Position Details

Dubai Professional Services - External Relations

Department: Business Development and Engagement 

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive 

Grade: 6

No. of positions: 1

Full time

Duration: 3-years fixed contract (renewable at the University’s discretion) 

Location: Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 13th February 2026

University of Birmingham Dubai

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have now moved to our new state-of-the-art campus which opened in Sept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our long-term strategic mission in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence in Dubai.

Professional Services Ethos

Our ethos as a Professional Services team has been developed in line with the principles of being a Birmingham Professional. In particular here in Dubai this means that all Professional Services colleagues seek to collaborate effectively to ensure the needs of the whole campus community and our stakeholders are met. It also means that we work constructively together to provide a flexible range of service and support that adapt to the changing needs of the Campus as we grow. There are specific focal points in the academic cycle when all Professional Services team members will be expected to contribute regardless of their primary role, for example Welcome or Graduation. In addition, the duties listed below are illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of this post which is likely to change over time in response to the needs of the Campus and as you develop your experience and skills. You will have the opportunity to develop and may also need to specialise your duties further, over time, in agreement with your manager. 

In order to contribute to the success of the team and the University’s vision for the Dubai Campus the Professional Services team will be seeking to continue to recruit and develop colleagues who display:

• a high level of intellectual aptitude.
• strong agility and a portfolio of skills that can adapt to meet changing circumstances.
• an innovative and creative mind-set; and 
• both an enterprising and entrepreneurial nature to support our growth and pursuit of excellence.

Role Summary

The Student Recruitment Officer is responsible for student recruitment and other income targets, building stakeholder relationships in the UAE, and overall brand and reputation for the University’s Dubai campus. The post requires travel, visiting schools to deliver presentations and liaising with academics, students and parents, sponsors and agents.

The post holder is responsible for dealing with queries from a variety of stakeholders including pre-applicants, applicants, parents, teachers, sponsors and agents. The post holder plays a key role in delivering an efficient and effective service throughout the applicant’s journey from pre-applicant to student. 

The post-holder will play a key role in the recruitment of students based in the UAE and in supporting the delivery of overall student recruitment targets and the business development strategy. They will be expected to carry out a wide range of activities to support student recruitment and business development, including organising internal and external events, representing the University at recruitment events, and organising incoming visits for applicants, parents, sponsors, agents and businesses. 

The post-holder may be required to travel around the UAE or internationally, which can include weekends and holidays. The post-holder must be able to operate effectively and autonomously under these circumstances. 

Main Duties

General

• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

  
  

• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

  
  

• Undertake continuous personal and professional development.

  
  

Student Recruitment, Representation and Market Development

• Responsible for increasing enrolments to the University of Birmingham Dubai by designing and implementing student recruitment, conversion and business development activities for the UAE market under the guidance of the Recruitment and Business Development Manager.

  
  

• To support the coordination, organisation and execution of a plan of activity to recruit students to the University of Birmingham Dubai campus ranging from foundation and undergraduate through to postgraduate and CPD.

  
  

• To represent and promote the University at higher education events in schools and colleges, fairs and employer events throughout the UAE involving delivering presentations, attending HE and agent fairs and providing individual guidance to students and parents.

  
  

• Identify recruitment opportunities and convert enquiries and applications to maximise the return on such opportunities.

  
  

• Manage a calendar of recruitment events and school visits and support incoming colleagues in making the most of their visit to the UAE, maximising their time wisely in relation to student recruitment.

  
  

• Responsibility for engaging with internal and external stakeholders to effectively drive student recruitment activities including identifying new schools and developing engagement plans and managing academic visits where possible.

  
  

• Where required, respond to enquiries from students, parents, schools, agents, sponsors and other stakeholders.

  
  

• As a priority, lead, actively participate, innovate and support conversion activities and recruitment initiatives.

  
  

• Support scholarship related activity and allocation in line with agreed criteria and University policy.

  
  

• Develop international markets and support international student recruitment as determined by the university

  
  

Admissions, Agents, Sponsors Liaison 

• Support Admissions by making offers based on previous agreed entry requirements and processing applications at key times of year in partnership with Admissions Officers.

  
  

• Ensure regular contact with Admissions to advise on overseas qualifications, academic requirements and English language requirements.

  
  

• Act as a source of information and expert advice about international qualifications using available sources such as the UCAS Qualifications Equivalents Guide and NARIC Equivalents website and acquired personal expertise to develop a thorough understanding of a wide range of qualifications, foundation programmes, their equivalence to the UK education system and suitability for admission to Birmingham programmes.

  
  

• Support the University’s network of recruitment agents by identifying, assessing and recommending suitable agents for appointment, monitoring ongoing performance to ensure quality standards and recruitment targets are met and that underperformance is addressed.

  
  

• Manage relationships with companies delivering recruitment services and act as a key point of contact between external partners and internal stakeholders.

  
  

• Ensure recruitment agents represent the University appropriately and ethically and contribute positively to the reputation and success of the University in each market.

  
  

• Liaise with sponsors and employers in relation to student applications, offers, enrolment and post-enrolment support. 

  
  

Planning, Budget Management and Delivery

• Support the Student Recruitment and Business Development Manager to achieve objectives within agreed deadlines in line with the overall student recruitment plan.

  
  

• Provide costings, pricing, detailed recruitment plans and accurate forecasts of recruitment activity when required.

  
  

• Support management of the recruitment budget allocated to defined regions.

  
  

• Monitor ongoing expenditure to ensure activity remains within the agreed budget, make judgements on new activity, identify deviations quickly and notify Student Recruitment Manager of any major difficulties.

  
  

• Undertake any additional roles and responsibilities as required to support the effective delivery of recruitment and business development objectives.

  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Understands the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace

  
  

• Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity and inclusion issues in line with relevant policies and procedures

  
  

• An understanding and prior experience of the admissions, marketing and recruitment processes in the Higher Education sector, including the importance of the role in contributing to the successful recruitment and selection of students

  
  

• Demonstrable evidence of exhibiting the values and behaviours consistent with the University and External Relations frameworks

  
  

• Excellent reporting and excel skills 

  
  

• Experience of working to demanding deadlines and under pressure

  
  

• Excellent presentation and communication skills

  
  

• Ability to identify opportunities to improve processes

  
  

• Ability to operate effectively as part of a team

  
  

• Ability to operate a variety of different and bespoke computer systems

  
  

• Ability to multitask and manage several ongoing priorities 

  
  

• Excellent interpersonal skills including politeness, diplomacy, tact and courtesy

  
  

• Ability to manage good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

  
  

• Attention to detail and accuracy

  
  

• Flexibility and adaptability

  
  
• Valid full UAE driving license to undertake independent travel across the UAE, as the role requires extensive travel within Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, and Al Ain
• Ability to travel to key international markets for student recruitment and business development 

Dimensions

This role will require the exercise of personal initiative within and beyond the department and with external contacts.

Planning and organising 

The role is required to work independently on daily, weekly and monthly tasks but also on projects with medium-longer-term horizons without daily supervision.

Problem solving and decision making 

You will work with direction from your managers but you will have a significant degree of autonomy.You will deal with more complex queries and be expected to resolve any problems in your area of responsibility.

Internal and external relationships

You will liaise with internal colleagues and stakeholders University-wide and also with external stakeholders.

View our staff values and behaviours here

In return, you will receive a competitive package and play a key role in our ambitious University’s expansion as we enhance our international reputation and global footprint.

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.