Head of School – School of Engineering

University Of Southampton Malaysia; Iskandar Puteri; On-site; MYR 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

An international branch campus is seeking a dynamic Head of School to provide strategic leadership aligned with its growth objectives. The role involves enhancing academic excellence, fostering innovation, and building industry connections. Candidates should hold a PhD in engineering, have substantial teaching experience, and demonstrate leadership skills. The position aims to position the School as a leading education provider in Southeast Asia while ensuring compliance with local educational standards. A passion for academic excellence is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in curriculum development and quality assurance.
• Significant teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Knowledge of Malaysian higher education regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Implement strategic initiatives aligned with university’s growth objectives.
• Enhance academic portfolio based on market demand and trends.
• Lead industry partnerships to improve research collaboration.

Skills

Strategic planning

Communication

Leadership

Pedagogical innovation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD or equivalent in relevant engineering discipline

Job description

University Of Southampton Malaysia – Nusajaya, Johor

The University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM) is the only international branch campus of the University of Southampton (UoS), a founding member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group and consistently ranked among the world’s top 100 universities.

UoSM offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes in Business, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electronics and Computer Science, equipping students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a globalised workforce. Our state‑of‑the‑art campus in Iskandar Puteri features specialised laboratories, business and analytics suites, creative learning spaces, and a 10,000 sq. ft library, all designed to foster academic excellence and an exceptional student experience.

We are now at a defining moment in UoSM’s journey. Guided by our ambitious Growth Strategy, we are reimagining the University not merely as a branch campus, but as a beacon of British higher education excellence in Malaysia and the wider region. At the heart of this transformation is the Triple Helix model of Education, Research and Knowledge Exchanged & Enterprise which integrates high‑quality teaching, world‑class research, and active collaboration with industry, government, and communities to deliver tangible societal and economic impact. The role of Head of School is central to this vision — building academic communities of practice, fostering innovation, and laying the foundations for lasting institutional impact in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

Job Description

The Head of School provides visionary, strategic, and operational leadership for the School, aligned with UoSM’s growth strategy and the University of Southampton’s global mission. The role drives academic excellence, financial sustainability, and the School’s reputation through effective leadership, innovation in teaching, the development of a strong research culture, and meaningful industry engagement through knowledge exchange and enterprise initiatives in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of School fosters a culture of innovation, excellence, and collegiality, positioning the School as a leading transnational education provider in Malaysia and the wider Southeast Asian region.

Responsibilities

1) Strategic Leadership

Develop and implement School‑level strategies aligned with UoSM’s growth objectives and UoS priorities.

Identify and develop new undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional engineering programmes informed by market demand, industry trends, and academic strengths.

Review and enhance the academic portfolio to ensure relevance, quality, and financial sustainability.

Work closely with Student Recruitment, Marketing, and Admissions to support domestic and international recruitment growth.

Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with industry, government agencies, professional bodies, and academic institutions to enhance student employability, research collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

Lead budget planning and resource allocation to support sustainable programme delivery and research activity.

Collaborate with the Academic Provost and Finance team to develop and implement sustainable financial models.

Identify and develop new revenue streams including executive education, consultancy, research funding, and industry partnerships.

3) Teaching, Learning & Quality Assurance

Champion innovative pedagogical approaches, including technology‑enhanced learning, experiential learning, and industry‑integrated projects.

Ensure delivery of an exceptional student experience aligned with UK academic standards and local cultural context.

Uphold compliance with Malaysian regulatory requirements (MQA, MOHE, EAC) and professional accreditation frameworks.

Oversee assessment integrity, programme reviews, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Monitor student progression, achievement, employability outcomes, and student satisfaction.

4) Research & Scholarly Development

Foster a strong research culture, supporting staff to develop competitive research profiles and secure external funding.

Promote interdisciplinary research collaborations within the School, across UoSM, with UoS UK, and external partners.

Ensure research initiatives address national priorities and regional challenges, enhancing impact and relevance.

Support the development of postgraduate research programmes and doctoral supervision.

Provide inspirational leadership to academic and professional teams.

Manage performance, workload allocation, staff development, and succession planning.

Promote a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion, wellbeing, and collegiality within the School.

Requirements

We are seeking a dynamic academic leader with:

PhD or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant engineering discipline desirably in Mechanical, Aerospace, Biomedical and Maritime.

Significant experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a proven record in curriculum development, pedagogical innovation, and quality assurance.

Demonstrated academic leadership experience, including line management, staff development, and strategic planning.

Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build collaborations across industry, government, and professional bodies.

Knowledge of Malaysian higher education regulatory frameworks (MQA, MOHE, EAC) and international education standards.

Research experience, scholarly outputs, or professional body involvement.

Application Submission

If you are enthusiastic about shaping the future of foundation education at a globally recognised institution, we welcome your application.

Please submit ONE (1) PDF document containing:

Cover Letter (addressing key responsibilities and requirements)

Updated CV

Applications must be submitted via the Jobstreet application portal.

Application Deadline: 10 January 2026
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The University is committed to equality of opportunity, diversity, and inclusion.