Head of Global Opportunities Visa Sponsorship Uk

Job Description

Job Details

Posted: 18 February 2025
Salary Grade 8: £49,250 – £56,921
Location: Glasgow
Job Type: DO NOT USE – Internal
Reference: 164814

Job Purpose

Devise, promote, grow, and lead a first-class global programme of study abroad and exchange, work experience, and volunteering opportunities aligned to the university’s student experience, learning & teaching, and internationalisation strategies. Network to leverage partnership benefits with hundreds of international partners from universities and businesses worldwide to offer annual opportunities for the mobility of 2000+ students. Play a key role in the University achieving its strategic target of 50% of undergraduate students undertaking an international experience as part of their degree by 2030.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develop the strategy to create a holistic approach to international partnership development in support of the expansion of opportunities in work, study, and volunteering for students and professional development mobilities for staff in conjunction with External Relations.
2. Leverage academic and business partnerships to develop opportunities abroad and in the UK.
3. Lead a school-based partnership approach to the development of work, volunteering, and study abroad to ensure Schools’ ownership and accountability. Collaborate with programme convenors and others to set targets and support performance towards these.
4. Bid for, manage, and maximise the impact of external budgets of up to £2.5M, such as those from the Turing Scheme. Oversee a process for the transparent dispersal of funds to students. Ensure all reporting accountability meets audit requirements.
5. Lead on the systematic enhancement and updating of existing mobility processes, including application and allocation processes, to ensure these are effective and meet institutional business needs on an ongoing basis.
6. Work collaboratively and consistently with university services: legal, contracts, insurance, finance, security, health & safety, data protection, External Relations, and HR departments to develop robust procedures and policies in support of opportunities.
7. Lead a team to deliver the service, with responsibility for communications, team development and training, PDRs, and service excellence.
8. Serve as a key member of the Careers & Global Opportunities leadership team, improving the effectiveness and quality of service provision.
9. Act as an ambassador for the University in dealings with external parties, answering questions on University initiatives and sharing the University’s view on various topics where this is public information.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Qualifications/Knowledge

Essential:

• A1 Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework Level 9, 10, or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Postgraduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in the relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role. Alternatively, the ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the responsibilities associated with this post, having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in similar or multiple specialist roles.
• A2 Extensive knowledge of study abroad and exchange protocols and procedures.
• A3 Knowledge of university student recruitment and admissions policies and processes.

Desirable:

• B1 Knowledge of international labour markets for student work and work-related opportunities.

Skills

Essential:

• C1 Strategic thinker, able to shape trends, outlooks, and opportunities into a systematic approach and develop operational plans from these.
• C2 Proven track record of influencing academics, HE professional service managers, and building strong working partnerships.
• C3 Excellent communication skills (oral and written), presentation, and interpersonal skills to demonstrate credibility with partners.
• C4 Creativity and innovation in service design and delivery.
• C5 Ability to spot opportunities and pursue them.
• C6 Proven track record of effective teamwork to achieve shared goals.
• C7 Ability to work under pressure, juggling competing priorities.
• C8 People management skills gained through previous experience.

Experience

Essential:

• E1 Broad experience of the impact of student mobility on university strategic objectives, policies, and practices.
• E2 Experience of working in the HE study and work abroad market and the work practices and policies associated with student inbound and outbound recruitment.
• E3 Experience of working with teams of academics and professional staff in universities here and abroad.
• E4 Experience of successfully bidding for funds and effectively managing their dispersal.
• E5 Experience of insurance, legal, and other duty-of-care requirements in the effective operation of student mobility programmes.
• E6 Management experience of motivating and leading teams during periods of change and delivering objectives according to plan.

Terms and Conditions

Salary: £49,250 – £56,921 per annum (Grade 8)

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) and fixed-term to cover maternity leave for 12 months or until the substantive post-holder returns.

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route, if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information, please visit: Skilled Worker Visa Information.

Additional Information

• As part of Team UofG, you will be a member of a world-changing, inclusive community that values ambition, excellence, integrity, and curiosity.
• A competitive employment package includes 41 days of leave for full-time staff, pension benefits, discount packages, and more.
• Flexible working arrangements and a commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for new staff.

Equality and Diversity:
The University is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and applications are particularly welcome from underrepresented communities, including those from the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community.

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