The Role
Reporting to the Registrar and Secretary, the Executive Divisional Director of External Engagement and Global provides strategic leadership for the University’s marketing across the globe, reputation management, communications, digital communication, global partnerships, student recruitment and admissions, and fundraising activities.
The Role
Reporting to the Registrar and Secretary, the Executive Divisional Director of External Engagement and Global provides strategic leadership for the University’s marketing across the globe, reputation management, communications, digital communication, global partnerships, student recruitment and admissions, and fundraising activities.
The role is accountable for proactive support of the delivery of:
- All student number targets across all cohorts of undergraduate, postgraduate, online and new markets such as degree apprenticeships. This accounts for £300m of the University’s revenue with the ambition to grow to £400m.
- The brand and reputation of the University across the globe.
- A £150m philanthropic campaign.
- Engagement with over 170,000 alumni.
- Engagement with all staff and students through communications and digital channels across all campuses and offices including staff in China, India and Malaysia.
The role is accountable for proactive support of the delivery of:
All student number targets across all cohorts of undergraduate, postgraduate, online and new markets such as degree apprenticeships. This accounts for £300m of the University’s revenue with the ambition to grow to £400m.
The brand and reputation of the University across the globe.
A £150m philanthropic campaign.
Engagement with over 170,000 alumni.
Engagement with all staff and students through communications and digital channels across all campuses and offices including staff in China, India and Malaysia.
The role leads on all crisis communications and public affairs activity supporting the University Executive Board and the Vice-Chancellor as required.
The Executive Divisional Director of External Engagement and Global leads a diverse team of specialists who provide services and support to the faculties, external partners and the University as a corporate entity. They engage with students (future, current and past) to enhance the student experience and raise awareness of the University and all its activities, extending its presence, reach and impact. Building partnerships globally, promoting international excellence in research and extending opportunities to students is an important part of the role.
The Executive Divisional Director of External Engagement and Global also secures support for the University through a range of philanthropic and alumni activities.
As one of seven Divisional Directors, they are a member of the Professional Services Directors Leadership Team and support the Registrar and Secretary in the achievement of Professional Services objectives and the successful implementation of its business plan.
The Executive Divisional Director of External Engagement and Global is a member of the University Executive Board and they play a key part in ensuring the continued success of the University, sharing responsibility for the achievement of the University’s strategic priorities and associated delivery plans.
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Key Responsibilities, Main Duties and Accountabilities
Responsible for (People)
Directors, Assistant Directors and Senior Managers within the University’s External Engagement and Global Division including Assistant Director, Strategic Marketing; Assistant Director, Communications; Assistant Director, Admissions and UK Student Recruitment; Director of Student Recruitment; Director of Global; Director of Advancement; Head of Supporter Engagement; Head of Operations; and Business Manager.
Ways of Working
The Executive Divisional Director of External Engagement and Global will promote ways of working within the Division that embody these characteristics:
Agility and flexibility: to respond effectively to rapidly changing demands and to be innovative and maximise opportunities.
Fluidity: in terms of reporting relationships and sense of “belonging”, so that colleagues feel empowered to work collaboratively and inclusively towards agreed objectives and without silos.
Connectedness: promote connections between the component parts of Professional Services at every level to inhibit development of silos, and with the academic and student community to enable greater alignment with the University’s core objectives.
Efficiency: to eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort, streamline decision-making, release more time for activity that adds value and which considers our commitment to sustainability.
Inclusivity: to value the contribution that all bring and to promote an approach that allows our staff and students to contribute fully and effectively.
World class, research-intensive universities.
Top 150
in The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022.
163rd
in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
12th
in the UK by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Top 50
in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2022.*
Main Duties and Accountabilities
- Share collective responsibility and accountability for the performance of the University and delivery of University strategies as a full member of the University Executive Board. Working in partnership with University Executive Board colleagues to deliver the University’s core strategies; actively role model the University’s expected leadership values and behaviours, promoting a culture of equality and inclusion; represent the University nationally and internationally to enhance our external profile; and generate benefits for the University as a whole.
- As a member of the Professional Services Leadership Team, share responsibility for the effective leadership and management of Professional Services and play a full role its executive functions.
- Provide strategic advice on policy developments in higher education nationally and globally that may impact on the University, and act as the institutional contact for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
- Work within the framework determined by the University and the Registrar and Secretary and provide strategic and operational leadership for the Division. Responsible for developing and implementing agreed plans for the delivery of the services in the Division’s remit, and for deploying and managing approved budgets and other resources, ensuring that plans are implemented and monitored.
- Responsible for the effective line management of the Directors and Assistant Directors in the Division to ensure that the priorities set out for each sub-division are implemented effectively.
- Working through the Directors and Assistant Directors, ensure that (i) communication within the Division is managed well, and it is honest, genuine, accurate and informative, (ii) staff in the Division are managed effectively, (iii) supportive and responsive probation arrangements are in place for new staff, (iv) appraisal and promotion procedures for current staff are proactively managed, and, (v) that change is anticipated, initiated and managed with clarity, vision and a commitment to staff wellbeing.
- Work through the relevant Directors and Assistant Directors to oversee the effective provision of the full range of services, and delivery of associated targets, provided by the division including the University’s arrangements for marketing and reputation management, communications and events management, student recruitment and admissions, Global Exeter, national and international fundraising, and study abroad.
- Ensure that all services are efficiently managed, and that strategies are in place to deliver the University’s goals relating to brand awareness, reputation management, institutional communications, public relations, student recruitment, management of overseas offices and fundraising.
- Direct responsibility for equality, diversity and inclusion, including compliance and delivery of the University’s equality and diversity objectives and external accreditation standards, and through creating an environment for staff to thrive, that is inclusive, promotes equality and supports diversity.
- Actively progress and drive the University’s ambition in respect of our sustainability agenda in conjunction with the Directors and Assistant Directors ensuring that this becomes embedded within operations and ways of working and fully considered at all stages of planning and strategic processes.
- Champion the University’s values of discovery, respect, excellence, inclusion and community, ensuring they are visibly progressed and embedded in the Division, whilst promoting a sense of collegiality, ambition and drive, encouraging a responsive and client-centred ethos.
- Actively role model the University’s expected leadership values and behaviours, represent the University (regionally, nationally and globally) as appropriate to enhance our external profile and generate benefits for the University as a whole.
- Accountable for health and safety within the Division and for ensuring the wellbeing of its staff.
- Report on delivery against targets as required.
- Share collective responsibility and accountability for the performance of the University and delivery of University strategies as a full member of the University Executive Board. Working in partnership with University Executive Board colleagues to deliver the University’s core strategies; actively role model the University’s expected leadership values and behaviours, promoting a culture of equality and inclusion; represent the University nationally and internationally to enhance our external profile; and generate benefits for the University as a whole.
- As a member of the Professional Services Leadership Team, share responsibility for the effective leadership and management of Professional Services and play a full role its executive functions.
- Provide strategic advice on policy developments in higher education nationally and globally that may impact on the University, and act as the institutional contact for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
- Work within the framework determined by the University and the Registrar and Secretary and provide strategic and operational leadership for the Division. Responsible for developing and implementing agreed plans for the delivery of the services in the Division’s remit, and for deploying and managing approved budgets and other resources, ensuring that plans are implemented and monitored.
- Responsible for the effective line management of the Directors and Assistant Directors in the Division to ensure that the priorities set out for each sub-division are implemented effectively.
- Working through the Directors and Assistant Directors, ensure that (i) communication within the Division is managed well, and it is honest, genuine, accurate and informative, (ii) staff in the Division are managed effectively, (iii) supportive and responsive probation arrangements are in place for new staff, (iv) appraisal and promotion procedures for current staff are proactively managed, and, (v) that change is anticipated, initiated and managed with clarity, vision and a commitment to staff wellbeing.
- Work through the relevant Directors and Assistant Directors to oversee the effective provision of the full range of services, and delivery of associated targets, provided by the division including the University’s arrangements for marketing and reputation management, communications and events management, student recruitment and admissions, Global Exeter, national and international fundraising, and study abroad.
- Ensure that all services are efficiently managed, and that strategies are in place to deliver the University’s goals relating to brand awareness, reputation management, institutional communications, public relations, student recruitment, management of overseas offices and fundraising.
- Direct responsibility for equality, diversity and inclusion, including compliance and delivery of the University’s equality and diversity objectives and external accreditation standards, and through creating an environment for staff to thrive, that is inclusive, promotes equality and supports diversity.
- Actively progress and drive the University’s ambition in respect of our sustainability agenda in conjunction with the Directors and Assistant Directors ensuring that this becomes embedded within operations and ways of working and fully considered at all stages of planning and strategic processes.
- Champion the University’s values of discovery, respect, excellence, inclusion and community, ensuring they are visibly progressed and embedded in the Division, whilst promoting a sense of collegiality, ambition and drive, encouraging a responsive and client-centred ethos.
- Actively role model the University’s expected leadership values and behaviours, represent the University (regionally, nationally and globally) as appropriate to enhance our external profile and generate benefits for the University as a whole.
- Accountable for health and safety within the Division and for ensuring the wellbeing of its staff.
- Report on delivery against targets as required.