Director of International Development & Mobility

• Taking ownership of the University’s investment in identified strategic regions – provide strategic advice and leadership and work with academic and professional colleagues across the institution to drive forward the delivery and monitoring of an agreed investment plan, which the postholder is expected to produce.
• Provide strategic leadership to the University of Birmingham’s global hub or office in the relevant region/s, working with the academic lead and internal governance to ensure that there is sufficient support to deliver the investment plan. This will also include producing proposals for in-country support and investment required to deliver on strategic objectives.
• Shape the development and implementation of the University’s International development and mobility agenda over the short, medium and long term, with a primary focus on using market intelligence and analysing external sources of data to scope new opportunities and disseminate and discuss this information with academic departments as appropriate.
• Work with key stakeholders on UEB (notably PVC Education and their Deputies), in the colleges and within International Recruitment to provide strategic oversight on the development of institution’s student mobility agenda - scoping opportunities to expand opportunities for our students to internationalise their experience, and taking forward recommendation to the University’s executive board or education committee to drive forward the delivery of an agreed strategy for student mobility.
• Negotiating on behalf University with the overseas partner (funding agencies, HEIs, government agencies) to agree acceptable terms and conditions for partnerships while liaising with relevant sections of the University to ensure that proposed activities are fully compatible are compatible with local regulations and legal requirements and with the University’s regulations, with QAA Code of Practice on Overseas Collaborative Provision and other relevant regulations.
• Taking ownership of the portfolio of student exchange agreements, as well as being responsible for sign off in International Relations of the proposed partnerships in strategic regions alongside the academic approver (DPVC Education) prior to submission of the agreement to the Provost for signature.
• Assess requests and provide expert advice and assistance to Colleges on the development of new academic and business partnership opportunities.
• Provide senior leadership for the annual incoming visit programme from identified regions with an interest in collaboration and other activities involving partnership and leadership for VC and PVC led activities.
• Develop and maintain a network of UK and overseas stakeholders and influencers – BIS, UKTI, FCO, UUK, CBBC, etc.
• Develop a network of contacts across UoB both individually and with their team/s to ensure a detailed understanding of the needs of Colleges in relation to partnership development and research strategy.
• Ensure effective professional relations are maintained with the TNE/China team and other corporate service units, such as International Recruitment, DABE and Research and Commercial Services in development and partnership activity.
• Undertake overseas business travel in order to realise key objectives. This will often be spent with senior academic colleagues, including UEB members to facilitate partnership activities, but independent travel will also be necessary to pursue identified initiatives where the post holder will be the senior representative for the institution when meeting VIP stakeholders.
• To undertake any other duties within International Relations as may be requested from time to time by the Director International Relations.

Person Specification

Essential

• • Is able to shape strategic direction and develop and implement operational plans for own area
• • Has an expert working knowledge of international partnership development and collaborative provision
• • Is able to exercise a substantial degree of independent professional responsibility and discretion
• • Requires experience of coordinating teams of people from diverse professional backgrounds
• • Has the skills and experience to manage budgets, resources and funding
• • Has the skills and experience to work with and influence senior management
• • Has high standards of written and oral communication
• • Has a well-developed knowledge of the Internationalisation of Higher Education
• • Has experience of international travel for business purposes
• • Displays cultural sensitivity, tact, diplomacy and gravitas
• • Is educated to degree level with substantial relevant managerial experience
• • Can interact at senior levels within the University ad externally to keep abreast of developments to ensure service provision is in line with broader agendas
• • Networks with fellow professionals in the wider community to stay up-to-date professionally and ensure Birmingham’s profile as a leading global player is recognised
• • Ensures effective resolution of all issues in own areas, often requiring complex problem solving through others.
• • Identifies trends, which could have an impact on the University, recommend approaches to address these changes and implement them.
• • Participates in, and make significant contributions to annual strategic planning process.
• • Develops/improves capability of staff in own working area

Desirable

• • Has knowledge of the Higher Education landscape in key markets
• • Has a relevant postgraduate qualification

Dimensions

• The post holder will take responsibility for the University’s investment in identified strategic regions and with key partners – with performance measured by delivery against KPIs set in the investment business plan
• The post holder will deliver investment plans with clear KPIs and outcomes for investment in any new territories
• The post holder will work with the PVC and DPVCs Education, Director Student Services and with the Colleges to support the development of appropriate initiatives that contribute towards the University’s education strategy in relation to global opportunities

Planning and organising

The post holder will be:

• • expected to plan their work within the context of the wider University planning cycle
• • expected to develop investment plans with a 3 to 5 year horizon with clear review points and an exit strategy
• • expected to manage their own time and workload – and to ensure that this planning

Decision-making:

i. Without reference to others

• • Expert advice to University colleagues including UEB
• • Initiating discussions and negotiation with external parties
• • Allocation of budgets within projects
• • Devising and implementing evaluation practices
• • Day to day allocation of budget
• • Development and implementation of strategy, including communicating outcomes

ii. Made after consulting others

• • Significant and material strategic revisions
• • Commitments to external partners with significant additional financial implications
• • Annual budget apportionment
• • Initiating new international activity outside of their broad individual strategic (regional and institutional) priorities

iii. Referred upwards

• • Large scale opportunities sitting outside current strategy
• • Serious personnel issues
• • Serious escalation of risk in overseas activity