Manager (Global Engagement)

About the role

The Manager, Global Engagement serves as a central institutional point of coordination for MILA University's external partnerships and strategic engagement, covering both international and Malaysian partners. The role is responsible not only for developing partnerships, but also for representing the University in external discussions, facilitating negotiations, coordinating internal stakeholders, and driving partnership initiatives from initial engagement through to implementation. The Global Engagement Unit acts as the University's central coordinating office for institutional partnerships, ensuring that external opportunities are properly assessed, negotiated, structured, approved, implemented, monitored, and developed into tangible outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

1.     Leadership and Administration of the Global Engagement Unit

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for the Global Engagement Unit as the University's central coordinating office for institutional external engagement and partnerships.
• Establish and maintain University-wide processes, procedures and governance mechanisms for initiating, evaluating, negotiating, approving, recording, implementing and reviewing external partnerships.
• Maintain a central partnership pipeline and database covering active, prospective and completed partnerships, agreements, deliverables, responsible internal stakeholders, renewal dates and outcomes.
• Ensure effective coordination between external partners and relevant faculties, departments and administrative units throughout the partnership lifecycle.
• Prepare partnership reports, analyses and recommendations for University Management.

2.     Strategic Partnership Development - International and Local

• Identify, develop and manage strategic partnerships with international and Malaysian universities, higher education institutions, government agencies, industry partners, education groups, professional bodies, associations and other relevant organisations.
• Proactively identify partnership opportunities that support the University's academic development, student recruitment, mobility, research, industry engagement, reputation, revenue generation and broader institutional objectives.
• Develop appropriate collaboration models based on the strategic interests and capabilities of MILA University and prospective partners.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior representatives and decisionmakers of strategic partner organisations.

3.     Institutional Representation and Partnership Negotiation

• Serve as a key institutional representative of MILA University in discussions and negotiations with prospective and existing external partners, within the authority delegated by University Management.
• Lead and coordinate discussions concerning the scope, structure, responsibilities, commercial considerations, implementation arrangements and expected outcomes of proposed collaborations.
• Coordinate the preparation and negotiation of MoUs, MoAs, articulation agreements, student and staff exchange agreements, academic collaboration agreements, research partnerships and other institutional agreements.
• Ensure that proposed partnerships are internally evaluated and aligned with the University's academic, operational, financial and strategic requirements before formal approval.

4.     Cross-University Coordination and Partnership Implementation

• Act as the central project coordinator for the implementation of institutional partnership initiatives after agreement in principle has been reached.
• Coordinate faculties, Registry, Admissions, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Student Affairs and other relevant units to ensure that agreed collaborations are translated into executable operational arrangements.
• Establish clear responsibilities, timelines, deliverables and internal owners for each partnership initiative and follow through until implementation.
• Identify and resolve cross-functional issues that may delay or prevent implementation, escalating matters to University Management where necessary.
• Ensure effective handover to the relevant operational units where ongoing delivery becomes part of normal University operations, while maintaining institutional oversight of the partnership.

5.     Academic Collaboration Coordination

• Facilitate the development and implementation of academic collaborations including articulation arrangements, credit transfer pathways, joint or collaborative programmes, mobility programmes, progression arrangements and other academic partnership models.
• Coordinate academic discussions between MILA faculties and partner institutions on matters such as curriculum comparison, module mapping, credit equivalency, programme structure, entry requirements and academic progression.
• Work with relevant academic and administrative units to ensure that academic collaboration proposals proceed through the appropriate internal academic approval and regulatory processes.
• Track outstanding academic, administrative and operational matters and facilitate resolution between MILA University and partner institutions.

6.     Partnership Performance and Relationship Management

• Monitor the implementation and performance of institutional partnerships against agreed objectives, deliverables and timelines.
• Maintain regular engagement with key partners and coordinate the resolution of partnership-related issues.
• Evaluate partnership outcomes including student flows, academic activities, research collaboration, commercial outcomes, institutional visibility and other relevant indicators.
• Identify opportunities to deepen, expand, renew, restructure or discontinue partnerships based on their strategic value and performance.
• Ensure that institutional partnerships progress beyond agreement signing towards measurable and sustainable outcomes.

7.     General Responsibilities

• Perform other related duties as may be required from time to time to support institutional priorities.

Requirements:

1.     Education & Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Education Management, Public Administration, Economics, International Relations, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred (but not mandatory).

2.     Experience

• At least 5–10 years of relevant experience in higher education administration, corporate partnerships, project management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing, managing, and strengthening partnerships with higher education institutions, international organisations, or strategic stakeholders.
• Experience in coordinating international programmes, mobility initiatives, academic collaborations, or partnership activities.
• Experience in private higher education institutions and engagement with international stakeholders is an advantage.

3.     Skills & Competencies

• Strong networking, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective partnerships.
• Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior leaders, academic staff, and external stakeholders in English and Mandarin (additional languages are a plus).
• Strong coordination and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Good understanding of higher education internationalisation, global engagement, student and staff mobility, and international academic collaboration.
• Ability to work collaboratively across faculties, departments, and external organisations in a multicultural environment.

4.     Personal Attributes

• Proactive and resourceful with strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing abilities, with a collaborative and solution-focused approach.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and cultural sensitivity.
• Adaptable, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.

Those who are interested, kindly apply ONLINE. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. All applications will be treated as strictly confidential.