Director, University Partnerships

• Shape the Future of International Education.
• Influence the future direction of a growing ANZ partnerships portfolio.
• Lead one of Australia's most established university pathway colleges.
• Join a global organisation committed to innovation and student success.

Role

At Kaplan, we are passionate about transforming lives through education. As a global leader in educational services, we partner with leading universities to create exceptional pathways that help students achieve their academic ambitions and unlock future career opportunities.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and commercially minded leader to join us as Director, University Partnerships, Adelaide. This is a unique leadership role that combines responsibility for the successful operation of Kaplan International College Adelaide (KICA) with the opportunity to influence the broader strategic growth and sustainability of the Pathways ANZ portfolio.

Reporting to the Executive Director, ANZ Partnerships, provide leadership and support to a team, strengthen our partnership with Adelaide University, drive commercial growth initiatives, and identify new opportunities that enhance student outcomes and partner value.

If you are passionate about higher education, thrive in complex stakeholder environments, and have a proven ability to deliver commercial and strategic outcomes, we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Strategic College Leadership - Provide leadership and direction to KICA, ensuring strong academic, operational, financial and student outcomes.
• University Partnership Management - Develop and maintain a highly effective relationship with Adelaide University, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, governance expectations and long-term partnership success.
• Commercial Growth & Business Development - Identify and evaluate new partnership opportunities, revenue streams, delivery models and strategic ventures that support sustainable growth across Pathways ANZ.
• Operational Excellence - Drive performance against enrolment, retention, quality, compliance, financial and student satisfaction targets.
• Stakeholder Engagement - Represent Kaplan in senior-level discussions with university partners, government agencies, regulators and industry stakeholders.
• Innovation & Transformation - Lead initiatives that improve operational efficiency, student experience, marketing effectiveness and business performance across the network.
• Team Leadership & Culture - Develop, coach and inspire a diverse and multi-functional team while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and values-driven culture.
• Strategic Planning & Portfolio Contribution - Contribute to the development and execution of Pathways ANZ strategic priorities, supporting diversification, growth and long-term sustainability.

Requirements

• Significant senior leadership experience within higher education, pathway education, international education or a closely related sector.
• Demonstrated success managing university partnerships and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in business development, contract negotiation and growth initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead and influence organisational strategy while delivering measurable business outcomes.
• Experience managing financial performance, budgets, operational plans and performance metrics.
• Strong understanding of higher education regulatory and compliance frameworks, including HESF, ESOS and TEQSA.
• Exceptional communication, leadership and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence at executive level.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Education, Management or a related discipline. Postgraduate qualifications will be highly regarded.

Kaplan Higher Education and KICA

Kaplan is a global leader in lifelong education, with more than eight decades of experience delivering innovative, student-centred learning across higher education, professional education and pathway programs worldwide. Kaplan Higher Education, trading as KICA, specialises in preparing international students for successful entry into undergraduate and postgraduate study at Adelaide University.

Located in the heart of Adelaide, KIC Adelaide delivers academically rigorous pathway programs that are closely aligned with university expectations and standards. Our programs are designed to develop not only disciplinary knowledge, but also the academic capability, confidence and graduate success skills students need to thrive in Australian tertiary education. This includes a strong focus on critical thinking, academic communication, independent learning and professional academic practice.

KICA is Kaplan’s longest-standing university partnership in Australia. Over more than two decades, this collaboration has supported thousands of students to successfully transition into Adelaide University degrees. The partnership continues to evolve, with a shared commitment to high-quality teaching, student success and positioning KIC Adelaide as Adelaide University’s preferred pathway provider.

Applications close 15 September 2026

Background-Check Notice & Declaration

Kaplan and many of its major clients operate in highly regulated environments. This requires us to be proactive and diligent in relation to personnel background checks and to undertake thorough vetting of candidates for roles of this nature. To enable Kaplan to assess a candidate’s suitability for this role, each candidate will be required to answer pre-screening questions, and, if you receive a conditional offer of employment, you will be required to undertake the relevant background checks (unless Kaplan determines otherwise). These checks may include one or more of the following: verification of identity, working rights, criminal history, qualifications, and working with children clearance. If you are shortlisted, Kaplan will advise you which checks are required for this role and explain how you will undertake the checks. Kaplan is committed to handling your personal information appropriately. Please see the Privacy Policy at Kaplan.edu.au for information about how Kaplan may handle your personal information in connection with this application process. 

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