Faculty Position in Strategic Management and Organisations – Research Track (Any Rank)

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Department of Strategic Management and Organisations (SMO)

Position Overview

School: International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)

Contract Type: Fixed-term, three-year renewable contract; the third contract is open-ended

Application Review: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Early applications are therefore strongly encouraged. 

ABOUT XJTLU

In 2006, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was founded through 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 equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to pursue successful careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 students studying in Suzhou and Liverpool, approximately 2,500 staff, including more than 1,300 academic staff from over 60 countries, and offers over 120 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. 

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 international partners. At the same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending educational theory, best practice and culture from the West and the East. 

This 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 transitioning from a collection of distinct approaches towards a unified, integrated Academy model—a syntegrative ecosystem designed to break down silos, enhance agility and strengthen XJTLU’s position at the forefront of global education and research. 

For further information about the University, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn. 

LOCATION

XJTLU is located in the Higher Education Town of Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), approximately two hours from Shanghai. Suzhou is well connected through nearby international airports and China’s high-speed rail network. As a major centre of education, innovation and economic activity, Suzhou combines a rich cultural heritage, including its historic canals and UNESCO World Heritage gardens, with a modern international living environment, excellent amenities and access to international schools. 

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL SUZHOU

International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) is growing in size and influence in pursuit of its vision to be a leading international business school. The School is based on the principles of internationalism, innovation, inspiration and integrity, which together ensure a positive impact on society through teaching, research and business engagement. IBSS became the youngest “triple crown” business school, accredited by AACSB in 2016, EQUIS in 2018 and AMBA/BGA in 2020. 

IBSS comprises five departments: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Intelligent Operations and Marketing, and Strategic Management and Organisations. The School has over 180 faculty members and more than 6,000 students from over 60 countries. It delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, IMBA, PhD and Executive Education programmes across all major business disciplines. 

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Strategic Management and Organisations encompasses the fields of Strategy, International Business, Human Resource Management, Organisational Behaviour and Leadership. The Department actively pursues excellence in student learning and teaching, academic research and social impact, and promotes student-centred education by connecting theory with practice.

Our faculty and PhD students form a diverse and internationally oriented academic community. Members of the Department publish in leading international journals, including Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Human Resource Management, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Journal of Vocational Behavior, and Journal of World Business. 

Members of the Department teach a large number of undergraduate students in Business Administration, International Business with a Language, and Human Resource Management and People Analytics programmes as well as postgraduate students enrolled in the MSc Management or the IMBA programmes. 

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking outstanding, internationally engaged and research-active scholars whose research and teaching contribute to the broad and evolving field of management. While we welcome applicants with expertise in all areas of management, we are particularly interested in candidates specialising in one or more of the following priority areas:

• Strategy
• International Business
• Artificial Intelligence in Management
• Data-Driven Decision-Making
• Digital Transformation
• Organisational Change 

As these are Research Track appointments, research excellence and the development of an internationally recognised research profile are central to the roles. The successful candidate will be expected to develop ambitious research programmes, publish in high-quality international journals, seek external research funding and contribute to the Department’s research culture. They will also deliver high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, supervise student research and contribute to academic service and citizenship. 

Research performance at IBSS is benchmarked against internationally recognised journal-quality guides, including the Academic Journal Guide (ABS) and the ABDC list, with target outputs typically at ABS 3/ABDC A or above. Where appropriate, the candidate are also encouraged to develop applied research relevant to the School’s industry partnerships and networks. The level of appointment will be determined according to the candidate’s qualifications, research record and pipeline, teaching experience, external funding, doctoral supervision, academic leadership and wider contribution to the academic community. 

EXPECTATIONS BY LEVEL OF APPOINTMENT

The candidate should demonstrate international experience through their academic career, research collaborations, teaching, professional engagement or other relevant activities. As teaching and academic activities are conducted in English, the candidate must demonstrate a high level of English proficiency, including the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively. 

Assistant Professor

We are seeking high-potential, early-career scholars who are developing strong and internationally oriented research profiles.

The candidate should:

•   Hold a PhD in Management or a closely related discipline, or be close to completion;
•   Demonstrate a strong research pipeline with clear potential for publication in leading international journals;
•   Show the capacity to develop an independent and internationally recognised research programme;
•   Demonstrate the ability to contribute to high-quality teaching in one or more areas of the Department’s portfolio;
•   Show an interest in innovative, research-informed teaching and pedagogy;
•   Demonstrate the potential to contribute to research, teaching and academic citizenship activities. 

Associate Professor

In addition to the expectations for Assistant Professor, the candidate should normally demonstrate:

•   A strong and sustained record of high-quality publications in internationally recognised journals;
•   A substantial research pipeline demonstrating continued potential for research excellence;
•   A track record of securing external research funding, preferably including experience as Principal Investigator or leader of externally funded projects;
•   A strong record of high-quality teaching and innovative pedagogy;
•   Experience contributing to curriculum development and programme enhancement;
•   Experience of PhD supervision, with successful doctoral completions desirable;
•   Evidence of academic leadership, international collaboration and contribution to the Department, School or wider academic community. 

Senior Associate Professor

In addition to the expectations for Associate Professor, the candidate should demonstrate:

•   Established international recognition and a substantial, continuing research pipeline;
•   A strong track record of securing external research funding as Principal Investigator, including significant projects where appropriate;
•   A sustained record of successful PhD supervision and doctoral completions;
•   Significant experience of academic leadership and major service or administrative responsibilities;
•   Meaningful contributions to the wider academic community through activities such as editorial service, scholarly associations, conference leadership or international research networks;
•   Demonstrated ability to mentor colleagues, develop research capacity and contribute strategically to the discipline’s future direction. 

Professor

In addition to the expectations for Senior Associate Professor, the candidate should demonstrate:

•   A distinguished and sustained record of research excellence and international scholarly leadership;
•   A substantial record of publications in leading international journals and an ongoing programme of high-impact research;
•   A significant record of securing major external research funding and developing internationally recognised research initiatives;
•   Extensive experience of successful doctoral supervision and the development of early-career researchers;
•   A strong record of academic leadership, including the ability to shape research, teaching or institutional strategy;
•   Evidence of mentoring junior faculty and making substantial contributions to the School, University and wider academic or professional communities. 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

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

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

Benefits

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

• Housing allowance
• Travel 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 (13 days)
• Annual Leave (34 days per academic year including university close days and annual leave)
• 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. 

HOW 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 positions, please contact Dr Jie Li, Head of the Department of Strategic Management and Organisations, at Jie.Li02@xjtlu.edu.cn. Informal enquiries may also be addressed to Ms Yu Yan, HRBP of IBSS, at Yu.Yan@xjtlu.edu.cn. Please quote the position title and job ID in your enquiry.