Job description

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated self-starter to join King’s Student Recruitment team as a Student Recruitment Manager within the Brand & Marketing Department. This role will initially work across the UK and Europe with management responsibility for UK/Europe Student Recruitment Officers.  

The post holder will be expected to devise and implement student recruitment plans to develop a number of designated markets, with activities that include both digital and in-country activities, and so cultural awareness and sensitivity, as well as the ability to travel overseas extensively, is essential. 

You will be expected to develop and manage positive relationships with a diverse network of stakeholders including prospective students, agents, schools and universities as well as internal relationships across the university. In addition, you will demonstrate the ability to develop an extensive knowledge and understanding of your markets, analysing data to develop and gain agreement to plans for your markets. 

The role requires an aptitude for problem solving and multitasking, excellent communication skills and the ability to demonstrate a genuine commitment to providing high standards in customer service. Experience working within the higher education sector in a student facing role, preferably in student recruitment, is essential.  

You will be responsible for line management of market specific student recruitment officers, and the role will require flexibility and an average of 14-16 weeks of travel a year depending on the activities in the designated markets. Please note: additional travel outside of your remit may also be required to meet the university’s business needs.  

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract. 

This is a full-time post.

  Key responsibilities

•        Lead on the development and implementation of country student recruitment strategies and plans for designated markets, covering all levels of study, to achieve the university’s student recruitment objectives and positively support the profile of King’s College London in-market. This will include the development and delivery of both online and face-to- face activity for designated markets.  

•        Please note: designated markets may change over time, including temporary redesignation when required, resulting in responsibilities which may range from planning, managing and delivering activities for large and complex established markets through to opening up and developing new markets. 

•        Monitor, evaluate, report and recommend responses to the trends and developments for student recruitment activities in their designated markets, acting as the department’s specialist for their designated markets and taking responsibility for pro-actively advising the Head of Student Recruitment and the Deputy Director of Student Recruitment. 

•        Produce activity plans/reports and recommendations for designated markets incorporating both on- and off-line results, the impact of activities, contextual trends and recommendations for future development.   

•        Work with the Head of Student Recruitment to develop and manage the team’s contact strategy with university agents within designated countries, in line with the university’s Agent Strategy and including relationship management, training, reviews and other engagement as appropriate 

•        Undertake an average of up to 14-16 weeks travel per year, depending on the required activities in the designated markets according to the university’s business needs. This may include travel outside of their designated markets as required by the Head of Student Recruitment and could include anywhere in the world where the British Council and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice allows and where there is a university business need.  

•        Support the Head of Student Recruitment with costed plans based on data analysis for budget bidding/justification and take responsibility for delivering agreed activities on time and within budget. 

Specific activities may include: 

•        Representing King’s at local and overseas education and recruitment events, undertaking independent visits and developing and delivering presentations about the university and its offer.  

•        Identifying partners of strategic value to the university to develop potential recruitment collaborations. 

•        Identifying other opportunities for King’s College London, such as partnering with scholarship bodies. 

•        Leading or assisting with the organisation and management of high-profile visits to the university or key stakeholder visits in-market. 

•        Leading and/or contributing to the development of on and off-line marketing tools and printed materials published to support King’s College London’s recruitment activities. 

•        Responsibility for the transport and assembly of display materials for student recruitment meetings and events. 

In addition, the post-holder will: 

•        Develop effective working relationships with a range of external audiences, which may include partners, representatives and professional organisations such as British Council, BUILA, UKVI, UKTI, Universities UK, UCAS etc.  

•        Attend relevant (and agreed) professional conferences and workshops to ensure that the university is aware of current government issues and updates in relation to student recruitment. 

•        Regularly update, advise and/or consult the Brand & Marketing Department and/or the wider university community on student activity in their designated markets via meetings, forums, one-to-ones, and other means of communication. 

•        Be flexible and prepared to travel at short notice, work weekends and travel for meetings at all university Campuses and overseas as required for university business needs.  

•        Work as a fully integrated member of the Brand & Marketing Department, developing positive relationships and working closely with colleagues from across the department.  

•        Develop close working relationships with teams across the university, including for example Admissions, Global Engagement, Study Abroad and Student Success. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria  

1.      Educated to degree level or equivalent 

2.      Demonstrable student recruitment or marketing experience and expertise at a similar level to that required by the job description 

3.      Ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences at all levels both orally (including delivering presentations) and in writing 

4.      Resilience and Adaptability: Adapts positively to change, staying focused during uncertainty and recognizing where to flex plans to achieve results in the face of changing demands and priorities; influences and supports others by taking a positive perspective on challenge, pressures or uncertainty. 

5.      Demonstrable experience and understanding of overseas student recruitment partnerships including experience of successfully working with student influencers in-country, including parents, teachers & counsellors, university advisors, funding bodies, agents etc.  

6.      Influence and Relationship Building: Builds professional relationships and establishes credibility with stakeholders and partners; Influences by tailoring message and approach to address the concerns of the other party; recognises the importance of considering other perspectives and adapts their style appropriately from one conversation to another. Evidence of good networking skills and the ability to influence the delivery of sustainable outcomes and long-term relationships  

7.      Breaking down Boundaries: Collaboration in all its forms, from working with peers to helping out to positively manage external partners, pro-actively working across organisational boundaries and outside defined areas of accountability to ensure achievement of team’s goals.  

8.      Information Gathering and Analysis: analyses data and identifies market trends; able to define student recruitment KPIs, produce reports and recommendations based on analysis of results and monitor return on investment; critically monitors changing expectations in higher education and acts on identified implications.  

9.      Understanding Context: Maintains a good understanding of the relevant context for student recruitment objectives, including competitor activities, with the ability to identify opportunities, and develop market strengths; analyses current and emerging consumer trends and their implications for business objectives; recommends changes to planned activity based on an understanding of market context, including what is happening and why. 

10.  Line Management: successful direct and indirect management experience including all aspects of leadership, development and motivation of direct reports and project team members. 

11.  Drive for Excellence: A focus on achieving results in the most effective way possible; sets challenging but attainable objectives and works to deliver these. Includes the use of objective analysis to determine a course of action, seeking new or creative ways to deliver accountabilities, taking action to build capabilities such as seeking feedback, sharing success, learning from failure/risk. 

12.  Knowledge and experience of UK and Europe student recruitment, including Postgraduate student recruitment, country trends in Higher Education and demonstrable understanding of cultural differences between relevant countries.  

Desirable criteria

1.      Postgraduate or professional marketing qualification 

2.      Good knowledge of UK and international higher education sector as well as relevant current issues and policies worldwide  

3.      Fluency in a language besides English is desirable