Director of Global Engagement and Associate Director, External Relations

The University of Reading is seeking an outstanding and highly experienced candidate to lead its newly formed Global Engagement Department and drive the implementation and delivery of the institution’s new Strategic Framework for Internationalisation and Global Engagement. 

The University of Reading has been at the forefront of UK higher education for nearly a century. We are a collaborative community of innovators and pioneers, pushing academic boundaries and leading social change. We are committed to working together to address the world’s biggest challenges. We are proud to be one of the UK’s leading research intensive universities, ranked among the top 200 universities in the world (172nd in the world, 25th in the UK - QS World University Rankings 2025). We are a truly international institution operating in a highly competitive, global market.

Our 2020-2026 Strategic Plan commits the university to “challenge and transform the outlook of the students we educate, and improve the lives of our neighbours, the prospects for our country, and the future of our planet”. Working towards the plan’s culmination in 2026 and  continuing beyond this, our Centenary Year, we want to significantly build on our successes to date, growing our student body and strengthening our brand and profile around the world.

The role of the newly formed Directorate of External Relations is to support delivery of this ambition, providing strategic guidance and advice on and delivery of integrated activities and services in marketing, student recruitment and admissions, global engagement, brand building, fundraising and communications, stakeholder and reputation management.

A fundamental element of the Directorate will be the new Global Engagement Department, which will bring together our existing teams of talented professionals across Global Recruitment (International), Global Partnerships and Study Abroad.

The Director of Global Engagement will lead the development of an agile and flexible Global Engagement Department and will play a leading role in driving our new institutional Strategic Framework for Internationalisation and Global Engagement, which sets out an exciting vision for the University’s global reputation and position, with ambitious student recruitment, partnership and mobility targets. With branch campuses in Malaysia and Africa, a joint Institute in China and many TNE partnerships around the world, the University already has a strong global footprint to grow from. 

The role will report to the Director of External Engagement and work closely with the Pro Vice-Chancellor (International). As an Associate Director of External Relations, the postholder will also play a crucial role within and work closely and collaboratively with the small senior leadership team responsible for strategic and operational oversight of the Directorate.

We are looking for someone with substantial experience in a directly relevant role:

You will:

• Be a strategic thinker with outstanding and clearly evidenced leadership skills within international higher education.
• Be a strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills able to inspire trust and confidence across multiple audiences and stakeholders using nuanced approaches appropriate to suit the diverse backgrounds of those with whom you will work.
• Have extensive operational knowledge of Global Engagement activities e.g. international student recruitment, partnerships, mobility and TNE and a detailed understanding of international education markets.
• Be highly collaborative and personally driven with experience of cross-team (matrix) working and project leadership and a proven track record of motivating teams and individuals.

Contact Name: Fiona Blair
Contact Job Title: Director of External Relations
Contact Email address: f.j.blair@reading.ac.uk

Alternative Contact Name: Dr Caroline Baylon
Alternative Contact Job Title: Pro-Vice Chancellor, International
Contact Email address: c.p.baylon@reading.ac.uk        

Interviews will be held: 2 October 2024

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.