Head of Campus, 42 Penang

HEAD OF CAMPUS, 42 PENANG

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, industry-connected leader to take charge of 42 Penang, our northern-region campus. This role would enable you to run the day-to-day campus operations while also being the face of 42 Penang to industry, government agencies and the wider Penang ecosystem. Unlike a traditional academic operations role, this position is weighted toward building and converting industry relationships, since 42 Penang's growth depends on the strength of its ties to employers and the local tech and manufacturing ecosystem rather than on academic administration alone.

About 42 Penang

42 Penang is the Northern Hub of 42 Malaysia, a non-profit nation-building initiative delivered by Sunway FutureX DI Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Sunway Education Group, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Digital Penang and Sunway iLabs. It brings 42's tuition-free, peer-to-peer coding pedagogy to the northern region, positioning Penang's tech and manufacturing ecosystem as both a talent source and talent destination. Given Penang's industry-heavy economy, this role carries a stronger commercial and partnerships mandate than a typical campus operations post.

Reporting Line

This role reports directly to the CEO of SFXDI, and works closely with the Director of Operations and the Director of Learning to ensure 42 Penang's day-to-day delivery and student experience remain aligned with the wider 42 Malaysia ecosystem.

Specific Duties of the Role

Industry & Partnership Development

•   Build and actively maintain an on-ground network of industry partners, employers and ecosystem players across Penang's tech, manufacturing and digital sectors.

•   Identify, pitch and close new anchor partners, corporate sponsors and student sponsorship pipelines with Penang-based industry players.

•   Represent 42 Penang at industry events, forums and government-linked initiatives (e.g. Invest Penang, Digital Penang, PSDC and similar bodies) to position the campus as the region's talent pipeline of choice.

•   Convert industry relationships into tangible outcomes: internships, hiring pipelines, sponsored cohorts, and co-branded programmes with partner companies.

Campus & Operational Management

•   Oversee the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the 42 Penang campus, ensuring smooth delivery of the student experience.

•   Develop and implement efficient operational systems, processes and policies, working with the Director of Operations for alignment across campuses.

•   Oversee facilities management, including maintenance, safety and upgrades with vendors and landlords.

Strategic Growth

•   Develop and execute a growth strategy for 42 Penang that expands both student capacity and industry-funded revenue.

•   Work with the CEO, Director of Operations and Director of Learning to align Penang's growth with national strategy and standards.

•   Identify and implement best practices for operational and commercial efficiency.

Team Leadership

•   Manage and mentor the Penang operations team, setting clear goals and expectations.

•   Foster a culture of continuous improvement in line with 42's mission and peer-learning philosophy.

•   Ensure a safe, open and well-run environment for every student and staff member.

Budget, Sponsorship & Financial Oversight

•   Own and manage the Penang campus operational budget, ensuring cost-effective resource allocation.

•   Secure sponsorship and funding from public and private industry players to support the sustainability and growth of 42 Penang.

•   Design and implement alternative revenue streams, including corporate-funded programmes, grants and relevant government funding schemes.

Stakeholder Engagement

•   Liaise with local education players, government agencies and industry bodies to build awareness of the 42 Penang programme.

•   Work with local media partners to build public awareness of 42 Penang and its impact.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

•   Champion the adoption of new technologies and innovative practices to enhance campus operations.

•   Regularly evaluate and update operational and partnership processes for continuous improvement.

•   Undertake any other duties as assigned from time to time.

Requirements

•   An established on-ground network within Penang's industry ecosystem — tech, manufacturing, GLCs, or relevant state agencies (e.g. Invest Penang, Digital Penang, PSDC).

•   At least 5 years of experience in business development, partnerships, industry relations or commercial operations, ideally with direct exposure to Penang's economy.

•   A demonstrated track record of closing partnerships, sponsorships or B2B deals — an entrepreneur at heart, not just an administrator.

•   Experience managing a team and overseeing daily business or campus operations, with a bias toward operational efficiency.

•   Comfortable balancing external-facing business development with the discipline of running consistent day-to-day operations.

•   Strong stakeholder management and public representation skills — able to speak on behalf of 42 Penang at industry and government forums.

•   Experience with Malaysian education landscape and education frameworks at the secondary level or tertiary level would be a plus but not compulsory.

•   Passionate about education, youth development and closing the industry-skills gap.

•   Excellent interpersonal skills, able to engage confidently with a diverse pool of people from students to C-suite executives.

•   Superior multi-tasking skills, able to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines and address time-sensitive issues.

•   Energetic, self-directed, and comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy.

How To Apply

Interested applicants can apply via LinkedIn or email their resume to [Confidential Information] with the subject line Head of Campus, 42 Penang. Selected applicants will be contacted for the interview process.