Head of Global Engagement & International Partnerships

About this role

Role Type

Managerial Level, Heading the Office of Global Engagement & International Partnerships

Reporting To

Pro Vice Chancellor

• Governance, Strategy & Transformation

Overall Responsibility

To establish and lead IBSUniversity's global engagement and international partnerships function, building measurable international relationships, mobility opportunities, international research collaboration, international student and faculty engagement, visiting academic activity, and global networks that strengthen the University's academic quality, external reputation, QS Stars Global Engagement performance, and long-term international visibility.

Key Duties

• Develop and implement an IBSUniversity Global Engagement and International Partnerships Strategy aligned with Institutional Transformation Road Maps and QS readiness priorities.
• Establish and operationalise the Office of Global Engagement & International Partnerships, defining its work programme, governance, and reporting calendar.
• Move international partnerships from symbolic agreements to active collaborations with defined objectives, responsible owners, and measurable outcomes.
• Identify, develop, and coordinate strategic relationships with overseas universities, research institutions, embassies, development agencies, and international organisations.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound student and staff mobility, exchanges, short-term study tours, and visiting academic tracks.
• Work with the Office of Research & Postgraduate Studies to expand international research collaborations, co-authorship, and Scopus-indexed research outputs.
• Maintain accurate evidence and data pipelines for QS Stars Global Engagement and related international ranking indicators.
• Prepare quarterly and annual global engagement metrics, tracking partnership activity, mobility numbers, and required corrective actions.

Requirements

• A postgraduate qualification in international education, international relations, higher education management, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Substantial professional experience in international relations, global engagement, university partnerships, international mobility operations, or a closely related university function.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing institutional partnerships, MoUs, collaborative academic programmes, or international projects with measurable outcomes.
• Refined negotiation, diplomacy, relationship management, and cross-cultural communication capability with senior university and government leaders.
• Working knowledge of QS Stars Global Engagement and internationalization-related ranking indicators is highly desirable.
• Experience in higher education within the Pacific region, or a comparable developing international education environment 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.