Head of School – Southampton Malaysia Business School (SMBS)

University of Southampton Malaysia; Iskandar Puteri; On-site; MYR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious international university in Iskandar Puteri seeks a Head of School for the Southampton Malaysia Business School. This role involves providing strategic and operational leadership to drive academic excellence and financial sustainability. Candidates must hold a PhD and have significant experience in teaching, curriculum development, and leadership. This position is ideal for someone passionate about shaping future education in a globally recognized institution.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent professional qualification in a business-related discipline.
• Significant experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Proven leadership experience managing academic teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement school-wide strategies aligned with UoSM’s growth objectives.
• Champion pedagogical innovation including technology-enhanced learning.
• Foster a vibrant research culture supporting faculty in developing competitive research profiles.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Research development

Education

PhD in a business-related discipline

Job description

Head of School – Southampton Malaysia Business School (SMBS)

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. Its 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.

Job Description

The Head of School provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for SMBS in alignment with UoSM’s growth strategy and the University of Southampton’s global mission. The post holder will drive the School’s academic excellence, financial sustainability, research and innovation, and reputation through pedagogical innovation, scholarly development, industry engagement, and team leadership.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement school‑wide strategies aligned with UoSM’s growth objectives and UoS priorities.
• Identify and develop new programme opportunities based on market demand, emerging trends, and academic strengths.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with industry, government, and educational institutions to enhance visibility, research collaboration, and student placement opportunities.
• Lead budget planning and resource allocation for sustainable delivery of academic programmes.
• Collaborate with Finance and Academic Provost to develop and execute sustainable financial models.
• Drive new revenue opportunities including executive education and pathway programmes.

Teaching, Learning & Quality Assurance

• Champion pedagogical innovation, including technology‑enhanced learning, experiential learning, and industry‑integrated projects.
• Uphold UK academic standards while ensuring compliance with Malaysian regulatory frameworks (MQA, MOHE, EAC).
• Oversee assessment integrity, programme reviews, accreditation processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure an exceptional student experience, including academic performance, progression, employability, and satisfaction outcomes.

Research & Scholarly Development

• Foster a vibrant research culture, supporting faculty in developing competitive research profiles and securing funding.
• Promote interdisciplinary research collaborations within SMBS, across UoSM, UoS, and external partners.
• Ensure research initiatives address regional challenges and national priorities, enhancing relevance and impact.
• 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

• A PhD or equivalent professional qualification in a business‑related discipline.
• Significant experience teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a proven record in curriculum development, pedagogical innovation, and quality assurance.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including managing academic teams, staff development, and performance oversight.
• 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

• Cover Letter addressing key responsibilities and requirements.
• Updated CV.

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

Applications must be submitted via the LinkedIn or Jobstreet application portal.

Application Deadline: 18 December 2025

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