Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in joining the University of South Wales as our Associate Director of Marketing, Future Students.

USW is an ambitious, modern university with a proud history and a clear commitment to transforming lives. We are home to more than 20,000 students from more than 100 countries, supported by 2,800 colleagues across our campuses in Pontypridd, Cardiff and Newport. We are deeply rooted in South Wales, but our reach, partnerships and impact extend far beyond the region.

The Future Students Directorate brings together specialist teams across recruitment, marketing, admissions, conversion, events, outreach and internationalisation. Our purpose is to support every prospective student on their journey to USW, from first awareness and initial enquiry, through to application, conversion and enrolment. It is a fast-paced, target-driven and highly collaborative environment, and one that plays a central role in the University’s future success.

This is an important appointment for us. We have recently agreed a new brand strategy and are looking for a senior marketing leader who can turn that strategy into sharp, effective and measurable activity. We have excellent stories to tell: from our strength in entrepreneurship and applied learning, to our growing partnerships with high profile domestic and international businesses. However, we know that we need to do more to ensure those stories cut through, particularly in the domestic market.

As Associate Director of Marketing, you will lead the University’s student recruitment marketing function. Your remit will span digital marketing, web, social media, content, publications, brand, campaign planning and conversion activity. You will also lead our faculty-based marketing business partners, and will work closely with colleagues across Future Students, faculties and professional services to ensure that our activity is insight-led, audience-focused and clearly aligned to recruitment priorities.

We are ideally seeking someone who combines strong higher education marketing expertise with deep operational experience, creativity and pace. This is a role for someone who understands the full student journey from attraction to enrolment; who is confident using data and insight to shape campaigns; and who can lead a team to deliver high-quality, integrated marketing activity across multiple channels. You will join the Future Students Senior Management Team and will have the opportunity to make a real and visible contribution to the University’s growth and reputation.

USW is a special community: practical, values-led, collaborative and ambitious for our students, staff and region. We are looking for a colleague who shares that spirit and who can help us broaden and strengthen perceptions of the University, while ensuring that our marketing activity supports student recruitment in a challenging and competitive market.

I hope you will be excited by the opportunity and look forward to receiving your application.

The University of South Wales (USW) is innovative, thriving, and sustainable. We work to build better futures for our students, our communities and our partners economically, socially, and culturally.

We are proud to be Wales’s leading widening participation university and are committed to addressing social inequalities, supporting and enabling our students to achieve the best life outcomes possible.

With a distinctive portfolio co-designed with industry, we pride ourselves on producing the healthcare workers, lawyers, teachers, and police officers of tomorrow. Our curriculum is created with our students to ensure they
are equipped with the relevant skills, knowledge, and experience to maximise their potential and future opportunities. We also work in collaboration with industry, researching and innovating to tackle some of the biggest global challenges, from energy and health
to security and sustainability.

We play a pivotal role in supporting businesses and communities across the South Wales region, contributing £1.1 billion annually to the UK economy and sustaining 10,600 jobs nationwide. While deeply rooted in our region, our influence and contributions extend far beyond.

We have a vibrant and diverse community, with students from more than 100 countries, studying on our campuses in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd. We also provide a range of inclusive study pathways, supporting lifelong learning and flexible options for our students, working closely with our partner colleges.

We are challenging ourselves to think and act differently by tackling stigmas and removing barriers. Taking inspiration from our students, partners and community to develop a shared sense of belonging we are building better futures for all economically, socially and culturally.

The USW community is often described as a family—composed of inspiring and dedicated individuals committed to creating opportunities and promoting social justice. USW is truly special, with a strong sense of community and an unwavering focus on helping others realise their potential.

Our Values

At USW, we hold our values close to our hearts. Our community is:

• Professional
• Responsive
• Creative
• Inspiring
• Collaborative

The Future Students Directorate brings together expert teams from across Recruitment, Marketing, and Admissions to guide and support every prospective student on their journey to USW – from brand awareness to the first enquiry, right through to enrolment.

Our work spans UK, EU and international markets, and includes undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time recruitment. We lead and deliver activity across digital and traditional marketing channels and platforms, recruitment events, admissions, conversion and outreach. Our team is here to connect with students, their families, teachers, advisers and recruitment agents – helping them explore their options and make confident decisions about their future.

We deliver marketing campaigns, open days, and targeted communications that inspire and inform. We manage the University’s website, publications like the prospectus, and develop content that reflects the strength and spirit of USW. Our brand and campaign specialists ensure our messaging is consistent, accessible and impactful.

Based at Pontypridd, but with some travel expected to our Cardiff and Newport campuses, the Associate Director Marketing role will provide the successful candidate with a working environment where they can utilise their range of marketing skills gained in the higher education sector.

This newly created role is explicitly positioned as critical to institutional growth and achieving student recruitment targets, and so the role is critical in terms of ensuring our future success. The role will support the brand, marketing and campaigns, and recruitment strategies which have been developed as part of the Future Students 2030 strategy.

Leading the University’s marketing function, the Associate Director Marketing will be responsible for all activity that will support recruitment success. They will be a member of the Future Students Senior Management Team, and a key influencer and leader of the broader Marketing team. Working closely with the Corporate Communications team, they will play a significant role in shaping and implementing the broader reputation and recruitment strategy of the university.

This is a full time, permanent role. We expect the post holder to spend at least two days’ a week on campus.

The University Strategy – USW 2030 – sets out our direction; a pathway for the future that is bold and ambitious to ensure our continued success and long-term sustainability.

Our vision is clear – we want to change lives and our world for the better. Our world is changing at an intense pace and it is our job to equip our students with the skills, knowledge and experience required to maximise their potential and future opportunities in the world of work.

By 2030, we will:

• Be a large, regional University with a distinctive full-time and part-time academic offer that is attractive to both home and global markets
• Provide an excellent, inclusive, engaged student experience
• Ensure our students successfully complete their studies and secure employment in their areas of expertise
• Engage with partners to maximise our impact on their endeavours
• Commit to improving the future well-being of the communities we serve through individual and collective action
• Provide opportunities for students across the region and beyond to participate in and progress to higher education
• Be an engaged, values-based employer
• Be financially sustainable in the context of a dynamic higher education environment

We have a strong reputation for producing highly impactful and applied research. We are fourth in Wales for impact (2021 Research Excellence Framework), with 81% of our research activity classed as world-leading or internationally excellent (4/3*).

We strive to help solve real problems faced by society. Our multidisciplinary research teams collaborate with industry, communities, and organisations to make a positive difference to lives. Our research is focused around four accelerator areas:

Crime, Security, and Justice

We are impacting policy, practice and business with our internationally-recognised research in criminology, cyber-security, social policy and police sciences.

Health and Well-being

Our expertise in intellectual disabilities, health and social care, social prescribing, cognitive psychology, and sport and exercise science is tackling key issues around ageing and vulnerable groups.

Creative Innovation

We’re leading the agenda for the creative industries and digital economy in Wales, influencing policy through identifying the challenges and opportunities facing the creative industries.

Sustainable Environment

We’re helping to create a safer, more sustainable world with our ground breaking multi-disciplinary research in hydrogen, ecology, anaerobic digestion and advanced power systems.

We are challenging ourselves to think and act differently. At USW, we are embarking upon a journey to create equitable spaces for all. We are tackling stigmas and removing barriers, taking inspiration from our students and our community.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion has been embedded into how we operate as a university.

Race Equality Charter – USW is committed to progress with Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter (REC).

Athena SWAN – USW has been recognised for its commitment to gender equality by achieving the Athena SWAN Bronze award.

Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2020 – USW rose to 24th in the 2020 Workplace Equality Index and was named as a Top Trans Employer by Stonewall in 2020.

Disability Confident Scheme – We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, which means taking action to improve how we recruit, retain, and develop disabled people.

University of Sanctuary – USW is a University of Sanctuary. This recognises the University’s commitment to creating a welcoming culture for people seeking sanctuary within, and beyond, its campuses.

The University’s locations offer the best of what South Wales has to offer within easy reach – the capital, the coast, mountains and valleys.

We have five campuses across three locations, but we’re one university.

Cardiff – A modern, multicultural capital city – here, you’ll find more green space per person than any UK city. Well-known as a city of culture and entertainment, there’s always something to experience in Cardiff. Our Cardiff Campus is home to a vibrant and creative community, from Games and Design to Fashion and Film.

Newport – An independent, multicultural city that is the gateway to Wales. Our Newport Campus is right in the heart of the city, overlooking the River Usk. At the Campus, an array of professional learning and teaching is on offer from Education and Teaching to Business and Cyber Security.

Pontypridd – Framed by green hills with easy access to the Brecon Beacons National Park. Here, you’ll have space to focus and horizons to explore. A diverse and friendly community is at the heart of our Pontypridd Campus, with learning spread across three sites – Treforest, Glyntaff, and the USW Sport Park.

• A competitive salary will be agreed with the successful candidate.
• If this position will be your first professional services role at the University (or you are currently employed by PSS Ltd), you will be employed by Professional and Support Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of South Wales, which provides services to the University and Colleges.
• Annual leave is 35 days, plus 8 public bank holidays and additional paid leave if the University closes during certain times of the year.
• You can read more about the pension scheme, wider benefits and employment policies here.

You must a), familiarise yourself with, and comply with, the organisation’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures which are available on Connect (Intranet); and b), be fully conversant with your health and safety responsibilities outlined in the Faculty/Department Health and Safety Management Arrangements document and implement accordingly.

USW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All those working at the University are expected to share this commitment.

We are committed to employing a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment, where colleagues can be themselves and every person is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We actively encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and communities, especially with regards to age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, race and religion and/or belief. We benchmark our success through equality accreditations with Athena Swan, Race Equality Charter, Stonewall and Disability Confident.

If you are a Welsh learner or a Welsh speaker, we would be delighted to receive your application. At USW, you have access to Welsh courses to enable you to develop your Welsh skills further, in order to provide a bilingual service to our students, colleagues and the public.

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is noon 3 July 2026.  

Applications should consist of:

• A full CV.
• A cover letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your motivations for the role and how you meet the criteria in the person specification.
• Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact:

• Elliott Rae on +44 (0)7584 078 534 or elliott.rae@andersonquigley.com
• Alicja Janowska on +44 (0) 7743 927 783 or alicja.janowska@andersonquigley.com

Disability Confident Committed: offer of an interview

Professional and Support Services Limited is committed to employing a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where staff can be themselves and every person is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities, especially with regards to age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race and religion or belief. We guarantee that all disabled candidates who meet all the key criteria for the job vacancy they are applying for are offered an interview.