JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic
Reports to: President and Vice-Chancellor
Expected Direct Reports:

• Deputy Provost: Faculty
• Deputy Provost: Academic
• Dean of Learning and Teaching
• Associate Dean – Research

Purpose

The Provost and DVC, Academic (‘the Provost’) has primary responsibility for delivering the University’s learning and teaching strategy, research strategy, and for academic performance and reporting. Alongside the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Finance and Operations, the Provost is at the highest level of the University, reporting directly to the President and Vice-Chancellor, and is also an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees.

The Provost is expected to play a central role in university leadership and the delivery of the university’s vision, mission and values.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Serve as an Executive Officer and a Trustee of the University.
• Serve as a member of the University Board and its Standing Committee and participate fully in the strategic and operational management of the University and the delivery of its vision, mission and values.
• Represent the University externally and deputise for the President and Vice Chancellor when required.
• Chair the Academic Board of the University and ensure its effectiveness and that of its sub-committees.
• Take a key role in developing and delivering the University’s strategy, with primary responsibility for Learning and Teaching and for Research.
• Guide the academic direction and development of the University, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the academic programmes and instruction.
• In collaboration with colleagues, coordinate academic and academic-related aspects of the University’s relationship with key regulators, including the Office for Students and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
• Work with the Deputy Provost for Faculty and the Centre for Learning and Teaching to develop and implement effective pedagogy.
• Work with the Research Committee and the Deputy Provost for Faculty to support and promote Faculty research and professional engagement.
• Work with the Vice President Students Affairs to ensure integration of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities with the academic programmes.
• Work with the University Board members to identify growth potential in educational and other programmes.
• Work with the Registrar and Deputy Provost for Academic Operations to oversee the development, review, and implementation of all academic policies and procedures,
  including ultimate responsibility for setting admissions standards.
• Work with the Registrar and Deputy Provost for Academic Operations to ensure the monitoring and delivery of retention, continuation and completion targets.
• Supervise the development of a comprehensive assessment plan for the University, in accordance with the requirements of the Middle States Commission on Higher
  Education(“MSCHE”).
• Support the development of institutional strategy and planning.
• Support the institutional accreditation and compliance (US and UK).
• Ensure effective use and management of the relevant budget and resources.
• The scope of the Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor’s responsibilities is subject to change at the discretion of the President and the Board of Trustees.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications & Experience

• A PhD or equivalent.
• Knowledge and experience of UK and/or US standards and teaching methods is essential. Experience of both UK and US higher education systems is desirable.
• Proven track record of executive and strategic level academic leadership, with the ability to articulate a clear vision and motivate colleagues at all levels.
• A leadership style that demonstrates warmth, integrity, transparency, collegiality and confidence.
• Experience of successfully leading and managing the inter-relationships between different teams to achieve overall corporate objectives.
• Experience of leading and managing major change programmes.
• Financial acumen and experience of managing and developing budgets and associated financial planning skills.
• Experience of working with non-executive / board members.
• Experience in engaging and influencing regulatory bodies, stakeholders, and professional advisers.
• The values of the University are strongly international, so experience of living or working outside the UK and/or experience of working in diverse contexts will be an
  advantage.

Able to demonstrate

• Strategic thinking with a willingness to engage with detailed academic regulations where needed.
• A commercial mind set and ability to constructively challenge the status quo.
• Empathy to the mission, vision and values of the University, whilst recognising the range of stakeholders to whom the University is accountable.
• Credibility and authority to work effectively and liaise internally with faculty and senior staff and externally with the Board and other stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills including effective report writing and presentation skills; and
• Diplomacy and political astuteness and the ability to navigate complex organisational structures and operate effectively within both the formal and informal networks of the University, both internally and externally.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Vice President, Marketing Recruitment and Communications
Reports to: Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Operations
Reports:

• Head of Marketing
• PR Manager
• Recruitment Manager UK Office
• Senior Director of US Operations (US based)

Location: The University’s Chiswick Park campus with homeworking
Additional: There is a requirement for occasional weekend and evening work and international travel.

A Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level is required for this position.

Context

Richmond American University London is a unique US and UK accredited University, with a distinctive vision and mission. For over 50 years Richmond has provided a pioneering liberal arts and business curriculum to a diverse international body of undergraduate and postgraduate students. Based in a new state-of-the-art campus on the award-winning Chiswick Park in West London the University has ambitious plans raise its profile locally, nationally, and internationally, to increase enrolment of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and to develop innovative new areas of commercial and public benefit activities. Richmond is a mission-led institution, and the successful candidate will need to embrace and celebrate our liberal arts ethos and our institutional vision, mission and values.

The candidate must have a proven track record of success in leading UK and international student recruitment, marketing and communication functions in higher education and experience of managing multifunctional teams across the globe. The role is at a senior level as Vice President and is based in London.

The Department

The Department has eight staff based in London, with three located in the US. The University has a multi-channel marketing and recruitment strategy including data driven digital acquisition, recruitment agents and outreach activities. The department recently introduced Sales Force Education and Marketing Cloud software enabling robust target based, data driven marketing and recruitment planning and activities. The successful candidate will have digital marketing expertise combined with the experience of more traditional higher education marketing and recruitment functions. They will also be responsible for the University’s strategic brand and visual identity ensuring corporate consistency across all activity and channels, in line with the University’s vision, mission and values. The successful candidate will be a negotiator and communicator with established networks and be able to develop positive relations with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Job Purpose

The Vice President (VP) of Marketing Recruitment and Communications (MRC) is a strategic leadership role, responsible for the co-delivery of the University’s recruitment income targets growing to over £25m in the next five years. The VP-MRC will play a pivotal role in helping the University to achieve its ambitions for growth along with developing the University’s profile and reputation in support of its strategic priorities and its vision, mission and values. The role is a member of the University Board and chairs the Marketing, Recruitment and Communications Committee.

Key responsibilities

Management and Leadership

• Develop and deliver a measurable target driven marketing, recruitment and communications strategy which aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan and Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Report regularly to the University Board on the delivery of goals and targets; provide reports and present information to the Board of Trustees as required from time-to-time.
• Work collaboratively with other senior academic and professional services staff on the delivery of the wider University Strategic Plan.
• Manage the department’s budget, ensuring optimum Return on Investment for all activities.
• Adhere to and promote the University’s health and safety policies and procedures.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Finance and Operations.

Communication and Marketing

• Build the Universities brand profile and reputation in the local community and in key markets across the world.
• Ensure the University website provides clear and accurate information in an accessible way that promotes the University to prospective students, students and staff, alumni, and external stakeholders and partners.
• Undertake benchmarking analysis and research to understand activities undertaken by competitors.
• Develop a Social Media strategy ensuring the continual improvement of the content and engagement of the University’s social media channels with the aim to improve organic engagement.
• Work with relevant stakeholders within the University and members of the team to increase the quality and quantity of student generated content.
• Support and promote the commercial, research and public benefit activities of the University.

Recruitment

• Develop with colleagues KPI driven tactical plans and ensure best practice both in London and the US.
• Reduce the cost per acquisition for undergraduate and post graduate students.
• Set a programme of continuous improvement with all members of the team enhancing their digital and CRM skills.
• Improve conversion rates through the acquisition funnel and conversion pipeline.
• Continue to manage and monitor key third party recruitment relationships in current and emerging markets.
• Support the development of new programmes by producing data-based feasibility reports for Academic Board, Operations Committee and University Board.
• Coordinate with the Department of International Programmes and the VP International on partnerships, study abroad and related activities.
• Generate proposals for new areas of business and commercial activities and for public benefit.
• Manage relationships with key internal stakeholders, including the faculties and professional services departments.
• Comply with all US/UK and international consumer protection and data privacy laws, regulations and legislation pertaining to the recruitment and admission of students.

General

The above responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Finance and Operations and will include other responsibilities as required. The DVC Finance and Operations may also at their discretion, reassign some of the above responsibilities. The DVC Finance and Operations will work with the Director to co-ordinate work and resolve problems and will evaluate the Director’s performance.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• An undergraduate degree with evidence of continual professional development.
• Experience of working at director level in a similar role preferably in the US or UK higher education sector.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful student recruitment and conversion campaigns.
• Extensive knowledge of UK, US and International recruitment and a thorough understanding of the enquiry-applicant-enrolment journey.
• Extensive experience of using a customer relationship management system with evidence of reporting complex conversion data and forecasting using appropriate formats.
• Significant knowledge and experience of current marketing channels including social media integration and lead generation.
• Evidence of people management, leadership and development.
• Experience of managing external relationships on behalf of an institution and effective communication with prospective students, parents, key influencers, and colleagues in various roles.
• Experience of working with a mixed model of agent and in-country delivery teams.

Skills & Abilities

• A strategic and creative thinker with a willingness to deliver operationally.
• Strong people management skills.
• Excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively on behalf of the University as an external ambassador.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and database management skills.
• A deep commitment to EDI.
• A commitment to the liberal arts and to the international and intercultural dimensions of the University vision, mission and values. The values of the University are strongly international, so the experience of living or working outside the UK and/or experience of working in diverse contexts will be an advantage.