Head of Global Operations

Location: Aston University John Cadbury House

Aston University is a leading applied university with a strong international outlook, recognised for its focus on employability, business engagement, and global partnerships. International student recruitment and transnational engagement are central to Aston’s growth strategy, operating across multiple intakes, markets, and regulatory environments.

This role sits at the heart of Aston’s international recruitment operation, providing the operational backbone that enables sustainable global growth while protecting the University’s regulatory position, financial controls, and reputation.

The Head of Global Operations provides senior operational leadership for Aston University’s international recruitment and engagement activity. The role is responsible for designing, operating, and continuously improving the systems, processes, and controls that underpin large-scale global recruitment within a complex, regulated environment.

Working closely with senior colleagues across International Recruitment, Admissions, Marketing, Finance, Compliance, and Legal, the postholder will lead high-impact operational functions including international scholarships, agent commissions, sponsor management, CRM operations, and due diligence for a global network of partners.

The role carries significant delegated authority to identify risk, redesign processes, set service expectations, and escalate issues where cross-functional dependencies materially affect recruitment performance, partner confidence, or compliance outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading complex, high-value operational processes such as multi-million-pound agency commissions, international scholarships, and global partner onboarding
• Designing and delivering a multi-year international recruitment process improvement plan
• Establishing service standards and SLAs across recruitment-critical processes
• Providing operational leadership for CRM adoption, data quality, and workflow integrity
• Ensuring compliance with UKVI, GDPR, CMA, the Agent Quality Framework, and other regulatory requirements
• Line managing the Global Operations team and overseeing overseas representatives and associated budgets

What we offer:

• Aston University is a dynamic and vibrant campus located within Birmingham city centre, which has excellent transport links via bus or train. 
• The role is offered as 'dynamic working', which means working both on campus (expected on campus 3 days per week) and from home dependent on the activity. Further information on dynamic working can be found here.
• Excellent training and development opportunities. 
• A generous annual leave scheme with 30 days bookable leave and a further 13 days bank holiday and University Closure days.
• Everyday discounts to a number of activities and retailers
• Great family friendly policies
• On site gym and pool with discounted staff membership available
• Further information on our Benefits and Rewards can be found here

This role may meet the requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

If you require sponsorship, Aston University will assess eligibility if you are shortlisted for the role. 

Please note we are unable to confirm individual eligibility before shortlisting.

See here for more information on Skilled Worker visa eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Closing Date: 23.59 hours GMT on Sunday 22 February 2026

Interview Date: Tuesday 17 March 2026

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