Director of Student Recruitment

About the role

The University of Nottingham is a global Russell Group university, ranked in the world top 100 (QS World University Rankings 2027), with campuses in the UK, China and Malaysia. We have ambitious growth plans for our UK campus and are looking for a commercially driven Director to deliver them.

Reporting to the Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions, you will lead our home and international recruitment for University of Nottingham UK, with a clear focus on international growth: opening new markets, strengthening established ones and turning opportunity into enrolments and income. This is a sales-led role with significant targets and budget, measured on results.

You will also lead our agent and channel partner networks, our pathway partnership with Kaplan, our international sponsor relations and our student recruitment events programme. 

About the team

You will lead a team of 50 colleagues, (with overseas office provision in China and India). Reporting to the Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions, you will sit on the Student Recruitment and Admissions Senior Leadership Team.

We want a team that reflects the students and markets we serve, and particularly welcome applications from groups under-represented in senior roles in our sector.

About you

• Significant director-level experience leading a large, multi-team student recruitment function, including overseas teams.
• A proven record of delivering international and domestic targets and opening or growing new markets.
• Strong commercial acumen, including budgets, agent networks, contract negotiation and return on investment.
• Working knowledge of UKVI sponsor obligations and the Basic Compliance Assessment.

What we offer- it’s important that you highlight key benefits and rewards and why candidates should choose us. You may want to use the below template or add your own.

• A friendly, diverse, and supportive working environment
• A hybrid working arrangement with the blended approach of home and office working each week, with a minimum of 60% on campus
• Generous holiday entitlement of 30 days (or pro rata) plus standard bank holidays and five university closure days including closure between Christmas and New Year.
• We are committed to staff development through the provision of training, continued support, and career progression opportunities
• You will have access to a range of benefits and rewards, including fitness and health facilities, staff discounts, travel schemes and many more. To find out more about what we can offer you, follow the link to our benefits website

What next

Further information is available in the role profile. To apply, click ‘Apply Now’ to complete your details and upload your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages. Your letter should set out how you meet the essential criteria, with evidence of the scale you have led and the results you have delivered.

Interviews will take place in Nottingham on Monday 16^th November 2026

Working hours are 36.25 per week. 

For an informal conversation, contact Gemma Smith, Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions, at gemma.smith@nottingham.ac.uk. CV and Applications sent to this address will not be accepted.

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