decision-making. As a boutique university KLU provides its students and doctoral candidates with a unique combination of academic excellence strong business network and outstanding study conditions. Our programs are designed to prepare leaders for the supply chain challenges of a global business landscape.

About the Role

In this position you will drive KLUs new business development in Southern Africa laying the foundation for a potential branch campus in South Africa from the ground up. Youll bring strong understanding knowledge and passion for higher education in South Africa strong relationship-building skills in intercultural contexts proven coordination project and process management expertise an innovative mindset and commitment to creating meaningful educational experiences for students and corporate partners in South Africa and beyond.

In this role you will directly report to KLUs President and work closely with KLUs Extended Executive Board including the Managing Directors Deans Directors and the International Development Team at KLUs Hamburg headquarters to establish local operations in South Africa.

Should the new campus be successfully established this position may evolve into KLUs first South Africa Campus Director role.

Your Responsibilities

Short-Term Responsibilities (Feasibility Phase)

• Design and Implementation of Collaborative Degree Program (GermanySouthAfrica)
• Collaborate with KLU and a designated South African partner university to explore and align regulatory academic and operational frameworks between German and South African higher education systems with the aim of establishing a jointly run degree program in South Africa
• Coordinate the curriculum and program design of a degree program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (focusing on the fields business dimension) tailored to the needs of the Southern African supply chain market
• Develop a roadmap for accreditation licensing and implementation processes between KLU and the South African partner university

Stakeholder Relations & Brand Development

Strengthen and cultivate the strategic partnership between KLU and the designated South African partner university ensuring collaboration on equal footing and building the foundation for long-term sustainable collaboration

• Position and introduce KLUs brand within the Southern African higher education landscape through joint initiatives such as targeted outreach academic events short courses and collaborative marketing activities
• Identify establish and nurture partnerships with universities business schools government agencies industry associations corporates and NGOs to create a dynamic co-owned ecosystem at the intersection of academia industry and policy

Future Responsibilities (Post-Feasibility Phase; as potential KLU South Africa Campus Director)

• Strategic Project Planning Campus Operations
• Recruit onboard and manage a small local administrative team (approx. 5 staff) and foster effective collaboration with academic and administrative units at both KLU Headquarters as well as the local partner university
• Develop and manage project budgets including multi-year financial planning and cash flow management; prepare regular financial reports and analyses to ensure transparency accountability and alignment with KLU Headquarters
• Develop KLUs brand awareness in South Africa and the African continent design effective communication and marketing activities to support student recruitment as well as the acquisition of executive education participants
• Define organizational structures reporting lines and governance models in close collaboration with KLU Headquarters to ensure efficient and compliant local operations
• Oversee and manage infrastructure planning for KLU activities in Southern Africa including site selection for offices and campus facilities potential renovation needs and procurement of equipment and services
• Design and implement a strategic roadmap for the development of KLUs operations in Southern Africa covering academic program portfolio research collaborations executive education initiatives and outreach activities

Legal Licensing & Compliance

Oversee the legal setup of a KLU subsidiary company in South Africa

• Ensure compliance with South African corporate labor and tax regulations in close coordination with local legal advisors and KLU Headquarters

Your qualifications

• An Operations Mindset : Youre driven to initiate and own projects and processes with a proactive pragmatic approach to solving challenges and feel comfortable navigating ambiguity
• Experience and Passion for Learning & Higher Education : You bring a strong personal affinity for learning and development and significant work experience in higher education in South Africa. Experience in establishing (joint) degree programs program registration and accreditation is a plus
• University Degree & Work Experience : You have 10 years of work experience and hold a masters degree in the following fields : business administration management logistics & supply chain management finance analytics accounting law (higher) education studies or a related field
• Excellent People & Intercultural Communication Skills : You are persuasive and skilled at navigating diverse international stakeholders from academic partners students and faculty to industry NGO and government representatives
• Openness : You are open to regular international travel within Africa and to Germany to build networks and strengthen cooperation
• Strong Project & Process Management Skills : You have proven experience in project management; you excel at prioritizing tasks in changing environments; experience in start-up environments is a plus
• Excellent English Language Skills both written and spoken
• A Valid South African Work Permit

We Offer

• Flexible Work Culture : Enjoy a mix of on-site work at yet to be established office travel and remote options.
• Professional Development : Access continuous learning opportunities to grow your skills and advance your career.
• International Environment : Be part of a diverse multicultural team in a vibrant international ecosystem.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications regardless of gender nationality ethnic and social origin religion and ideology disability age sexual orientation and identity.

Contact

Please submit your cover letter CV references annual gross annual salary expectations and earliest start date to or click the Apply button. For questions contact Ina Litterst Head of International Development via .

Applications are open until November 15. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a first round of online interviews in November and December 2025 followed by a second round of in-person interviews in Johannesburg in January 2026.

About us

Kühne Logistics UniversityWissenschaftliche Hochschule für Logistik und Unternehmensführung is a private university founded in 2010 and located in Hamburgs HafenCity. KLU is a state-recognized university with the right to grant PhDs. With its AACSB accreditation it ranks among the top 5% of business schools and management universities worldwide with a dedicated focus on logistics operations and supply chain management. Following an internationalization strategy we are now opening a campus in Vietnam and plan for two further campuses in Africa and the Americas.

We instill KLUs signature operations mindset in all our students drawing on the strengths and key characteristics of logistics including resilience data-driven and action-oriented decision-making. As a boutique university KLU offers its students and doctoral candidates a high degree of specialization and excellent study conditions. Further education programs for specialists and managers are offered in the form of seminars and summer schools by KLU Executive Education.

Required Experience

Director

Key Skills

• Business Development
• Sales Experience
• Direct Sales
• B2B Sales
• Marketing
• Sales Pipeline
• Salesforce
• Strategic Planning
• Enterprise Sales
• negotiation
• Lead Generation
• Contracts

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1