JOB DESCRIPTION

Centre/Department:International Development

Post: International Officer (Recruitment)

Line managed by: International Business Manager

PURPOSE OF POST

To undertake promotional and development activity in both the UK and overseas, primarily to include the recruitment of international students and international student groups to undertake courses of the College.

MAJOR TASKS/JOB ACTIVITIES

  • Work within the Edinburgh College International Team to achieve the recruitment and business targets set in the College’s International strategy and in annual Operational Plans
  • Plan and implement recruitment and sales activities for key overseas markets (the officer will contribute to the work of the International Team across all target markets, and may be given particular responsibility for activities in certain geographical hubs).
  • Plan and implement promotional and marketing activity, with a particular emphasis on social media and web-based marketing to promote to, and interact with, potential international students, international recruitment agents, potential providers of international student groups and other international clients.
  • Support the development, production and dissemination of marketing materials in relation to international development activity
  • To work closely with the College’s international recruitment agent network
  • Support the maintenance of a database of international recruitment agents
  • Gather student recruitment market intelligence to inform the development of the College’s International Strategy and operational planning.
  • Support the maintenance of a database of international recruitment agents
  • Support outbound missions by College staff, and manage incoming missions of individuals or groups visiting the College in relation to international activities.
  • Track and report on expenditure incurred in respect of international activity.
  • Provide information for tender documents and proposals in relation to international bids

RESPONSIBLE FOR

The officer will be responsible for driving the recruitment and sales/marketing activity in respect of specific geographical areas and recruitment channels; the allocation of particular areas or ‘Hubs’ between the post holder and other members of the International Team will be determined by the International BusinessManager and the International Director. In addition, the officer will have lead responsibility for the development of marketing materials, web-based marketing and the use of social media within the International Team.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The post holder will report to the College’s International BusinessManager.The post holder will also be expected to work independently, particularly when undertaking international activities overseas.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF POST

Qualifications & Experience
  • Educated to Bachelor Degree level
  • Experience of working in a customer-facing international role in the Further Education Sector and/or in the Higher Education Sector
  • Experience of working in a communications or a sales/marketing role, preferably involving working with digital marketing, including active use of web marketing and social media.

EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (DESIRABLE)

  • A professional qualification in marketing or similar area would be advantageous.

EXPERIENCE/SKILLS (DESIRABLE)

  • Excellent interpersonal, organisational and commercial skills.
  • High quality communication skills
  • A strong awareness of issues arising in respect of working with people from different cultures.
  • Knowledge of one or more foreign languages would be desirable, with capability in a key language in respect of the international education market, such as Chinese, Spanish, Russian and/or Arabic, being of particular value.
  • Knowledge of the Further and Higher Education Sector in both Scotland and, ideally, internationally.
  • Knowledge of the UK immigration regime in respect of international students.
  • Excellent IT skills including the capability to create content for digital marketing purposes.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The post holder should show a degree of flexibility when requesting extended annual leave at peak periods for the International Team, especially during the summer months.

The post-holder will be prepared to travel within the UK, and overseas to markets such as China, Central Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

Occasional weekend and out-of-hours working will be required for this post.

GENERAL

Edinburgh College operates a comprehensive programme of Personal Development and Review and the post-holder will be expected to participate in this.

The key tasks of the post are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks of the post. The post-holder may be required to undertake additional duties which might reasonably be expected and which form part of the function of the post. Every job description will be subject to review on an annual basis, or

  • as a result of change in strategic management, or
  • as a result of team/operational requirements, or
  • as a result of agreed staff development and career review needs and objectives, or
  • within six months of appointment.

15 October 2014