Position Details
External Relations
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822
Grade: 7
Part time (18.75 hours per week)
Permanent
Closing date: 22nd June 2026
UK travel may be required for this role.
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, and we are 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 to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career 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 are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a 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 state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Background
External Relations is the division responsible for delivering the University of Birmingham to the world and prides itself on seizing opportunities that will enhance the profile and reputation of the University. We communicate with many different audiences in order to build purposeful relationships locally, nationally and internationally. We enable those who wish to apply to study on undergraduate and postgraduate courses to make informed choices.
The Student Recruitment and Marketing team is responsible for promoting the University of Birmingham to recruit the most able students, irrespective of social, economic and ethnic background, to agreed targets. Within the team there are four specialist teams focusing on Outreach, International, Postgraduate and Undergraduate recruitment and marketing activities.
The Undergraduate Student Recruitment and Marketing team travel across the UK visiting schools, colleges and higher education exhibitions to ensure that prospective students, their parents, carers and teachers, have a full understanding of what the University of Birmingham has to offer. The team are also responsible for organising events such as open days, offer-holder visit days, conferences for teachers and advisers, and campus visits.
Role Summary
Working across a range of projects, the Senior Student Recruitment Officer is primarily an outbound role, with a significant proportion of time spent visiting schools and colleges across the UK to deliver talks on a wide range of topics related to higher education, and delivering information, advice and guidance to prospective students, their parents, carers and teachers. They will take an active role in and contribute to the development of a suite of recruitment and marketing activities that are highly effective in a changing external recruitment environment. The post holder will be responsible for managing distinct projects including large-scale events management, will be a self-starter, and will be capable of working independently on major projects as well as part of a wider team.
Projects will include working alongside our Colleges to deliver on-campus recruitment activities. They will also be responsible for working alongside the Student Recruitment Manager to develop a holistic approach to schools engagement. Responsibilities will also include managing communications with key stakeholder audiences, including teachers and careers advisers across the UK.
The post holder will work in partnership with University stakeholders across all areas, and with external organisations, to provide advice and guidance in devising recruitment and conversion activities to enhance our position and deliver on recruitment targets.
They should be a creative thinker with excellent attention to detail, and a quick learner who is happy to work independently. They should thrive on the opportunity to produce innovative solutions to any challenges facing the Student Recruitment and Marketing team.
This role will spend a large amount of time travelling around the UK to deliver presentations and information, advice and guidance. It’s a hybrid role with some time spent working from home where this fits with the needs of the business and the individual. The University sees the benefit of colleagues interacting in an agile office environment and this is an important part of working in a large, complex organisation.
Please note that this is a 0.5FTE role, working 2.5 days per week typically, with flexibility required to suit the needs of the business including weekend and evening working. This role is a job share with another 0.5FTE role. This role also requires DBS clearance.
Main Duties
- To deliver high-quality presentations to groups of school and college students, parents, carers and teachers on a variety of higher education topics, to promote the University of Birmingham. In addition, the post holder will provide information, advice and guidance on higher education to a range of stakeholders through a variety of other channels.
- To travel to higher education fairs and exhibitions across the UK to promote the University. This involves coordinating materials and answering questions from prospective students, their parents and teachers. This will amount to approximately 30-35 events off campus per year, including overnight stays and some weekend work, across the UK.
- To lead a range of projects across the Undergraduate Student Recruitment and Marketing team, which may include on-campus events and activities (open days, offer-holder visit days and campus visits), liaising with colleagues across the University to deliver a programme of benefit to prospective students, and focused on meeting the recruitment targets of the institution.
- To work with the Student Recruitment Manager and others to analyse data related to our schools and colleges engagement activity, identifying priority schools for engagement, and putting together packages of support for schools/colleges on our prospecting list.
- To regularly monitor performance against recruitment targets and provide relevant management information related to key strategic projects. The post holder will carry out numerical analysis, produce written reports and use data to provide insight into student recruitment activities.
- To contribute to the formulation and implementation of the undergraduate student recruitment and marketing strategy with the ability to generate new ideas and initiatives and see them through from conception to completion.
- To manage data and relationship management (CRM) systems for school/college contacts, prospective applicant data capture, and event bookings. This includes ensuring these systems are kept up to date, remain GDPR compliant, and assisting the wider team in the use of these systems in their everyday work, including training colleagues where appropriate.
- To contribute to the recruitment and training of a team of student ambassadors and, where appropriate, to direct and supervise so that our pool of ambassadors have the necessary training and support to represent the University positively.
- Ability to manage budgets for designated projects. Preparing and submitting for consideration to the Head of Team detailed costings on spending and monitoring ongoing expenditure to ensure all activity is carried out within the agreed budget.
- Build strong and lasting relationships with colleagues across the University, in both Professional Services and the academic community, to enhance and champion our activity. Look for opportunities to collaborate to mutually support each other’s objectives across all relevant business areas.
- Deputise for the Head of Undergraduate Recruitment and Marketing and other team members as required.
- Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
- Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
- 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.
- Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data.
- Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.
- Substantial experience of working in a relevant role, preferably in a large, complex organisation. Experience in student recruitment, outreach and/or higher education marketing will be advantageous.
- Experience of working in an education marketing environment.
- An understanding of the UK’s education system.
- Excellent standard of communication, with an ability to present to large audiences with confidence, and with experience of writing for a breadth of audiences.
- Demonstrable project management skills and experience, from inception to completion.
- Demonstrable experience of managing events.
- Experience of and confidence in working with digital tools and systems, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
- Experience of translating complex information into accessible communications and content across multiple channels.
- Ability to interpret market research information and handle statistical/financial information.
- Well-developed administrative and organisational skills, with proven ability to pay attention to deadlines and detail.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a 'can-do' attitude, with an ability to bring people together to work towards a common goal, and to work positively and flexibly to respond to the needs of the team.
- Demonstrable understanding of the complexities and competing factors related to higher education recruitment.
- Confident in working in large, complex organisations, and managing stakeholder relationships internally and externally to the organisation, including ability to influence those in senior positions.
- Ability to work under own initiative and juggle multiple priorities at once.
- To constantly exhibit values and behaviours consistent with the University’s and External Relations’ framework.
- Prepared to undertake regular work in the evenings and at weekends with nights spent away from home as necessary.
- Valid UK driving licence and/or ability to undertake independent travel across the UK, including often during unsociable hours.
Role context
Roles at this level will require a broad understanding and practical experience of an administrative or professional field which will be used to plan the running and development of services and/or lead shorter term projects or contribute to larger projects. You will work with information which needs interpretation and analysis; you will use your judgement to identify the best solution to differing problems and issues, offering recommendations for managing more complex situations. You are likely to be responsible for managing a team of staff, being accountable for recruiting and developing them and for managing performance. You may also need to liaise and/or co-ordinate activities across a number of different sections within the department or possibly with wider department or external bodies as appropriate.
Core competencies/transferable skills
Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully demonstrate the core competencies/transferable skills outlined in each of the areas shown below. As appropriate for the level, our Birmingham Professionals will take ownership for getting things done. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.
Planning and organising
- plan the running and development of service(s), overseeing resources and inputting into resource planning as appropriate;
- develop, agree and implement standards for delivery for own area;
- manage a team of staff and review, develop and motivate them;
- plan relevant training and development;
- provide professional advice, guidance and support to others within and outside their immediate work area;
- oversee resources and make recommendations about future resource requirements.
Problem solving and decision making
- review, develop and propose solutions for problems with (for example) staff, budgets, services and/or systems;
- deal effectively with unexpected issues, such as changing priorities;
- deal with sensitive people matters/issues;
- provide specialist advice and recommendations to support decision–making of others.
Organisational understanding
- understand their own and closely-related working areas and how they contribute to the success of the University.
- has an understanding of how the University operates; actively seeks to share this knowledge with others.
- developing empathy with the academic endeavour.
Relationships and communication
- influence decision makers and win support for proposals;
- develop excellent working relationships within and outside of own area and potentially with external stakeholders;
- co-ordinate activities across a number of areas.
DBS required
The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.
Informal enquiries to Steve Allmark, Head of Student Recruitment ([email protected])
View our staff values and behaviours here
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 everyone on our website .
