XJTLU

Head, Department of Finance

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

Academic Title: Professor

Location: Suzhou, SIP Campus

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

ABOUT XJTLU

In 2006, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was founded by a partnership between the University of Liverpool, UK, and Xi’an Jiaotong University, 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 studying in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK. There are currently about 2,500 staff, including more than 1,300 academic staff from over 60 countries. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 120 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

With a focus on innovative education 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 the same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from the West and the East.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of XJTLU. As part of its strategic priorities for the coming decade, the university is entering a new and exciting phase of development. XJTLU continues to innovate in education models, and is now transitioning from a collection of distinct approaches toward a unified, integrated Academy model – a syntegrative ecosystem designed to break down silos, enhance agility, and solidify XJTLU’s position at the forefront of global education and research.

For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn

LOCATION

XJTLU is located in the Higher Education Town of Suzhou’s Industrial Park (SIP). Suzhou is a 2-hour drive west of Shanghai. The city is well-connected via nearby airports (Shanghai, Wuxi, and Hangzhou) to cities such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, and Taipei, and via high-speed rail to most major cities in China.

Suzhou has a long history of being an educational center of China. And the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), with its abundance of research and development opportunities, is a regional hub of innovative change and home to over 120 of 3 the Fortune 500 Companies. Greater Suzhou represents the fourth largest concentration of economic activity in China in terms of GDP, with a GDP per capita exceeding that of the UK.

Suzhou encompasses the spirit of both old and new in China, with the historic old town’s canals, UNESCO World Heritage Site gardens, and many museums attracting millions of tourists annually. SIP offers an excellent quality of life with high environmental standards. The nearby Jinji Lake provides attractive views, by day and by night, and there is a variety of shopping facilities, international and local restaurants, entertainment hubs and nightlife. Suzhou is also home to several international schools. Suzhou has been ranked as one of Asia’s Top 50 Most Livable Cities (2024 – 2025).  

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 a positive impact on society through our teaching, research and business engagement. In that pursuit, IBSS became the youngest “triple crown” business school, accredited by AACSB (2016), EQUIS (2018), and AMBA/BGA (2020).

The five departments of IBSS are Accounting, Economics, Finance, Intelligent Operations and Marketing, and Strategic Management and Organizations with over 180 faculty members and more than 6,000 students from over 60 different countries. IBSS delivers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, IMBA, PhD and Executive Education programmes across all major business disciplines.

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AT IBSS

The Department of Finance at IBSS is a dynamic and research-active academic unit with a strong international profile. It comprises 32 academic staff, all holding doctoral degrees, and brings together scholars working across a broad range of areas in finance and related business disciplines.

The Department is committed to high-quality research and publishes in leading international journals. It provides a supportive and research-conducive environment for faculty seeking to develop ambitious research agendas, build international collaborations, and contribute to the intellectual life of a fast-growing and globally connected business school.

Alongside its strong research orientation, the Department contributes to a portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate education in finance and related fields, including MSc Finance with a FinTech Pathway and MSc Investment Management. The latter holds professional recognition from the CFA Institute. A new BSc Finance and Data Analytics further reflects the Department’s commitment to developing programmes aligned with the evolving future of finance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

IBSS is seeking to appoint a Head of the Department of Finance to join the School’s leadership team. This is an opportunity for a senior academic with a strong record in research and academic leadership to contribute to the next stage of development of a young, ambitious, and internationally accredited business school located in one of China’s most dynamic economic regions.

IBSS provides a research-supportive academic environment with strong institutional backing for high-quality scholarly activity. Research performance is benchmarked against internationally recognised journal quality guides, including the Academic Journal Guide (ABS) and the ABDC list. Faculty in the School are actively publishing at ABS 3 and ABS 4 level, as well as at the corresponding ABDC A and A* levels.

The Head of Department will be expected to provide leadership across the following areas:

  • Provide strategic leadership for the Department, including shaping its academic direction and supporting its continued development in line with the School’s wider priorities
  • Contribute to the strategic development of the School as a member of its senior management team, supporting cross-school initiatives and the implementation of institutional priorities
  • Foster a strong research culture within the Department, supporting high-quality publication, research collaboration, and the development of an ambitious scholarly environment
  • Provide academic leadership in relation to programme quality, curriculum development, and the overall student academic experience
  • Oversee departmental operations and contribute to the effective management of academic planning, workload, and quality assurance processes
  • Support faculty development through mentoring, performance review, and the cultivation of a collegial and high-performing academic community
  • Contribute to recruitment, retention, and succession planning within the Department
  • Lead the Department’s external engagement with academic, professional, and industry communities where appropriate
  • Manage departmental resources responsibly, including budget oversight and the effective deployment of staff and other resources 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

The successful applicant is expected to possess:

  • A motivational leadership style,
  • A solid wide range of managerial skills, and
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

The successful applicant to the position is expected to have:

  • A PhD degree in Finance or a related field,
  • Administrative experience, e.g., as Programme Director, Department Head, or Associate Dean,
  • Ideally, at least ten years of teaching/research experience in higher education,
  • A significant record of academic publications in excellent international journals,
  • Supervised PhD students to completion,
  • A record of research funding acquisition, and
  • Acquired the academic rank of Professor.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

The successful applicant to the position would also possess the following attributes:

  • Curriculum design and programme development experience,
  • Experience in building academic teams and/or faculty mentoring,
  • Familiarity with new technologies, such as AI, that foster innovative teaching and learning, and
  • A record of engagement with the corporate community and professional organizations.

CITIZENSHIP & 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 determine eligibility 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 & BENEFITS

SALARY: Salary is competitive

BENEFITS

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

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

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

3. Paid holidays: 

  • Statutory Holidays (13 days)
  • Annual Leave (34 days)
  • Family Matters Leave
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Marriage Leave
  • Paternity Leave
  • Parental leave

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

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application on our university website: click 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, and
  • Contact Details of three references

Informal enquiries may be addressed to HRBP Manager of IBSS, Ms. Gloria Lan at Ye.Lan@xjtlu.edu.cn.Please quote the position and job ID in your enquiry.