What is the Role?

The Deputy Head of International Student Recruitment at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is a pivotal leadership position within the Global Engagement Office (GEO). This role focuses on overseeing the university’s international student recruitment efforts, managing teams both in the UK and overseas, and developing strategies to enhance the university’s global profile. The Deputy Head will play a critical role in designing and implementing cutting-edge, data-driven recruitment initiatives to attract and support a diverse range of students from across the globe.

In addition to operational leadership, the role involves coordinating international travel, building relationships with third-party stakeholders, managing region-specific recruitment offices, and advocating for Queen Mary at global events. Collaboration with internal teams, such as Marketing and Communications, is key to ensuring unified and effective recruitment campaigns. The post-holder will also oversee centrally managed scholarship schemes and sponsor relations to facilitate student enrolment and retention.

Ultimately, this is a career-defining role at the intersection of international education strategy, student recruitment, and global partnerships for one of the UK’s most diverse and research-intensive universities.

Advice on Applying: An International Education Perspective

To position yourself as a competitive candidate for this exciting role, it’s essential to understand the global landscape of higher education and align your experience and skills with the requirements of an institution like Queen Mary. Below are some tips for crafting a strong application:

1. Understand Queen Mary’s Mission and Audience:

– Queen Mary is deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and social justice while maintaining globally recognized academic excellence – values that should resonate in your application. Highlight how your international education experience aligns with these principles.
– Demonstrate your awareness of the global student mobility trends, challenges, and opportunities, including factors influencing international students’ decision to study in the UK (e.g., post-study work visas, cultural integration, funding opportunities, and geopolitical influences).

2. Highlight Cross-Cultural Experience:

– With staff and students from diverse cultural and education systems, your ability to manage teams and stakeholders in a multicultural environment is vital. Showcase specific examples from past roles where you’ve successfully led or collaborated across regions and cultures.
– If you have proficiency in a second language or have experience working in specific markets (e.g., China, India, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East), mention this to strengthen your expertise in key international recruitment regions.

3. Demonstrate Innovation in Recruitment:

– Detail your track record of implementing innovative marketing and recruitment strategies. For example, share your experience in designing targeted digital campaigns, using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools to personalize recruitment, or leveraging social media and analytics to track and improve student engagement.
– If applicable, provide examples where data analysis drove key decision-making – such as optimizing campaigns or refining recruitment pipelines.

4. Be Results-Focused:

– Queen Mary is looking for an applicant with a proven ability to meet recruitment targets in a competitive, higher education setting. Use quantifiable metrics to reflect your successful track record (e.g., “led a team that increased international enrolments by 20% over two years”).
– Mention your experience managing high-stakes budgets and your ability to prioritize return-on-investment in global recruitment activities.

5. Leadership and Stakeholder Management:

– As you will manage staff across different geographies, demonstrate your leadership style and approach to fostering high-performing teams. Provide examples of mentoring remote staff or building effective partnerships with diverse external stakeholders.
– Highlight your ability to collaborate internally with cross-functional teams, such as marketing or scholarship coordinators, to create integrated strategies.

6. International Travel and Representation:

– The role requires regular international travel and a significant ability to represent Queen Mary on the global stage. If you have prior experience representing an institution at student fairs, conferences, or diplomatic meetings, emphasize this. A professional, confident, and culturally adaptable demeanor is highly beneficial.

7. Crafting Your Application:

– Your cover letter should directly address the core responsibilities stated in the job description, while weaving in your knowledge of international recruitment and higher education trends.
– Incorporate examples that reflect your versatility-such as managing scholarship programs, working with sponsors, or using data to improve conversion rates.
– In your CV, ensure that you organize your accomplishments clearly under headings like “Leadership Experience,” “International Student Recruitment Results,” and “Data and Analytics Expertise.”

Final Thought:

This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the global reputation and student body diversity of one of London’s most innovative universities. Take time to research Queen Mary’s current international recruitment strategy, identify its strengths and potential growth areas, and incorporate how you can contribute proactively to its success. By conveying a strong emphasis on leadership, creativity, and your passion for global higher education, you can set yourself apart as a strong international candidate