Head, Department of Civil Engineering

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Civil Engineering

School: Design School

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 about 22,000 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 DESIGN SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 

Founded in 2020, the Design School consists of the Departments of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Industrial Design and Urban Planning and Design. The Design School amalgamates, in a unique framework, a diverse range of design subjects with various forms and expressions in a multidisciplinary setting. Its purpose is to educate the future generation of designers with a perspective on digital design and sustainable development and to become a crucible for innovation and intellectual freedom in design education. 

The Department of Civil Engineering aims to be internationally recognized as a first-class and dynamic department, highly committed to research and to providing excellent education and learning experience. Its goal is to develop into a leading research-driven educator for sustainable development in civil engineering. 

ROLE OVERVIEW 

The Head of Department of Civil Engineering is a member of the Design School Senior Management Team (DES-SMT), working closely with the Dean to implement the School’s strategic planning in the areas of Learning and Teaching, Research and Internationalisation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the Civil Engineering field, along with leadership and management skills, and a passion for teaching and research. The Head of Department reports to the Dean of the Design School.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Leadership: 

• Lead and manage the Civil Engineering Department, including overseeing the curriculum, faculty, and staff;
• Foster a culture of academic excellence and innovation within the department;
• Provide leadership and mentorship to faculty and staff, encouraging professional development and collaboration. 

Management: 

• Develop and implement strategic plans for the department, including short-term and long-term goals;
• Develop and maintain relationships with industry partners and stakeholders to enhance the department's reputation and research opportunities;
• Ensure that the department's curriculum is up-to-date and relevant to industry needs, and oversee the development of new programmes and modules as needed;
• Manage departmental finances and resources, including budgeting and allocating funds for research, teaching, and other departmental needs;
• Collaborate with other departments within the Design School and the University to promote interdisciplinary research and teaching opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES 

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people;
• A passion for teaching and research, and a commitment to academic excellence;
• An ability to think strategically and develop and implement plans to achieve goals;
• A willingness to work collaboratively with other departments and stakeholders within the Design School and the university.

We are looking for someone with the ambition, creativity and organizational skills to succeed in an exciting environment of continued growth and significant change.

Applicants should:

• A PhD in Civil Engineering or a related field;
• Ideally, at least 5 years of experience in Civil Engineering research and teaching, with a proven track record of academic excellence and leadership;
• Experience managing and leading a team of faculty and staff;
• Experience working with industry partners and stakeholders, and a commitment to promoting industry engagement and innovation.

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.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT 

• Clear career development path with annual review.
• Professional development trainings are provided.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

The Head of Department of Civil Engineering is eligible to receive a duty allowance.

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit your application, by clicking the 'Apply' button.

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

• A cover letter (Expression of Interest);
• A current CV, including a full publication list;
• Contact details of three potential referees. 

Applications should be received by the closing date stated above.

Informal enquiries about the positions and the School may be addressed to the Dean of Design School, Prof. Konstantinos Papadikis at Konstantinos.Papadikis@xjtlu.edu.cn

Other informal enquiries may be addressed to HR Ms. Xinyun Yang atXinyun.Yang@xjtlu.edu.cn