Academic Director

We are seeking a visionary and highly experienced Academic Director to lead the strategic development and execution of our Cambridge Assessment International Education programs. The primary objective of this role is to spearhead the product and course development for our Cambridge A-Level and IGCSE (O-Level) offerings.

Crucially, the successful candidate will design these academic products with a targeted strategic focus: to attract, enroll, and successfully integrate students from the Chinese market into our Singapore campus. You will bridge the gap between the Chinese educational landscape and the British curriculum, ensuring our programs are highly appealing to Chinese parents and tailored to ensure the academic success of their children.

Key Responsibilities

1. Curriculum & Product Development (A-Level & IGCSE)

• Spearhead A-Level Development: Design, structure, and launch a comprehensive and competitive Cambridge A-Level program, selecting subject combinations that maximize university placement for international students.
• Drive IGCSE/O-Level Development: Develop robust IGCSE course frameworks that serve as a seamless foundational stepping-stone toward the A-Level program.
• Educational Product Strategy: Treat the curricula as premium educational products. Continuously evaluate and enhance course offerings, syllabi, and supplementary materials to ensure they stand out in a highly competitive international education market.
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure all courses strictly adhere to the standards, requirements, and assessment protocols set by Cambridge Assessment International Education.

2. Strategic Focus: The Chinese Market

• Tailored Academic Integration: Design bridging programs (e.g., Intensive English, Academic Transition courses) specifically engineered to help students from China transition smoothly into an English-medium Cambridge curriculum.
• Market Alignment: Collaborate closely with the International Marketing and Admissions teams to create academic narratives and selling points that strongly resonate with Chinese parents and educational agents.
• Cultural Competence: Incorporate support systems within the academic framework that address the specific pedagogical needs and study habits of students transitioning from the Chinese education system.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the academic face of the college in webinars, seminars, and recruitment events targeting the Chinese market.

3. Academic Leadership & Management

Faculty Recruitment & Training: Hire, train, and mentor a team of high-caliber subject teachers. Conduct professional development workshops focused on teaching international students.
Quality Assurance: Establish rigorous academic KPIs, monitor teaching quality through regular observations, and implement continuous improvement plans.
Student Success: Oversee student assessment strategies, track academic progress, and implement intervention programs to guarantee high pass rates and top-tier university admissions.

Qualifications & Requirements
Education: Master's degree or higher in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum Design, or a related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in academic leadership or educational product development.

Extensive, hands-on experience with the Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level curricula is mandatory.

Proven track record of successfully developing and launching academic programs from the ground up.

Market Knowledge: Deep understanding of the Chinese education system, the psychology of Chinese international students, and what drives decision-making for Chinese parents sending their children abroad.

Language Skills: Bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin is highly preferred, as the role requires frequent communication with Chinese stakeholders, parents, and marketing partners.

Location: Must be willing to be based in Singapore, with occasional travel to China for recruitment and partnership building.