BI Norwegian Business School is ranked as Norway’s #1 business school and one of the best in Europe. With more than 20.000 students, 1000 employees and 300.000 alumni, it is also one of the largest and most influential business schools in Europe. BI is considered the main provider of business education in Norway, offering a diverse and comprehensive portfolio of bachelor’s, master’s, PhD and executive study programmes and courses. Our different partnerships and collaborations with leading Norwegian and international companies, organisations and institutions further enhance the quality of our study programmes. Towards 2030, BI aims to deliver knowledge that truly makes a difference through world-class research and outstanding learning experiences, giving businesses the knowledge to succeed and people the opportunity to build meaningful careers.
BI Norwegian Business School invites applications and nominations for the position of Head of Department for the Department of Marketing. This is a high-impact leadership role within one of Europe’s most prestigious business schools, offering an opportunity to shape the future of marketing research and education.
The PositionThe Head of Department (HoD) is a fixed-term leadership appointment for a period of four years, commencing August 1st, 2026.
As a vital member of BI’s academic leadership, the HoD reports directly to the Provost for Academic Resources. The successful candidate will join the Provost’s management team and the President’s Academic Council (extended management group). The HoD plays a central role in institutional governance, various Committees, and other strategic bodies to ensure the department’s activities drive the school’s overarching mission and societal impact.
An Elite Community of ScholarsThe Department of Marketing at BI is one of the largest and most vibrant academic marketing communities in Europe. We recruit internationally to maintain a faculty that is both academically rigorous and deeply relevant to the global business community. Our work is defined by a commitment to theoretical innovation, practical application, and the development of solutions that address the evolving needs of the business sector and society.
Our academic activity is organized into three distinguished research groups:
Marketing Strategy
Consumer Behavior
Marketing Modeling
The department is home to the Norwegian Customer Satisfaction Barometer, a research project that has measured customer satisfaction with Norwegian companies for three decades, providing influential insights for industries and policymakers. It also hosts the Research Center for Customer-Oriented Organization and Leadership (COOL), which aims to be a leading interdisciplinary research hub that bridges the gap between academic research and practical application in customer-centric strategies. Additionally, the department features the Multisensory Marketing Group, a center for cutting-edge exploration of consumer experiences. With a considerable geographic reach, our faculty operates across BI’s campuses in Oslo, Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger, fostering strong ties with industry partners and public institutions nationwide.
Key Responsibilities
The Head of Department holds academic, financial, and administrative responsibility for the department.
We are seeking a leader who will:
Cultivate a World-Class Faculty: Lead the recruitment and career development pathing of faculty members, ensuring an environment that fosters international research impact and excellence in teaching.
Drive Innovation in the Department's Education Portfolio.
Drive Academic Excellence: Oversee the development of research-based academic programs in close collaboration with the Deans, ensuring they remain attractive, innovative, and student-centered.
Promote a Caring Culture: Foster a professional, supportive, and inclusive work environment characterized by dialogue, involvement, and a commitment to the well-being of all staff.
Expand External Impact: Strengthen ties with international academic environments and industry stakeholders, increasing external research funding and driving societal impact through research and stakeholder engagement.
Ensure Operational Integrity: Manage the department’s financial and administrative operations across all campuses, maintaining compliance with BI’s Quality Assurance System and international accreditation standards.
Qualifications and Experience
We are looking for a visionary leader who possesses:
Academic Standing: A strong academic/faculty position, preferably at the rank of Professor, within a relevant marketing research area.
Leadership: A proven track record of excellent leadership, with the ability to motivate and inspire a diverse team of high-performing professionals.
Academic Insight: A documented understanding of leadership within the higher education sector, particularly regarding the principles of academic freedom and institutional governance.
Strategic & Collaborative Mindset: The ability to work systematically toward ambitious goals while maintaining a management style rooted in cooperation and trust.
Communication Skills: Exceptional networking and communication abilities, with the capacity to establish credibility both internally and with external global partners.
Terms and Conditions for External Applicants
The appointment follows BI’s standard terms for departmental leadership. External applicants must possess a positive professor evaluation from a renown institution within a relevant research area.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted electronically via the ‘Send Application’ button by the deadline of March 23rd, 2026.
Please include a comprehensive CV and a complete publication list.
Start Date: August 1st, 2026.
Screening: Qualified applicants will be invited for interviews. BI may utilize external recruitment agencies for the screening process. BI Norwegian Business School reserves the right not to appoint candidates who, while meeting academic criteria, do not fulfill the leadership and organizational requirements of the position.
Contact Information
For confidential inquiries regarding the position, please contact Thomas Hoholm, Provost for Academic Resources:
