Associate Dean for Executive Education and Enterprise, International Business School Suzhou
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)
POSITION OVERVIEW
- School: International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)
- Academic Leadership Role: Associate Dean for Executive Education and Enterprise
- Role Terms: Three years in a term, Renewable subject to satisfactory review, Total Two Terms
- Preferred Academic Qualification: Senior Associate Professor / Professor
- Contract Type: Fixed-term, Renewable subject to satisfactory review; 3rd contract is open-ended
- Reporting to: Dean, IBSS
ABOUT XJTLU
In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.
XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model. With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from west and east.
For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL SUZHOU (IBSS)
International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is growing in size and influence in pursuit of its vision to be a leading international business school. The school is based on strong principles of internationalism, innovation, inspiration and integrity, which together ensure that we have a positive impact on society through our teaching, research and business engagement. In that pursuit, IBSS became the youngest business school to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in 2016, and again, the youngest School to receive EQUIS accreditation in 2018. Receiving joint accreditation of AMBA and BGA in 2020, IBSS became the world’s 103rd triple accredited business school.
The five departments of IBSS are Accounting, Economics, Finance, Intelligent Operations and Marketing, and Strategic Management and Organizations with over 170 faculty members and more than 6,000 students from over 60 different countries. IBSS delivers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, PhD and Executive Education programmes across all major business disciplines.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Associate Dean for Executive Education and Enterprise (ADEEE) provides strategic and operational leadership for the executive education and enterprise engagement portfolio at IBSS, with a strong focus on revenue generation, brand elevation, and market leadership. This role is central to positioning IBSS as a provider of signature, high-impact executive programmes that serve both China’s evolving business landscape and global executive development needs.
The ADEEE is responsible for developing, delivering, and scaling executive education offerings—including open-enrolment courses, bespoke programmes, and government or industry-aligned initiatives—that meet the needs of corporate and public sector clients. The role carries full commercial accountability for the growth and sustainability of IBSS’s domestic executive education business and contributes to the School’s overall financial performance.
A key priority of the role is to build and promote flagship executive education programmes that IBSS will be known for—programmes that combine academic rigour with practical relevance, leverage the School’s China expertise, and position IBSS as a leading executive education provider in the region. These signature offerings will serve as anchor products for brand visibility, alumni engagement, and partnership development.
The ADEEE leads all operational aspects of executive education delivery, including programme design, faculty coordination, quality assurance, and post-programme evaluation. The role works across academic departments, enterprise teams, and external collaborators to ensure excellence in execution and alignment with market expectations.
In driving enterprise engagement, the ADEEE also supports the Dean and Deputy Dean to cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders in industry, government, and the non-profit sector.
While global executive education marketing and international partnership formation are led by the Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Global Partnerships (AD IGP), the ADEEE ensures the seamless delivery of international executive programmes, once secured, and explores synergies for joint development of globally relevant offerings. Similarly, the ADEEE collaborates with the Associate Dean for Business Intelligence and Industry Research (AD BIIR) on projects where executive education intersects with consulting or commissioned research.
As a member of the IBSS senior leadership team, the ADEEE plays a critical role in the School’s transformation into XJTLU’s Business Intelligence Hub—positioning IBSS at the intersection of business education, applied knowledge, and enterprise collaboration, and enabling it to deliver executive learning that shapes industry practice and policy both in China and globally.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Leadership in Executive Education Development
- Lead the design and execution of a bold, market-driven strategy for IBSS’s executive education portfolio, reflecting its position as an international business school operating in China.
- Develop and promote flagship executive education programmes that differentiate IBSS from domestic providers—combining global business perspectives, international faculty insights, and China-specific relevance.
- Innovate in programme content, format, and delivery to meet the needs of globally minded executives, mid-career professionals, and public sector leaders operating in or with China.
- Position IBSS as a trusted executive learning platform for Chinese organisations with international ambitions and foreign enterprises navigating the China market.
2. Strategic Client Relationship and Global Enterprise Engagement
- Build and manage strategic relationships with multinational corporations, Chinese companies going global, international chambers, and government entities, ensuring programme offerings reflect cross-border leadership challenges and global market dynamics.
- Ensure that client experience reflects international standards of quality, responsiveness, and impact, making IBSS a preferred partner for high-level executive development in China and the wider region.
3. Revenue Growth and Global Market Impact
- Set and deliver ambitious revenue and growth targets, positioning IBSS executive education as a commercially successful, globally recognised offering within China’s competitive education landscape.
- Lead strategic outreach efforts targeting both China-based global firms and international organisations seeking access to Chinese business and policy insights, establishing IBSS as a gateway for executive education across borders.
- Monitor performance using KPIs related to international client growth, programme impact, brand visibility, and market expansion, ensuring long-term commercial sustainability and strategic relevance.
4. Operational Execution and Institutional Integration
- Oversee the high-quality execution of executive education programmes, ensuring delivery aligns with international pedagogical standards and the expectations of a globally oriented client base.
- Collaborate with IBSS academic departments and international faculty to design and deliver programmes that reflect the latest global business thinking contextualised for China.
- Foster integration between executive education and the wider functions of the School—such as internationalisation, applied research, and industry collaboration—to support IBSS’s transformation into XJTLU’s Business Intelligence Hub and a truly international platform for executive learning.
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
Essential:
- PhD in a business-related discipline.
- Appointment at Senior Associate Professor or Professor level.
- Substantial experience with executive education, corporate training, or industry-facing programme design and delivery.
- Strong track record in developing partnerships with corporate or public sector stakeholders in China.
- Demonstrated success in managing projects, budgets, and client relationships in an education or consulting context.
Desirable:
- Familiarity with the Chinese training and education regulatory environment.
- Background in applied research, consulting, or professional services delivery.
- Understanding of key sectors in China relevant to business training (e.g. finance, manufacturing, tech, public administration).
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
- Strategic vision and entrepreneurial orientation
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Strong stakeholder management and client service ethos
- Ability to lead operational teams and cross-functional initiatives
- Culturally fluent and business-literate in the Chinese context
- Fluent Chinese (Mandarin) and English speaker
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
XJTLU offers:
- Clear career development path with annual review, and
- Professional development trainings.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Associate Deans receives an administrative duty allowance.
SALARY: The salary is competitive and determined by academic rank.
BENEFITS:
- Allowance: XJTLU provide various monthly/annual/one-off allowances, such as
- Housing allowance
- Travel allowance
- Relocation allowance
- Education allowance for children
- Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (Details refer to the University Policy)
- Paid holidays:
- Statutory Holidays (11 days)
- Annual Leave (36 days)
- Family Matters Leave
- Paid Sick Leave
- Marriage Leave
- Paternity Leave
- Parental leave
- Etc.
- Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors the working visa and residence permit in China.
RESEARCH FUNDING SUPPORT
The university provides every new faculty member with a Research Development Fund to initiate research projects and a Research Engagement Fund to support their continuous research activities. School level research funding is also available as are various external corporate and government research grants.
Examples of government sponsored grants and programmes are:
Talent/Research Program/Fund
- Outstanding Youth Science Foundation Project (Overseas): RMB 1-3 Million
- Innovation Leading Talent: up to RMB 2 Million
- Outstanding Leading Talent of International Discipline: 50% of Annual Package
- Young Leading Talent of International Discipline: 50% of Annual Package
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 a work visa in the P.R. China.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your application on our university website via the ‘Apply’ button above.
Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes 3 parts in the order of:
- A cover letter
- A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
- Contact Details for Three References
Informal enquiries may be addressed to the HRBP Ms. Ye (Gloria) Lan at ye.lan@xjtlu.edu.cn.