Head of Strategic Relations

Job Title: Head of Strategic Relations

University-Level Unit: School of Business

Faculty/Department-Level Unit: Dean's Office (BIZ)

Employee Category: Executive & Administrative

Posting Start Date: 06/05/2026

Location_ONB: Kent Ridge Campus

About NUS School of Business

Established in the same year that Singapore gained independence, NUS Business School has grown into one of the world’s leading business schools. It is distinguished by its ability to combine globally relevant business knowledge with deep Asian perspectives, equipping students to lead Asian enterprises on the global stage and enabling international businesses to thrive in Asia.

For over five decades, NUS Business School has delivered a rigorous, relevant, and enriching education to exceptional students from around the world. This success is driven by a dedicated community of professionals committed to fostering a supportive environment that nurtures and develops future business leaders. We are now looking to welcome new talent into our BIZ family.

To learn more about NUS Business School, please visit: https://bschool.nus.edu.sg/

Job Description

The appointed individual will lead the Strategic Relations Office, taking charge of building, managing, and strengthening the School’s relationships with key external institutional stakeholders. The role focuses on leveraging these partnerships to support and advance the School’s strategic objectives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Head of Strategic Relations:

Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally, to position the School as a preferred partner for industry, government, and academic institutions

Collaborate with the Deanery to design and implement initiatives that drive the School’s growth and long-term success

Engage effectively with diverse stakeholders to sustain existing partnerships, establish new regional and global collaborations, and unlock opportunities aligned with strategic priorities while enhancing the School’s global reputation and resources

Work cross-functionally to secure internal alignment and support for strategic initiatives

Champion the adoption and effective use of the School’s CRM system, ensuring it supports the overall relationship management strategy and becomes integral to internal processes

Foster a culture of professionalism, excellence, and accountability within the team

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, while motivating and retaining top talent

Set clear goals, key performance indicators, engagement strategies, and timelines; establish systems and processes to monitor progress and evaluate outcomes

Support the School’s Management Advisory Board and strengthen meaningful board engagement

Oversee accreditation processes and manage Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) agreements

Qualifications

At least 15 years of professional experience, with a proven track record in managing relationships across diverse stakeholders and geographies. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to build cohesive, high-performing teams and effectively guide them in both internal stakeholder engagement and external partnership development.

A visionary, analytical, and resourceful thinker who is both creative and commercially astute, with a strong ability to identify opportunities and address complex challenges

Strong executive presence, along with excellent communication and pitching skills, to inspire confidence and build meaningful relationships with the NUS Business School community, its stakeholders, and external partners

Strategic mindset with the ability to synthesize information, connect insights, exercise sound judgment, and navigate challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic, and ambiguous environment

Skilled at understanding the motivations and incentives of individuals and institutions, and leveraging this insight to create mutually beneficial outcomes

Well-informed on current affairs, as well as business and industry ecosystems

Proven ability to align and mobilize teams across functions and locations, each with differing KPIs, toward shared goals

Highly proficient in CRM systems, with demonstrated success in using them to generate insights, facilitate collaboration, and drive coordinated organizational action

Resilient, adaptable, and capable of performing effectively under pressure

Relevant experience in external relations, corporate engagement, business development, and partnership or alliance management

A strong global professional network; prior experience within institutions of higher learning will be an added advantage

Willingness and ability to travel for business, both regionally and internationally, to build and sustain strategic partnerships