Country Manager at Navitas

About the Role

• The Country Manager is expected to play a key role in the relationship between the University of Keele and Navitas colleagues based in West Africa.
• The role will holistically contribute to the alignment of the agreed joint strategy in order to achieve recruitment strategy.
• The post-holder is responsible for the management and delivery of all activities related to student recruitment from Nigeria to achieve Keele University’s international recruitment strategy for the market.
• The post-holder co-ordinates, plans and delivers a diverse range of activities to support the team in meeting its targets to encourage prospective students to apply to and enroll at Keele University, where this is appropriate for the student.
• This role will require extensive travel within Nigeria and possibly to other markets in the region as well as occasional travel to the UK.

Key Result Areas

• Significant domestic travel in Nigeria to represent the University at a range of recruitment events including exhibitions, partner visits, and school and university visits, with the potential for additional activity across Africa. Travel to the UK annually as appropriate.
• Working with the Postgraduate Student Recruitment & Partnerships Manager (International), devise and implement an annual market plan to successfully recruit students to agreed targets.
• Provide the University with high quality market intelligence and analysis to help identify and inform effective marketing plans.
• Act as sole representative for the University, with significant autonomy and independence, ensuring their actions reflect the reputation of the institution.
• Line management of the Recruitment Officer (Nigeria), supporting their training and development.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with schools, universities, alumni and other key stakeholders in Nigeria.
• Through the development of strong working relationships, manage the University’s agent network in Nigeria to support the recruitment and marketing strategy. To include regular office visits, training events and conversion activities.
• Contribute to the creation of content for digital platforms, including blogs and social media, providing useful and relevant information, advice and guidance in order to promote the University and its courses to a wide range of audiences in Nigeria.
• Develop and maintain links with alumni in Nigeria as appropriate, working with the Alumni team, as well as hosting in-country alumni events.
• Maintain accurate records of outbound activity, supporting the team in development of evaluation of its activity, including provision of market insight and analysis.
• Supporting with the development of itineraries for visiting staff of the University, including the Recruitment Team, Academics and Senior Management.
• When required, support the Admissions and Enquiries Team with application processing and enquiry management.
• Lead on specific projects and perform such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required, commensurate with your role.
• Ensure all activities and projects are appropriately planned and delivered to stay within defined budgets, as set out by the Postgraduate Student Recruitment Manager (International).
• Adhere to the University's environmental policy and procedures and seek to promote environmental sustainability within area of responsibility

Requirements

The person we seek will ideally have the following:

• Bachelor's Degree
• High level interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills including Business level written and oral capability in English.
• Significant experience of student recruitment, student marketing, outreach, or admissions in a higher education setting.
• Experience of working in a customer-focused environment.
• Significant experience of building positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of current issues within higher education, particularly those connected with recruitment and international outreach.
• Experience of managing/motivating staff and individuals.
• Resilience and resourcefulness to work in isolation overseas and deal with difficult circumstances

Desirable:

• Graduate of UK university.
• Knowledge of International qualifications and education systems.
• Effective knowledge of policy constraints and legal requirements (e.g. immigration policy and UKVI requirements for Student Visas)