Country Officer - West Africa at Quacquarelli Symonds

Role overview

• The Country Officer (West Africa) will deliver recruitment, conversion, marketing, and sales activity across Sub Sharan Africa with dedicated focus on West Africa. Reporting to the International Officer based in Dubai/Regional Manager (UK).
• This role will support the International Officer for Sub Sharan Africa and work alongside the Country Officer based in East Africa (Kenya), there will be expectation to travel across key markets to deliver recruitment events and engage with agents, schools, other stakeholders, etc.
• The role will also work to develop and implement strategies to increase international student recruitment and the University’s brand awareness across West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa.
• The post-holder will be required to travel extensively, often for long periods of time including weekends and bank holidays. The post-holder must be able to operate effectively and autonomously under these circumstances
• The post-holder will also be required to support the University for incoming high level UoB delegations, academic, or University staff visits to the region.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Focus on core International Recruitment activity for West Africa as the priority and supporting with the wider region of Sub Sharan Africa.
• Raising the University of Birmingham's profile and brand awareness in the West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa amongst prospective students across all levels of study and ours stakeholders.
• Acting as a point of contact in West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa, for staff across the University of Birmingham and our stakeholders.
• Facilitating the strategic plans for West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa countries, including a plan to execute recruitment activities for the University of Birmingham's UK and Dubai campuses.
• Implementing recruitment activities to reach the agreed targets.
• Managing existing and developing new relationships with key stakeholders including recruitment agents, universities, sponsors, high schools and industry partners.
• Attending education fairs and recruitment events.
• Supporting and coordinating colleagues’ recruitment trips in West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa. Liaise with staff from the University's professional services teams and academic schools to identify, track and connect priority areas of activities.
• Collate market intel and develop marketing materials relevant to the region.
• Liaising with Professional Services colleagues from the University to optimise applicants' experiences through the application cycle.
• Providing market intelligence and advice to the University on opportunities for engagement.
• Supporting with the regional inbox and enquiries.
• Supporting additional initiatives and projects as required as part of the University's strategic plans for student recruitment.

Strategic planning and implementation

• Translate the University’s strategic aims into practical and achievable business development plans with deliverable results.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the University’s international strategy and recruitment strategy.
• Conduct market research and analysis to inform the University of trends and risks in the country.
• Implement annual marketing and recruitment plans including advising student and agents and developing feeder routes for on-campus recruitment.

Management of partners and agents

• Deliver the University’s international recruitment strategy and manage ongoing relationships with partner organisations.
• Develop and manage the University's network of agents to effectively meet recruitment targets in specified countries.
• Coordinate relationships and administrative arrangements with partner institutions.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders including government agencies, partner institutions, feeder colleges, and recruitment agents.

Delivery of Results and targets

• To deliver student recruitment targets across a range of programmes and levels of study for West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa.
• To proactively identify market developments, including risks and opportunities, and advise of appropriate actions.

Team

• To work closely with the University’s International Recruitment, Admissions, Marketing, Birmingham Global, academic school and other professional departments to provide students with the best possible support on the ground.
• To facilitate support with regional visits.
• To promote and sustain a constructive, supportive and friendly working relationship with all customers, external and internal, immediate and senior management and other work colleagues.
• To work closely with the Regional Manager, International Officer, Country Officer and Regional Administrator as a regional team under the required University activity.

Key Criteria & Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Excellent knowledge about the education system in the UK and West Africa/ Sub Sharan African countries.
• Expert knowledge about the admissions journey for overseas students.
• Outstanding planning and organizing skills. Experience of working with international organizations, and/or higher education.
• Capable of dealing with multiple tasks at the same time and prioritizing the matters of urgency and importance.
• Good time management and problem-solving skills.
• High level of political and cultural awareness, diplomacy and excellent interpersonal and
• communication skills, written and verbal.
• Capable of representing the University of Birmingham at a high level to a wide range of parties.
• Ability to produce clear, concise reports and feedback on activity undertaken.
• Taking directions from senior colleagues whilst being able to operate on own initiative, being self-motivated and disciplined.
• Excellent command of written and spoken in English. The ability to speak in other local languages would be an added advantage.
• Computer literate with good knowledge of database work and strong working ability in Microsoft Office.
• Sensitive to intellectual property and data protection
• Ability to travel across West Africa/ Sub Sharan Africa for a minimum of 20 weeks a year.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with peers and senior managers.