Director of Recruitment and International Relations

WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER

Dear Applicant,

A warm welcome to the University of Glasgow and thank you for expressing an interest in our Director of Recruitment & International Relations role. 

There has never been a more exciting time to join our TeamUofG community. We recently improved our position among the world’s top 100 universities in the 2023 THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings, now placing 82nd in the world. 

Over recent years, we have significantly grown our international student community here in Glasgow, and now welcome over 11,000 international students from over 140 countries to our campuses in the West of Scotland. 

We are proud to be a civic, anchor university but with global reach and profile. We have set out our international ambitions in our new strategy, Global Glasgow 2025, with the mission to not only be the best university in the world, but the best university for the world. 

Our £1bn investment in reshaping Glasgow’s West End is also an example of the transformational role that universities can play locally, as well as in regional and national domains.

Our achievements are a tribute to the hard work and enterprise of our colleagues and students and our commitment to model our institutional values in all that we do: ambition and excellence; curiosity and discovery; integrity and truth; and an inclusive community.

The Director of Recruitment & International Relations will play a critical role in supporting the delivery of our strategic KPIs.

The role will report to me as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement, and will sit within the Leadership Team of our External Relations Directorate. We seek a candidate with a substantial and quantifiable track record of leading large, complex teams, delivering transformational change and excellent stakeholder management. 

If you would like to contribute your expertise, creativity and energy to this vital post for the University, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Together, we are World-Changing Glasgow. 

Rachel Sandison

Deputy Vice Chancellor – External Engagement and Vice Principal – External Relations

Job purpose

To provide strategic leadership across a number of business critical functions, including domestic and international student recruitment, policy and partnership development.

Directly deliver a number of strategic KPIs within the University’s Global Glasgow 2025 International Strategy through expert advice, influencing and collaboration with senior academics across the institution, including the Assistant Vice-Principal, International, the University’s network of Global Deans of Engagement and College International Deans to ensure delivery on both international and local strategic objectives.

You will have responsibility for meeting annual student recruitment targets, with a critical focus on improving the quality and the diversity of our student cohort. This will entail the development of innovative student recruitment programmes with international partners; advancing and delivering an engagement strategy for both domestic and international markets, including Transnational Education; leading on market insight activities; and supporting the University’s widening access agenda.

High level engagement will be required with key external stakeholders, including the UK and Scottish government, sector advisory bodies, global HEIs, schools, and Edtech companies to ensure that the University meets its objective of extending its global reach and reputation – not just as the best university in the world, but the best university for the world.

You will be a key member of the External Relations Leadership Team, deputising for the Deputy Vice- Chancellor, External Engagement, as required.

Main duties & responsibilities

Lead and deliver the Operational Plan for Global Glasgow 2025:
Lead the development, implementation and effective operational management of the University’s Global Glasgow 2025 International Strategy, with a focus on KPIs associated to the pillars of Recruitment, Relationships and Reputation. Responsibilities include:
 
• Meeting student recruitment and conversion targets (numbers/income, quality and diversity)
• The development of incoming Study Abroad and Summer Schools and agent and sponsor management
• Strategic partnership development (both extant and new partnerships) and policy setting
• Network Management (Universitas 21, The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, CIVIS, the European Universities Civic Alliance, the European Centre for Advanced Studies, and the African Research Universities Alliance)
• Reputation/profile building initiatives both domestically and globally
• Management of international development funds (the University’s International Partnership Development Fund and International Experiences Fund)
• Dissemination and promotion of Internationalisation activity across the University to galvanise our internal community in support of target delivery and both staff and student engagement in international initiatives
• Senior contribution to sector-wide policy discussions and plans through membership of key committees and working groups
 
Delivery of Student Recruitment Targets
Lead the development, implementation and effective operational management of student recruitment engagement plans both domestically and internationally to achieve the University’s targets on an annual basis. Targets will be headcount/income as well as improving the quality of our student cohort and the diversity of our international student community. Responsibilities include:
 
• The successful delivery of student recruitment plans by market/cohort against institutional and College-determined objectives
• Engagement across External Relations to develop supporting policies and initiatives within Admissions, Marketing Communications and Access to meet key objectives
• Developing annual proposals for the Senior management team on strategic pricing and scholarships
• Leadership of a range of targeted physical/ virtual recruitment and conversion events
• Regular evaluation and annual return on investment exercises
• Liaison across academic areas to inform and engage academic colleagues in support of meeting institutional priorities
Overseas Development
Represent the University overseas in a senior capacity, presenting at global conferences and leading partnership negotiations (institutional and governmental) enhancing the achievement of key strategic objectives for the wider External Relations Directorate and the University as a whole. Effectively evaluating partnerships and developing strategic policies for partnership development will be key.
 
Resource Management
Plan, effectively manage and be accountable for the financial resources of the team (UK and overseas operations), ensuring budgets are focused on the areas offering greatest return on investment, whilst leading on complex negotiations of agreements and contracts with external agencies. Responsibility for team performance, training and development, and the successful delivery of regional strategies and operational plans.
 
External Relations Leadership
As a member of the External Relations’ Leadership Team, assume a leadership role for the Directorate as a whole, informing strategy, planning and policies in support of the successful delivery of KPIs owned by the Directorate and effective and efficient operational management of resources. This will also require close and productive collaboration with the Senior Management Team, the University’s four Colleges and those engaged in internationalisation activities across the internal community.
 
External Liaison and Advisory Role
Act as institutional contact for key external organisations e.g. Universities Scotland, British Council, British Universities International Liaison Association (BUILA), including drafting institutional responses and preparing appropriate business cases for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement and the Senior Management Team. Represent the University on professional groups, forums and committees as appropriate and deputise for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement as required.

Knowledge and qualifications

Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9,10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification, Masters Degree), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas.
 
A2 Highly developed knowledge of the principles, theory and practice of field of work, as well as an awareness of broader developments relevant to own area.

Skills

Essential:
C1 Strong interpersonal skills including communications, negotiation, motivating, influencing and relationship building.
 
C2 Proven analytical and problem solving capability.
 
C3 Demonstrable ability to initiate and establish policy changes to tackle major new issues and situations.
 
C4 Ability to review and address performance, influence and shape the available resources as appropriate to meet the current and future needs of the University.

Experience

Essential:
E1 Experience of managing and developing a significant team or teams containing experienced professionals.
 
E2 Experience of making a significant impact on long-term direction, strategy and objectives.
 
E3 Experience of managing and developing a complex project or activities with strategic influence and significant impact upon organisational resources.
 
E4 Experience of working with and influencing senior management and stakeholders.
 
E5 Experience of managing and controlling significant budgets/resources/funding and understanding of financial management procedures.
 
E6 Experience of developing innovative solutions and leading and delivering strategy.

Global Glasgow 2025

Our Global Glasgow: International Strategy 2025 articulates our global ambitions, and supports the vision conveyed in our institutional strategy World Changers Together, World Changing Glasgow 2025.

We are committed to:

  • our colleagues and students benefiting from being part of an international community
  • our wider local community directly benefiting from Glasgow’s role as a civic anchor institution with global connections
  • our relationships with international partners being reciprocally beneficial and founded in mutual respect – we will innovate and solve problems together
  • defending academic freedom globally
  • advocating and ensuring diversity and inclusion
  • championing education as an engine for social progress
  • striving to be the best University for the world.

Campus development plan

Our Vision 

Over the next 10 years, the major investment will expand our campus footprint by 25%, creating a new urban quarter with the University at the heart of a revitalised west end. This is the largest development since the creation of the original campus in 1870. 

This is a unique opportunity for a University to extend the boundaries of its historic core in a central city location. It will create: 

  • New learning and teaching facilities
  • Refurbishment and repurposing of existing iconic buildings for specialist uses
  • Identification and design of social spaces that support the student and community experience. 

The expansion of our Gilmorehill campus into the 14 acre, former Western Infirmary site will transform the West End of Glasgow. The Masterplan for the site will incorporate: 

  • New learning and teaching facilities supporting our students and making sure they get the best in modern teaching and learning styles and approaches
  • Creation of a Research Hub, housing large-scale multidisciplinary projects and incubator space for spin out collaborations with industry. This will encourage further innovation development
  • New public cycle and pedestrian routes and a new central square which will link Byres Road to the up-and-coming cultural quarter for the West End, with new links to Kelvingrove and the newly-refurbished Kelvin Hall
  • Refurbishment of five listed buildings: The Chapel, the Outpatients building, the Macgregor building, the Tennent Institute and Anderson College
  • Commercial opportunities, including a hotel, restaurant, bars and cafes
  • The state of the art Learning and Teaching Hub adjacent to the Boyd Orr building on University Avenue will be completed next year. 

Find out more

Living in Glasgow 

A UNESCO City of Music, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a food-lover’s delight, and a shopper’s paradise. Just some of the highlights of the ‘friendliest city in the world’. As well as that accolade by the Rough Guides poll, Glasgow has also been named a must visit destination by publications including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Wanderlust.

Music 

The city hosts an average of 130 music events a week catering for every taste; from rock to rap, and classical to country. Glasgow also has a world class club scene playing host to some of the world’s top DJs.

Shopping 

Outside of London’s West End, Glasgow is frequently voted the best place for shopping in the UK. A must-visit destination for any shop-a-holic, it houses high street chains, international designers, and independent retailers. The West End, home to the University of Glasgow, is bustling with vintage fashion, vinyl stores, and second-hand bookshops.

Arts and Culture 

Glasgow’s arts scene has gone from strength to strength, and is the base for five internationally renowned performing arts companies including the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Ballet. The city has several world-class museums, which are free to the public, and the city’s architecture is a work of art in itself. 

Food and drink 

You can be in Glasgow and taste the world with its many diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars. And if you’ve yet to sample the delights of haggis and whisky, Glasgow is the place to be.

The City and Beyond 

Glasgow has all the opportunities and excitement of a big city but its compact size means you can quickly travel from one vibrant district to the next. You could be relaxing in one of its many parks, before shopping in the quirky West End, and then dancing until the wee small hours in the Merchant City. 

And when you fancy getting out of the city you can reach the stunning Loch Lomond in just 30 minutes, climb one of our many breath-taking Munros, play golf at one of Scotland’s many world-class courses, visit one of our ancient castles, or go further North and search for Nessie! Scotland has also just been named the world’s most beautiful country by Rough Guides.

Relocating to Glasgow

Choosing to relocate to Glasgow is a big decision. There are numerous things to be considered, such as the costs of moving, the cost of living, and where exactly to relocate to. We have created two guides to aide you in the decision making process. 

The Relocation Guide identifies five of Glasgow's most popular residential areas. Alongside information detailing some of the general living costs in Glasgow, The guide also suggests which schools surround each area, how far away each area is from the University's main campus, and the average cost of housing. 

The Scotland Handbook provides information about living in Scotland as a country; our cultures, our lifestyle, and our geography.

Find out more

International applicants

WORLD CHANGERS TOGETHER

WORLD CHANGING GLASGOW 2025

Our outstanding disciplinary breadth and expertise has enabled us to make world-changing advances in fields as diverse as medicine, physics, linguistics, public policy and global development.

The key to our success is our talented staff and students pushing back at the boundaries of knowledge and understanding together.

Our World Changers Together strategy recognises the fundamental importance of a culture of open cooperation: not just as colleagues and mentors or students and teachers, but as a community of discovery that reaches beyond its walls and draws inspiration and strength from its connections and partnerships worldwide: excellence that's part of something bigger. The strategy is articulated across three themes:

COMMUNITY

  • People centred, globally engaged

CONNECTIVITY

  • Collaboratively minded, digitally enhanced

CHALLENGES

  • Solution focused, impact oriented

Find out more

 

How to apply

Full details of the role and how to apply can be found by visiting our website:

The closing date for applications is 5th April 2023.

It is the University of Glasgow’s mission to foster an inclusive climate, which ensures equality in our working, learning, research and teaching environment. We strongly endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, including a supportive and flexible working environment, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.

Our values

decorative icon representing valuesThe future holds innumerable challenges for our sector, our society, and our world. We will have to adapt and change what we do and what we offer if we are to navigate these successfully. Our strategy and approach may evolve as the landscape changes, but our values will remain constant: a fixed point of certainty in uncertain times.

We have identified our values in consultation and partnership with our staff and student community. Living and upholding these values will ensure that we remain true to the spirit of our community and ourselves:

Ambition and excellence icon

Ambition and Excellence

  • We strive for excellence through our work
  • We defend academic freedom globally
  • We recognise and celebrate shared success
  • We have an unrelenting focus on development
Curiosity and discovery icon

Curiosity and Discovery

  • We innovate and solve problems together
  • We lead by influence and example
  • We engage with lifelong learning and personal development
  • We learn from our mistakes
Integrity and truth

Integrity and Truth

  • We uphold honesty, integrity and fairness
  • We share our work widely and generously
  • We do the right thing, not the easy thing - or we don’t do it
  • We take responsibility
All inclusive community icon

An Inclusive Community new

  • We are one Glasgow team, and we care for and respect one another
  • We advocate for diversity and believe in variety as a vital part of a healthy university
  • We champion education as an engine for social progress
  • We practise and advance sustainability