Associate Director of Student Recruitment

This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving sustainable student growth through innovative, insight-led and cost-effective recruitment strategies. Working closely with the Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Communications, the postholder will lead BU’s student recruitment and campaigns function, with responsibility for UK recruitment, applicant engagement and conversion, future student enquiries, events, campaigns, communications, and schools liaison and outreach.

Operating in a highly competitive and fast-changing market, the role will deliver integrated multi-channel campaigns, ensure a seamless applicant journey from enquiry to enrolment, and use data, technology and AI to maximise performance, efficiency and recruitment success.

About the person

You will be an experienced and strategic recruitment or marketing leader with a strong track record of delivering successful student recruitment, conversion or customer acquisition strategies in a complex environment.

You will bring expertise in campaign leadership, stakeholder engagement, applicant experience and performance analysis, with the ability to use insight, technology and emerging tools to drive results. A collaborative and confident people leader, you will be skilled at developing high-performing teams, managing change and building strong partnerships internally and externally. You will also be passionate about widening participation, inclusion and creating opportunities for future students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive and cost-effective UK student recruitment strategy.
• Lead and embed a highly targeted approach to student recruitment campaigns and communications to enable top of the funnel growth.
• Act as a senior custodian of the University’s applicant conversion journey, enabling improved conversion and enrolments.

For an informal discussion, or if you wish to know more about the role then please contact Gerry Greyling via email at ggreyling@bournemouth.ac.uk. We are not considering applications via recruitment agencies for this role. 

Interviews are scheduled for Wednesday 3 June.

Please limit supporting statements to two pages.

About the department

Our Marketing & Communications department is made up of experts in student recruitment, design, digital, PR, market research and more, all of whom work to support BU’s strategic plan. We work with senior stakeholders to influence recruitment targets and support the university in shaping our portfolio to optimise recruitment. We embed effective internal communications activity throughout the University to ensure academic and professional services staff are well equipped and informed.

About us

Bournemouth University’s vision is worldwide recognition as a leading university for inspiring learning, advancing knowledge and enriching society through the fusion of education, research and practice. Our highly skilled and creative workforce is comprised of individuals drawn from a broad cross section of the globe, who reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives and experiences that help to build our global learning community.

BU values and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We seek a diverse community through attracting, developing and retaining staff from different backgrounds to contribute to inspirational learning, advancing knowledge and enriching society. To support and enable our staff to achieve a balance between work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.  

A job description for this position is available at the top of this page. If you require this in a different format, please contact us at hrvacancies@bournemouth.ac.uk