ABOUT AIFE

The Australia Institute of Future Education (AIFE) is a TEQSA-certified higher education institute committed to delivering world-class education that connects Australia with global learning ecosystems. Through strategic partnerships with leading universities, industries and government agencies we develop high-quality programs that support global talent mobility and academic excellence.

ABOUT THE ROLE

AIFE is seeking a highly experienced and academically minded Associate Director – Program Development to drive the quality, governance and growth of our international academic programs, particularly our Collaborative Articulation Program (CAP) and Joint Study Program (JSP) with Chinese university partners.

This influential role can be based either in Melbourne or China with regular travel required between both countries.

The Associate Director – Program Development is a pivotal cross-border academic leadership role supporting the design, quality, recognition and regulatory compliance of AIFE’s China-based program portfolio.

In this role, you will:

• Serve as AIFE’s primary academic liaison with senior faculty and departmental leaders across Chinese partner universities

• Oversee the lifecycle of academic agreements including curriculum development, mapping, review, negotiation and renewals

• Ensure program structures, curriculum alignment and credit recognition meet both Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) requirements and global higher education standards

• Provide academic expertise on differences between Chinese and international curriculum models to support accurate credit assessment, articulation frameworks and equivalency mapping

• Strengthen quality assurance practices to ensure global partners have confidence in the robustness and academic integrity of AIFE programs

• Work closely with AIFE teams in Australia and China to support consistent program delivery, academic governance and partner engagement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and manage academic relationships with Chinese partner universities

• Conduct academic mapping and curriculum reviews for CAP and JSP programs

• Analyse and compare Chinese versus global program structures to ensure accurate equivalency

• Oversee articulation models, credit transfer decisions and quality assurance documentation

• Coordinate with the Chinese MoE on academic approvals, renewals and compliance reporting

• Develop and maintain agreement documentation, briefing papers, governance reports and accreditation evidence

• Support quality audits and internal reviews related to TNE program operations

• Collaborate with Business Development, Academic Operations, Quality and Compliance and Registrar teams

ABOUT YOU

We are seeking a professional with strong academic expertise, cultural intelligence and exceptional cross-border communication skills.

Essential

• Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education, Curriculum Development or a closely related field

• Bilingual fluency in Mandarin and English written and verbal

• Extensive experience in academic program development, curriculum mapping and higher education quality assurance

• Strong understanding of credit recognition, articulation processes and global benchmarking standards

• Proven experience working with or within the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE)

• Deep knowledge of university operations from an academic governance perspective

• Ability to assess program equivalency and ensure alignment between Chinese and international curricula

• Strong stakeholder management skills across cultural contexts

• Ability to travel regularly within Australia and China.

• Experience studying in both China and Australia which provides first-hand understanding of both systems (highly desirable)

• Experience supporting transnational education (TNE) partnerships or cross-border academic collaborations (highly desirable)

WHY JOIN AIFE?

• Shape the future of cross-border academic partnerships

• Be part of a growing international education institute with strong global ambitions

• Work with dynamic teams across Australia and China

• Play a key role in strengthening program quality, academic integrity and global alignment

HOW TO APPLY

Apply below by Sunday 8th March 2026.

Don’t delay your application, as we will be reviewing and speaking with suitable candidates as applications are received.

AIFE/AEMG reserves the right to close applications early if a suitable candidate is identified before the application deadline.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds.