NEWMANCOLLEGE OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Job Specification

Head of International Office

Salary Scale: £34,607 - £38,951per annum

Principal

Professor Peter Rolf Lutzeier Dipl–Math M Litt.Dr phil. Dr phil. habil FHEA

FRSA

Vice-Principal (Academic Quality)

Kathryn Southworth BA MPhil FEA FHEA

Job Description – Head of International Office May 2010

NewmanUniversityCollege 1

NewmanUniversityCollege

Newman University College was founded in 1968 by the Catholic Education Service to train teachers, gained taught degree awarding power in 2007 and awards its research degrees through the University of Leicester. Newman University College has the ambition to become a university.

Our vision is ‘to be a student centred university firmly rooted in the community providing a formative education informed by the Catholic ethos’.The motto ‘ex umbris in veritatem’ (out of the shadows into truth) expresses our passion for education and our mission is centred around the Catholic values ‘respect for others’, ‘social justice’ and ‘equity’ and we aim in all we do to ensure that human beings are enabled to release the excellence of which they are capable.

We are a small learner community, distinctive by name and by nature.NewmanUniversityCollege is named after John Henry Newman (1801-90), one of the intellectual giants of the 19th century. His life was marked by a constant struggle for integrity and truth at considerable cost to himself. Newman was an extraordinary thinker whose creative and lively mind engaged with the process by which men and women come to knowledge and truth. His explorations of the human intellectual and spiritual journey anticipate much of the contemporary work on multiple modes of intelligence and understanding that underpin the way we learn and teach at NewmanUniversityCollege. In his famous lectures ‘The Idea of the University Defined and Illustrated’ he emphasised the main role of the university to train the mind rather than to diffuse useful knowledge. To this end he developed the tutorial system which again we use to good effect here at NewmanUniversityCollege. A deeply spiritual man, he was always available to the people of Birmingham, rich and poor, who came to him for advice and instruction. When he died the streets of Birmingham were lined with thousands whose lives he had touched and inspired. He died a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, honoured internationally, but it is his ability to touch and enlighten the hearts of so many, from so many different walks of life, that make him such a fitting patron for our College and its mission in contemporary British society.

We are distinctive by nature in the way as how we do things: class sizes are relatively small, lecturers are able to give students individual support and we offer excellent general student support services. This is positively reflected in our high National Student Survey quality of teaching scores and in a top 5 position in graduate employment for English multi-subject Higher Education Institutions.

Situated on the outskirts of South West Birmingham, NewmanUniversityCollege’s campus is based in Bartley Green, some 8 miles from the city centre, and overlooks Bartley reservoir and the Worcestershire countryside beyond. Its location makes it convenient for access to both the M5 and M42 motorways.

Being founded as recently as 1968, the buildings are modern and purpose-built. The campus is arranged around a series of inner quadrangles of lawns and trees with the attractive octagonal chapel at its centre. Halls of residence provide single study-bedrooms for some 250 students, conveniently adjacent to the teaching areas and well-stocked library. Newman University College is currently engaged in an ambitious programme to upgrade and transform the campus, including the recently opened all weather pitch, the modern lecture theatre and the exciting £20M new entry and library building.

Newman University College welcomes staff and students of all faiths and none and from a wide variety of backgrounds. Diversity is seen as a strength and an asset.

Job Description

Job Title:Head of International Office

Grade:Grade 8

Salary:£34,607 to £38,951per annum

Department:External Partnerships

Reporting to:Director of External Partnerships

Responsible for:Developing an international office at Newman University College; delivering on targets for overseas student recruitment and international partnerships; line managing the International Coordinator responsible for student & staff mobility and international student welfare.

Purpose of post:Newman University College has adopted an ambitious and exciting strategy on internationalisation and now seeks a suitably qualified person to take this development forward within the institution. The post would suit someone with experience in a university international office who is now looking to take on a leadership role in this area of work.

1.Main responsibilities:

  • develop strategy regarding overseas recruitment and partnership building
  • identify and cultivate key markets based on Newman’s distinctive profile
  • select and work with effective and responsible agents
  • produce high-quality promotional materials, paper-based and on-line
  • attend exhibitions and visit target countries to stimulate demand
  • provide detailed admissions advice to prospective students
  • advise subject areas on curriculum development to attract overseas students
  • ensure that international admissions and visa processes are fit for purpose
  • liaise with the International Coordinator to ensure high levels of student support
  • support the building of international partnerships
  • oversee efforts to promote and increase student and staff mobility
  • ensure advice and support is given to colleagues making international visits
  • make the International Office an effective part of the External Partnerships team.

2.Health & Safety:

  • Under the H&SAWA 1974 the post holder must take reasonable care of their

own health and safety and that of any other person who may be affected by their acts or omissions. The post holder must also co-operate with the UniversityCollege on all matters concerning health and safety and not interfere with, or misuse, anything provided for the purpose of health, safety or welfare.

3. General

  • This job description summarises the main duties and accountabilities of the

post and is not exclusive. The post holder is required to undertake other duties of similar level of responsibility.

  • It is anticipated that this job description will change over time in accordance

with the needs of the role. The role holder will be consulted on any proposed amendments.

  • It is a condition of employment that staff will not disclose any information obtained in the course of their duties other than to those entitled to receive it. The postholder must ensure that the confidentiality of personal data remains secure and the terms of the Data Protection Act and relevant UniversityCollege policies are met in respect of information held on the UniversityCollege’s computerised systems.
  • The UniversityCollege is committed to equality of opportunity. All staff are required to comply with current legislation, UniversityCollegepolicies and good practiceguidance.
  • All staff are required to participate in the UniversityCollegeappraisal process and undertake in any necessary training and development, to keep up to date with the requirements of the job.
  • TheUniversityCollegeacknowledges its responsibility to provide a safe, smoke free environment, to its employees, service users and visitors. The UniversityCollegetherefore actively discourages smoking on UniversityCollegeproperty.

4.Organisational Chart

Director of External Partnerships

______

Business Development International OfficeOutreach

Head

International

Co-ordinator

5.Person Specification

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / Form of Assessment
Educational Qualifications and Training /
  • Undergraduate degree
/
  • Commitment to further self-development
/
  • On application form
  • At interview

Relevant work experience and/or knowledge /
  • Track record of working in an HE International Office
  • Experience of overseas student recruitment, including working with agents and attendance at exhibitions overseas
  • Knowledge of Points-Based System for visas as it affects overseas students
/
  • Contribution to strategy in this area of work
  • Familiarity with marketing overseas
  • Involvement in international partnership development
  • Awareness of policies, funding streams and issues affecting student mobility
/
  • On application form
  • In references
  • At interview

Relevant and/or Specific skills required /
  • Excellent organisation and presentation skills
  • Potential to develop in a leadership role
  • Proficiency in relevant areas of IT
  • Financial literacy in terms of managing an operating budget
  • Ability to balance prioritiesand maintain high standards while working effectively to deadlines
/
  • Competence in at least one foreign language
  • Being networked into the wider community of international offices
  • Understanding of the HE context and challenges facing UK universities
/
  • On application form
  • In references
  • At interview

Personal qualities and attributes /
  • Personal initiative
  • Adaptability to different cultural contexts
  • Ability to work under pressure and towards targets
/
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team
/
  • On application form
  • In references
  • At interview

Other /
  • Availability to travel overseas
/
  • Identification with values of the University College
/
  • On application form
  • At interview

General Terms & Conditions of Employment

This post is a full time appointment. It will be remunerated on the single pay spine, at Grade 8with a salary of £34,607rising to £38,951 per annum. The appointment is subject to meeting all pre-employment clearances and requirements of the Person Specification.

The standard hours of work are based on 37hours per week. Your line manager will discuss with you the required working hours.

The University College’s holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December. In addition to Statutory Bank Holidays and local discretionary holidays, the post carries an entitlement to 35 working days of paid leave during the course of the holiday year (pro rata if the appointment is made during the holiday year).

If appointed, you will be invited to join the University College supported personal pension scheme on completion of 3 months’ service.

It is now a condition of employment that all relevant posts are vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau. The University College will pay the fee for this service. Any false declarations or any findings from the Disclosure could affect the suitability for employment.

It shall be a condition of the tenure of your employment that you will do nothing which may be repugnant to, or inconsistent with, or to the prejudice of either the character of the University College as a Roman Catholic University College or the provisions of the Instrument and Articles of Government of the University College.

Staff Benefits

We offer a range of Staff Benefits including Staff Membership for all Sports/ Leisure Facilities, along with Staff Development, Staff Common Room, Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care, Catering Facilities, Library Services Occupational Health Service and discounts on accommodation within the campus. We have also recently introduced Child Care Vouchers; all details of the above will be attached in your application pack.

Procedure for Application

Applications should be submitted by post or e-mail on the University College Application Form and should be completed in black ink or typescript so as to facilitate photocopying. We do not accept CV’s as part of the application process. Considerable emphasis is placed in the selection process on Section 5 of the application form. This should set out the qualifications, experience skills and qualities, which you would bring to the post and should refer explicitly to the essential and desirable qualities for the post as detailed above.

Two referees should be identified who must be people who can comment authoritatively on you as a person and as an employee in relation to the level of the post, and must include your current or most recent employer or his/her representative.
You must disclose whether you are related to any employee of the University College, or to any member of the Board of Governors. Canvassing for appointment disqualifies.

Should you be selected for interview please be aware that we are unable to reimburse interview expenses.

Closing date for applications: 18th June 2010

Job Description – Head of International Office May 2010