Job description

Department/Division/Faculty: MORA (Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment and Admissions)
Campus/Location: White City and South Kensington 
Job Family/Level: Professional Services Level 6 (Salary scales)
Responsible to: Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer 
Line management for: Head of UK Recruitment and Outreach, Head of International Student Recruitment, Student Recruitment Events Manager, Operations and Project Manager 
Key working Relationships (Internal): Senior members of Marketing, Outreach, Recruitment Admissions and across Academic Services. Provost, University Secretary, Vice-Provost (Education & Student Experience), Associate Provost (Societal Engagement), Vice-President Communications and Strategic Engagement, Faculty Deans, Vice-Deans for Education, Faculty Chief Operating Officers, Academic and Professional Services staff in Faculties, ICT, Strategic Planning, International Relations Office, Campus Services, Communications, Public Affairs academic staff with lead roles in preenrolment, Imperial College Students’ Union Officers, Advancement, Academic Registrar 
Key Working Relationships (External): Mission groups prioritising disadvantaged groups, funders, collaborations, foundations and trusts, Imperial College Maths School, Prospective students and their influencers, UCAS, Media agencies (e.g., Hunterlodge), Global Organisations, Universities, Schools, Press, Alumni (and donors), networking groups, media representatives, professional bodies, and other marketing, outreach, recruitment, and admissions services
Contract Type: Full time, open ended

Purpose of the Post

The Director of Recruitment and Outreach plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping and delivering Imperial’s student recruitment strategy across a diverse portfolio of markets, with a particular focus on International and UK diversification and Widening Participation and Outreach.

Working closely with the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, the role is accountable for shaping and delivering an integrated recruitment and outreach strategy that supports Imperial’s strategic goals, global reputation and long-term sustainability.

As one of the world’s leading universities, this role is crucial in accelerating Imperial’s ambition to grow and diversify its intake. MORA’s ambition is to deliver an exceptional and seamless candidate focused journey across all study levels that welcomes the brightest students from around the world, regardless of background. This requires trusted and collaborative leadership on student recruitment, outreach, marketing and admissions alongside digital innovation.

The postholder leads and manages the Head of UK Recruitment and Outreach and the Head of International Recruitment, ensuring a coherent, evidence-led approach to student recruitment and outreach that attracts high-potential students to engage with Imperial from a broad and diverse range of backgrounds. A central focus of the role is to advance Imperial’s commitment to access and participation, social mobility and international diversification, embedding these priorities across all recruitment and outreach activity.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Marketing, the Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach ensures strong alignment between brand, marketing campaigns, market insight and recruitment delivery; maximising impact across key domestic and international markets. The role also collaborates extensively with academic departments, professional services and external partners to deliver an inclusive, high-quality applicant experience from first engagement through to enrolment.

Through strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement, the Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach plays a critical role in securing a diverse, talented and globally representative student body and associated outreach programmes for Imperial.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership and planning

• Develop, own and deliver Imperial’s overarching UK and international student recruitment, outreach and events strategy, aligned with the university’s overall strategy and institutional priorities.
• Provide strategic advice to the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer and senior leadership on outreach related policy, recruitment trends, risks, opportunities and long-term market positioning.
• Work closely with senior management across Imperial in addressing the key strategic risk of diversifying our international student recruitment.
• In collaboration with the Directors within MORA, lead scenario planning and forecasting to support sustainable programme engagement, student number growth and diversification across disciplines and geographies.
• Take a proactive approach to developing the strengthened links between MORA staff with key colleagues and networks of collaborators in the faculties and professional services departments including leading the strategic relationship with the Centre for Societal Engagement.
• Actively identify areas for strategic improvement, development or change to enhance our service.

Management

• Provide inspirational leadership to direct reports , fostering a high-performing, collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Set clear objectives, monitor performance and support professional development across recruitment and outreach teams.
• Promote effective cross-team working between UK, international, outreach and events functions.
• Deputise for the CMRO where necessary, and contribute to the broader agenda of Academic Services and University Secretary.
• Working with other Professional Services teams to develop, provide and enhance a joined-up service to applicants, students, staff, and external stakeholders.

Finance

• Manage recruitment resources, budgets and external suppliers where required, ensuring value for money and effective delivery.
• Own the strategic relationship with Advancement, ensuring the effective development, delivery and oversight of philanthropic income for outreach and student recruitment.
• Conduct regular reviews with line manager and the finance team as required.
• Negotiate competitive and flexible deals with suppliers and leverage internal relationships to deliver complementary services within budget.

Outreach and APP

• Embed outreach, access and social mobility objectives across all recruitment and outreach activity, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and institutional commitments.
• Ensure that the portfolio of outreach initiatives that raise aspirations and increase participation from under represented and disadvantaged groups in the UK are targeted and delivered successfully and align with strategic aims. Ensure robust evaluation of outreach impact, working with the market insight and data team to continuously improve outcomes.

Recruitment and Diversification

• Provide strategic direction for international recruitment, with a clear focus on market diversification, risk mitigation and sustainable growth.
• Oversee the development of priority international markets, partnerships and pathways in collaboration with academic departments and external stakeholders.
• Ensure recruitment activity responds effectively to global geopolitical, visa, regulatory and competitive changes.
• Widen the geographical spread of UK applications to Imperial, championing diversity and innovation.

Collaboration and stakeholder engagement

• Work in close partnership with the Director of Marketing to align recruitment and outreach objectives with brand strategy, marketing campaigns, digital engagement and market insight.
• Collaborate extensively with academic departments, admissions, and professional services teams to ensure a seamless, high quality applicant journey.
• Represent Imperial externally with schools, colleges, government bodies, sponsors and partners as appropriate.

Analysis and reports:

Working with the Director of Admissions and Data:

• Oversee the production of high-quality management reports on MORA-related activities to inform the University Management Board and other areas of the university, identifying trends and implications for Imperial, to assist with the development of strategy and policy as well as to provide information for business decisions.
• Initiating and undertaking horizon scanning across the Higher Education sector to ensure the university always implements best practice and is at the forefront in the development of robust policies in the areas of marketing, student recruitment and outreach.
• Establish clear KPIs and performance frameworks for recruitment and outreach activity across all markets.

Governance, compliance and risk

• Ensure recruitment and outreach activity complies with regulatory, ethical and policy requirements, including UK access and participation frameworks and international recruitment standards.
• Identify and manage risks associated with pipelines, market concentration and external change.
• Contribute to institutional governance groups and committees as required.

Continuous Improvement:

Working with the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer, the Director of Marketing and the Director of Admissions and Data respectively:

• Championing and contributing to any necessary change management processes and ongoing continuous improvement.
• Making recommendations for the introduction or amendment of policies and procedures to contribute to the operational improvement of the area of responsibility.
• Supporting the continuous improvement and implementation of the Imperial’s MORA systems, raising and tracking issues, enhancements, and bugs.
• Keeping skills up-to-date and developing expertise in the key areas of the role. • Improving professional capability and expertise through appropriate development and professional activity.

External Activities

• Represent the University at external meetings and actively participating in related networks.
• Serving on committees, working groups etc. to represent MORA at areas overseen by the post holder.
• Chairing internal and external user groups and professional networks, as appropriate.
• Participating in national and international networks relating to marketing and student recruitment.

Other: 

• The post holder is expected to familiarise, keep updated and comply with all university policies and regulations (i.e., Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.)
• Support university wide events, including open days where possible .
• Undertaking any other duties as determined by the Chief Marketing and Recruitment Officer or their deputies
• This role will require extensive travel , both in the UK and overseas

Person specification

All of the following criteria are considered essential unless otherwise noted

Education

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Professional Marketing qualification (e.g. CIM) and/or demonstrable and significant recruitment expertise.

Experience

• Substantial experience of student recruitment leadership within a large complex, higher education institution with a strong focus on International, STEM, Outreach and widening participation.
• A proven track record of leading teams to deliver institutional targets, including international (multiple regions), UK, APP, WP and diversification.
• Significant, demonstratable experience of developing, opening and regaining international markets. Desirable
• Experience forging and managing complex relationships across higher education including academic, professional services and faculty operations. Desirable
• A proven track of leading the development of international events strategies across the student lifecycle.
• Planning and implementing metrics to show impact and ROI.
• Experience developing, leading and managing teams across the globe in a complex environment. Desirable
• Drafting formal documents including management reports, presentations and guidance documents for public and internal consumption .
• Experience of working with creative teams and agencies to deliver integrated campaigns.  Desirable

 Knowledge

• International recruitment and education knowledge, as well as exceptional knowledge of recruitment strategies .
• Relevant legislation, which will affect areas of work including GDPR, CMA and ASA and Accessibility.   Desirable
• Acute Knowledge of impacting international legislature and policy. Desirable

Skills & Abilities

• Building contacts, networks and relationships, internally and externally.
• Interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with an ability to enthuse, influence, persuade and motivate. This includes the ability to proactively collaborate across areas of the university.
• Outstanding communication and engagement skills demonstrated through creative presentation, verbal and written content.
• Effective and collaborative leadership and people management skills. E Project management skills, including producing project plans and using project management tools. Desirable
• Insight and market research expertise with the ability to analyse data, run focus groups, produce insightful and actionable reports, and measure ROI and impact. Desirable
• Excellent organisational skills to be able to effectively manage a high-volume of work and competing priorities.
• Proactive, creative and a high level of initiative.
• Confidence to build clear consensus, challenge appropriately, and influence.
• Excellent IT literacy, Google Analytics, Design software and Advertising tools.
• Ability to travel for long periods overseas, often over evenings and weekends.

Further Information

Please note that job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate Imperial:

• Respect
• Collaboration
• Excellence
• Integrity
• Innovation

Employees are also required to comply with all Imperial policies and regulations. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment, sex, or sexual orientation. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

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