Head of International External Engagement - Academic Services - Grade 8 - 105558
Head of International External Engagement - Academic Services - Grade 8 - 105558
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£ 46735 - 55755
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Position Details
Academic Services
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 46735 to 55755 with potential progression once in post to 62728
Grade: 8
Full Time Permanent
Closing date: 27th April 2025
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years andweare equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university.We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond support them to succeed and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here todevelopthrough our sectorleading Birmingham Professional programmewhichprovides allprofessionalservices staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential.With almost 5000professionalservices jobs in a widerange of functionsin Edgbaston andin our campus inDubai there are plenty of opportunities foryou to be able to develop yourcareer at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate.We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we areand how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees andtothe success of the University and depending on the role we offer avarietyof flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working addition you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 dayspaid holidaya year one paid day a year for volunteering occupational sick pay and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus including main bus routes and a train station on site.On campus we have a stateoftheart sports centre with pool shopsplaces to eat and drinkour own art gallery museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about thebenefits of working for the Universityof Birmingham
Background
This role is located within the Careers Network team (CN) which exists to help students and graduates realise the potential of their University of Birmingham experience and degree helping them to positively shape the world around them powering possibilities for themselves and others throughout their careers. The team comprises circa 60 staff across several specialist areas supporting employability enterprise and entrepreneurship within and beyond the curriculum engaging with employers alumni and external partners to support this endeavour. Achieving the top 50 global ambitions of our university depends on our people and we are proud of our highly talented and engaged colleagues who are passionate about ensuring students are at the heart of what we do.
Role Summary
Careers Network External Engagement team (CN EE) play a central role in delivering the employability strategy and directly supporting the University to achieve our top 50 global ambition. As a member of the CN EE management teamyour role is to positively support the experience and enhance the employability of our substantial and growing international student and recent graduate cohorts. You will develop partnerships with employers alumni and other external organisations/bodies to boost international students graduate prospects both in the UK and particularly as returning graduates to their home countries.
In addition the role will be responsible for developing employability initiatives for all international students and recent graduates.You will work across the CN Team and collaborate closely with Business School and Dubai Careers Development and Alumni Relations and Student Recruitment teams to lead and manage the implementation of projects that enhance international employability. This internal collaboration is essential for maintaining a unified approach and maximising the impact of our partnerships for all international students and graduates.
You will be highly motivated and experienced in understanding the needs of international students and international employers. The role will involve international travel including to Dubai China and India and other areas of strategic importance to the University to support its Strategic Framework 2030.
Main Duties
Strategic Project development and delivery
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Universitys international and postgraduate employability strategy focussing specifically on employer engagement incountry employability initiatives for returners and the transition into the UK labour market.
- Proactively identify and maximise opportunities for enhancing the international student employability positively impacting both experience and outcomes of our international students and alumni.
- Provide leadership of projects and relationship management across key international employability initiatives with a focus initially on China and India.
- Build employer connections and partnerships in key markets identified by partnering with Birmingham Global International Student Recruitment and the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
- Partner with key stakeholders across the institution to develop and implement enhancements to existing employability activity tailored for international prospective students current students and recent graduates.
- Liaise with operational delivery leads and members of CNs senior leadership team to provide oversight of activity designed to enhance the international student experience and support strong employer reputation.
- Actively manage programmes of work and budgets to meet targets making the most efficient use of staff and financial resources.
Relationship management
- Actively consult with others across the University to create positive external links and alliances in support of international employability and international employer reputation.
- Act as the main point of contact in CN for the International Recruitment/Outreach teams working in close partnership with them and other key stakeholders on student recruitment initiatives including events abroad.
- Promote knowledge sharing across CN BBS and Dubai Careers providing timely support assistance and constructive challenge as appropriate in relation to international employability.
- Contribute to the CN External Engagement strategy.
- Take a lead account management role in relationships with external stakeholders ensuring their needs are understood and expectations exceeded.
- Provide specialist advice on graduate recruitment activities trends and international labour market intelligence engaging with relevant organisations and partners to support this endeavour.
- Keep up to date with developments in own field and wider geopolitical context demonstrating sensitivity to the external environment identifying and maximising opportunities whilst proactively responding to challenges.
People management
- Lead CNs External Engagement activity for international and postgraduate students and act as line manager to the Postgraduate External Engagement Manager ensuring relevant targets and goals are achieved within resource constraints.
- Create a motivating environment where staff are challenged developed encouraged and supported to achieve outstanding results guidingthe team through periods of change communicating a clear and positive vision.
Quality assurance and evaluation
- Implement a process to review the effectiveness of key initiatives and report on associated outcomes challenges and learnings.
- Develop and monitor robust feedback systems to allow for the effective evaluation of activity including events collaborations and supplier relationships that leads to continuous improvement for both international students and employers.
Data management analysis and reporting
- Keep abreast of trends and changes in the international labour market with a focus on key strategic markets for the University (China India and Dubai initially) to inform business decisions and regularly disseminate these to others.
- Analyse complex information identifying patterns gaps and any conflicts in the data as it applies to international employability proactively responding to challenges and opportunities the data presents. Ensure all data held on our systems comply with GDPR.
- Work with CNs Data Analyst to understand trends of graduate outcomes for international students utilising the Graduate Outcomes Survey and alumni database.
General
- Actively manage equality diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation actively challenging unacceptable behaviour and role modelling positive behaviour.
- Support the Universitys sustainability agenda through resource efficient working and championing sustainability across the CN team.
- Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
- Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience.Where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
- Substantial experience ininternational relationship building and collaborative working with excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to create external partnerships and alliances.
- Demonstrates sensitivity to wider political and organisational priorities beyond their own context and understands the global and multicultural context of the University; able to operate in different countries and regions with a culturally diverse student and alumni population.
- Demonstrates understanding of the factors impacting uponHE Institutions in relation to international student recruitment postgraduate recruitment alumni relations and student employability.
- Demonstrates experience of operational planning to meet strategic objectives and targets.
- Excellent project development and management skills with experience of running activity presenting setting goals determining priorities and managing allocated budgets.
- Previous experience of team leading.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences on international student employability and external engagement activity sharing ideas and perspectives. Able to express complex ideas coherently through a variety of media.
- Authoritative knowledge of higherlevel skills agenda in the local national and international context.
- Experience of using data to inform priorities and applying effective monitoring and evaluating processes.Able to identify issues with the potential to impact on local national and incountry governance.
- Highly proficient IT skills with experience working with software (such as a CRM system) or other systems including Microsoft Office packages particularly Word Excel PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Ability to be able to undertake international travel and to work flexibly.
Dimensions
Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice across a range of activities and/or will lead and manage diverse team(s) and resources. You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent. Significant evaluation and independent thought is therefore required to resolve ambiguity. You will have discretion to decide on direction whilst ensuring activities are broadly consistent with operational policies. You will need to assess the impact of your activities with related areas and to ensure they fit with the broader objectives of the University.
Planning and Organising
- provide professional expertise and manage resources and/or a diverse team
- integrate and coordinate work across different parts of the department/university
- lead and manage staff who are likely to be carrying out diverse duties and ensure collaborative working to deliver a successful service
- project manage activities to facilitate major changes
- develop policy within functional guidelines and contribute to strategic development within own area
- be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery appreciation of longerterm issues.
Problem Solving and decision making
- anticipate interpret and assess customer needs identifying trends generating original ideas and testing innovative solutions
- deal with significant people management issues such as change programmes
- resolve issues which may not have arisen before through use of experience and judgement.
Internal and External relationships
- has an excellent understanding of their own working area and a broad understanding of the contribution other areas make to the success of the University
- has an excellent understanding of how the University operates together with an understanding of how academia operates in the UK
- demonstrates empathy with the academic endeavour and seeks to encourage others to do so
- use coaching skills to motivate and develop staff
- proactively and sensitively manage the performance of their team and create a motivating environment
- influence others (including across the University) to follow a particular course of action
- represent the department at internal and external meetings/events/network with colleagues in other institutions to share best practice.
Informal enquiries to Drew Linforth via email:
View our staff values and behaviourshere
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
