Head of Institutional Strategy, Performance & Rankings

About this role

Role Type

Managerial Level, Heading the Office of Institutional Strategy, Performance & Rankings

Reporting To

Pro Vice Chancellor

• Governance, Strategy & Transformation

Overall Responsibility

To establish and lead IBSUniversity's institutional strategy, performance and rankings function, ensuring that the University's World-Class Transformation Road Map, Strategic Plan, QS Stars pathway, future QS World University Rankings readiness and longer-term external benchmarking are translated into measurable institutional actions, reliable data, auditable evidence and sustained performance improvement.

Key Duties

• Lead the establishment and operationalization of the Office of Institutional Strategy, Performance & Rankings and define its annual work programme, governance arrangements and reporting calendar.
• Translate the Institutional Transformation Road Maps and the Strategic Plan into measurable institutional KPIs, annual targets, accountable owners, timelines, budgets, and evidence requirements.
• Act as the central coordinating lead for QS Stars readiness, future QS World University Rankings and Subject Rankings readiness, and other agreed international benchmarking/ranking exercises.
• Serve as technical lead/secretariat for the QS & Institutional Performance Steering Committee and coordinate actions across Academic Affairs, Research, Operations, and other university units.
• Develop and maintain the institutional performance architecture, including KPI definitions, data dictionary, institutional fact book, and executive dashboards.

Establish and maintain a central rankings/evidence repository or DMS structure so that submissions and institutional claims are supported by controlled, current, and auditable evidence.

• Coordinate quarterly institutional performance reviews and prepare concise management reports identifying progress, gaps, risks, overdue actions, and corrective measures.
• Coordinate annual QS readiness reviews, formal QS Stars preparation, data validation, and accurate institutional data submissions to ranking/rating bodies.

Requirements

• A postgraduate qualification (Master's degree or higher) in higher education management, strategic management, business/management, quality assurance, institutional research, data/analytics, public administration, or a related field.
• Substantial professional experience in university strategy, institutional planning, quality assurance, performance management, accreditation, rankings/benchmarking, institutional research, or a closely related function.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex institutional data, KPIs, dashboards, evidence systems, and executive reporting.
• Working knowledge of major university ranking/rating frameworks, particularly QS Stars and QS World University Rankings; knowledge of THE and other systems is desirable.
• Strong project/programme management skills with high-level analytical, written communication, presentation, and cross-functional stakeholder-management capability.
• Experience in higher education in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific, or a comparable developing higher-education context is desirable; a doctoral qualification is an advantage.
• Remuneration & Support Package
• Competitive international contract structured around regional cost-of-living standards.
• Comprehensive relocation and mobilization assistance to Port Moresby, PNG.
• Direct employment model managed directly by the university without third-party recruitment agency processing.
• Application Process
• Qualified candidates are invited to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) and a targeted cover letter demonstrating past success in international partnership development.