Assistant/Associate Professor in Project Management

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Department of Intelligent Operations and Marketing (IOM)

Position Overview

School: International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

Contract Type: Fixed-term, renewable. 3rd contract is open-ended

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.

ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF INTELLIGENT OPERATIONS AND MARKETING (IOM)

IOM is an internationally oriented, multidisciplinary department at the forefront of operations, supply chain management, project management, information systems, and marketing. We deliver innovative undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes, underpinned by expertise in artificial intelligence and data analytics.

Our faculty are active contributors to top journals including MIS Quarterly, Journal of Operations Management, Information Systems Research, Journal of Retailing, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, and Journal of Marketing. We also collaborate closely with global industry leaders such as AstraZeneca, Bosch, Zeekr, and Mondelez, ensuring our research and teaching have tangible, real-world impact 

RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking a talented and motivated academic to join our team as an Assistant or Associate Professor. You will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to teaching, research, and industrial collaboration, with a supportive environment for professional growth.

Key responsibilities:

Research

1. Conduct high-quality research leading to publications in reputable international journals
2. Leading and contributing to high-impact research projects, and helping shape the Department’s research strategy.
3. Building collaborations with industry partners to enhance applied research opportunities.

Teaching

1. Delivering high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including the use of innovative and digital pedagogy.
2. Supervising undergraduate, masters, and (where applicable) doctoral dissertations.
3. Participate in accreditation, quality assurance, and continuous teaching improvement activities.

Service

1. Contribute to departmental, school, and university service roles, such as committees, working groups, or administrative tasks.
2. Support programme management, student mentoring, and community-building activities within the Department/School.

Engagement

1. Build collaborations with industry partners to enhance applied research opportunities. 

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

Candidate Profile: Assistant Professor

Essential Criteria

• Education: PhD in Project Management, Engineering Management, or a relevant discipline (must be completed by appointment; final-year candidates considered if requirements are met by July 2026).
• Research: Demonstrated potential for excellence in research, with publications in reputable, peer-reviewed journals.
• Teaching: Strong commitment to high-quality teaching and student engagement at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Recognized teaching qualification (e.g., PGCert) or willingness to obtain one.
• Skills: Excellent communication, teamwork, and organizational skills in a diverse and interdisciplinary environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Certifications: Possession of a PMP certificate issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a Level-D or higher certificate issued by the International Project Management Association (IPMA), or equivalent.
• Project Management Experience: Ideally a minimum of 2 years of project management experience, with experience engaged in software development or deployment projects, is favored.
• Funding: Potential to attract external research funding.
• Supervision: Potential to supervise dissertations and/or PhD students.
• Pedagogy: Experience with innovative pedagogy, digital learning tools, or experiential teaching.

Candidate Profile: Associate Professor

Essential Criteria

• Education: PhD in Project Management, Engineering Management, or a relevant discipline.
• Research: A proven record of excellence in research, with a strong pipeline of publications in reputable, peer-reviewed journals.
• Teaching: Demonstrated excellence in teaching and student engagement at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Recognized teaching qualification (e.g., PGCert) or willingness to obtain one.
• Supervision: A proven record of successfully supervising dissertations and/or PhD students.
• Funding: Evidence of securing external research funding.

Desirable Criteria

• Certifications: Possession of a PMP certificate issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a Level-C or higher certificate issued by the International Project Management Association (IPMA), or equivalent.
• Project Management Experience: Ideally a minimum of 5 years of project management experience, with experience leading software development or deployment projects, is highly favored.
• Leadership: Experience in academic leadership or a willingness to take on service roles.
• Industry Ties: Strong industry connections or applied research experience.
• Curriculum Development: Ability to contribute to curriculum innovation and program development.

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

SALARY: Competitive salary in the market

BENEFITS

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances as

• Housing allowance
• Travel allowance
• Kids’ education allowance
• Relocation allowance
• Etc.

2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy)
 
3.    Paid holidays:

• Statutory Holidays (11 days)
• Annual Leave (36 days)
• Family Matters Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Marriage Leave
• Paternity Leave
• Parental leave
• Etc.

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff.

To Apply

Please submit your application on our university website. 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

For specific enquiries relating to the position, please email Head of Department, Dr. Daniel Hampson at Daniel.Hampson@xjtlu.edu.cn.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to HR Ms. Ye Lan at Ye.Lan@xjtlu.edu.cn.

Please quote the position and job ID in your enquiry.