Associate Director International (Strategy and Commercial)

Uniglobaltechnologies; Leicester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

De Montfort University is seeking an Associate Director International (Strategy and Commercial). The role leads the Strategy, Operations and Compliance Unit within the International Directorate, steering commercial strategy, partnerships, and regulatory compliance to support international growth.

The post requires senior leadership experience in international higher education, with a strong focus on external engagement, governance, and strategic planning to advance the university’s international

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in an international higher education environment.
• Experience supporting commercial strategy and development activities.
• Knowledge of international operations and compliance.
• Ability to contribute to strategic planning and external engagement.
• Understanding of governance and regulatory compliance processes.
• Experience supporting partnerships, recruitment, and contract management activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Strategy, Operations and Compliance Unit within the International Directorate.
• Provide leadership across commercial strategy and business development integration.
• Support strategic planning activities linked to international priorities.
• Manage external engagement activities connected to international operations.
• Oversee international operations and compliance.
• Support transnational education partnerships and international student recruitment.

Skills

Senior leadership

Commercial strategy

International operations

Strategic planning

Governance & compliance

Partnerships & recruitment

Contract management

External engagement

Job description

United Kingdom — International Student Market

654K inbound students (2024) +0%

1. India 169K

2. China 152K

4. United States 36K

5. Pakistan 31K

14 international branch campuses in United Kingdom

OVERVIEW De Montfort University is recruiting for an Associate Director International (Strategy and Commercial), a newly created senior leadership position within the International Directorate. Reporting to the Director of International, the role will provide leadership across strategy, commercial activity, operations, and compliance functions. This position supports international growth through strategic planning, external engagement, and the management of international partnerships and operations. The successful candidate will lead the Strategy, Operations and Compliance Unit and contribute to the university’s international development agenda. The role combines leadership, management, commercial oversight, and operational coordination within a complex higher education environment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Strategy, Operations and Compliance Unit within the International Directorate
• Provide leadership across commercial strategy and business development integration
• Support strategic planning activities linked to international priorities
• Manage external engagement activities connected to international operations
• Oversee international operations and compliance

Key responsibilities

• Support transnational education partnerships
• Contribute to international student recruitment activity
• Support global brand development initiatives
• Ensure regulatory compliance and governance oversight
• Contribute to contract management

Key responsibilities

Requirements

• Senior leadership capability within an international higher education environment
• Experience supporting commercial strategy and development activities
• Knowledge of international operations and compliance

Key responsibilities

• Ability to contribute to strategic planning and external engagement
• Understanding of governance and regulatory compliance processes
• Experience supporting partnerships, recruitment, and contract management activities
• Ability to lead management functions within a strategy and operations environment WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS International leadership roles are central to helping universities manage global partnerships, student recruitment, compliance expectations, and commercial development objectives. This position supports the coordination of strategy and management activities that contribute to sustainable international operations. The role also plays an important part in maintaining regulatory compliance while supporting institutional development and external engagement in an increasingly competitive international higher education sector.

Bonus: Application advice

• Tailor your application to demonstrate leadership experience in international higher education
• Highlight examples of strategy, compliance, and commercial management

Key responsibilities

• Include evidence of working with international partnerships or student recruitment activities
• Demonstrate experience supporting governance, contract management, or operational development
• Use clear examples that show collaboration with senior leadership teams
• Review the application materials carefully to align your experience with the role requirements