Country Officer- Pakistan

Overview

Role: Country Officer

Location: Pakistan

Job type: Full time-12-month contract

Working arrangement: Remote

Why QS?

At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That’s why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst thriving personally and professionally. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.

It’s our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives. Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.

QS was named as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023) and is gold-accredited by Investors in People, recognising a culture where everyone can thrive.

The Role

QS is supporting University of Birmingham in seeking a Pakistan-based, dynamic and highly motivated regional student recruitment talent to drive international student recruitment initiatives in Pakistan. The successful candidate will recruit and advise prospective students from Pakistan for both undergraduate and graduate programs. This role will deliver recruitment, conversion, marketing, and sales activity across key recruitment markets in Pakistan. The post-holder will develop and implement strategies to increase international student recruitment from Pakistan and enhance the University’s profile across the country. A particular focus will be on the effective relationship management of international sponsor bodies and enhancing the profile of the University’s UK and Dubai campuses with such organisations. The role will require extensive travel, often for long periods including weekends and bank holidays, and the post-holder must be able to operate effectively and autonomously under these circumstances.

Role responsibilities

• Develop and implement student recruitment and marketing strategies to grow enrolments against ambitious targets to both the University of Birmingham UK and Dubai campuses.
• Strategically manage existing and new relationships with Agencies and Partner Institutions across the region, delivering a high level of service and growing enrolments through this channel.
• Manage the performance of recruitment agents, including target setting, development of activity plans and training programmes.
• Deliver a range of recruitment activities including recruitment fairs, engagement with feeder schools and organisation/participation of virtual activities.
• Act as the primary point of contact in the country for prospective students and key external stakeholders.
• Coordinate incoming visits from University of Birmingham staff to the country, in liaison with professional services and academic staff.
• Actively collect market intelligence to identify opportunities and risks and adapt recruitment plans in response to market conditions.
• Manage travel and operational requirements associated with activity delivery.
• Support 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 business development plans with deliverable results.
• Conduct market research and analysis to inform trends and risks in the country.
• Implement annual marketing and recruitment plans including advising students and agents and developing feeder routes for on-campus recruitment.

Management of partners and agents

• Drive enrolment growth through sponsor bodies by delivering high-quality service and understanding client needs.
• Develop and manage the University’s network of agents to meet recruitment targets in specified countries.
• Identify recruitment opportunities with prospective partner institutions.

Collaborative working

• Work closely with colleagues across the International Recruitment team and the wider Student Recruitment and Marketing Team.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Birmingham Global, academic colleges and other professional services to provide strong support for prospective students.
• Maintain constructive working relationships with customers, external and internal stakeholders at all levels.

Key skills and experience

• Excellent knowledge about the education system in the UK and Pakistan.
• Expert knowledge of the admissions journey for overseas students.
• Experience managing relationships with international sponsor bodies or similar organisations.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with prioritisation and discretion.
• Good time management and problem-solving skills.
• High level of political and cultural awareness, diplomacy and excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to represent the University of Birmingham to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to produce clear, concise reports and feedback on activity undertaken.
• Ability to work on own initiative, self-motivated and disciplined.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English; knowledge of additional languages is a plus.
• Awareness of UK intellectual property and data protection regulations.
• Ability to travel across the country for a minimum of 20 weeks a year and support in-country teams as required.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with peers and senior managers.

About QS

QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. Our services power institutional and individual success across consultancy, student mobility, academic partnerships and branding solutions. We work with thousands of institutions, employers and governments to shape the future of higher education.

Equal opportunities

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is proud to be a fair and equal organisation where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of background or personal attributes. We celebrate diversity and believe in learning from one another to enable our business to thrive.