Group Director of External Relations

Dixon Walter; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research university in Liverpool seeks a Group Director of External Relations to manage critical services such as Marketing, Communications, and Global Student Recruitment. The ideal candidate will have substantial leadership experience in higher education and a track record of developing successful strategies that enhance revenue and reputation. This role plays a vital part in achieving the university's ambitious goals.

Qualifications

• Substantial leadership experience in higher education.
• Experience developing successful strategies across marketing, communications, and recruitment.
• Values-led individual with politically astute and commercially aware qualities.

Responsibilities

• Manage a broad range of services including Marketing, Communication, and Recruitment.
• Oversee campaigns and communications to drive reputation.
• Protect existing income streams and drive growth in tuition fee income.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Marketing

Communications

Recruitment

Job description

The University of Liverpool has ambitious plans for growth building on its reputation as a leading research institution and its Gold-rated teaching excellence. We are rooted in the Liverpool City Region, but international in both character and outlook. Our purpose and values steer the way we operate and our strategy, Liverpool 2031, clearly states our ambition to be one of the world’s top 100 universities. This role is key to that endeavour.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will have strategic responsibility for a broad range of services and teams that includes Marketing; Communications; Global Student Recruitment, Widening Participation and Admissions; Development and Alumni, and Global Engagement and Partnerships. You will be leading a newly configured Directorate of External Relations which encompasses the critical functions that grow income and drive reputation and reach for the university, nationally and globally.

Building out from a strong core brand and value proposition, you will oversee all campaigns and communications to key internal and external stakeholders to drive reputation and support our achievement of our strategic goals. As Group Director, you will protect existing income streams and drive strategic growth in tuition fee income – both domestically and internationally – whether through traditional on campus education or existing or new TNE relationships.

You will have already gained substantial leadership experience, in higher education, of developing and implementing successful strategies across marketing, communications and recruitment, to deliver growth and success. You will also be a values-led individual who blends authentic, emotionally intelligent leadership with political nous and commercial acumen. Most importantly, you will share our ambition.

• a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the person specification
• a comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV)
• details of three referees and notice period (referees will not be contacted without your permission)
• a completed Personal Details Form (available above)

Closing date for applications is Monday 11th August 2025.

Final stage selection will be held on campus in mid-October 2025.

In making an application for this role we ask you also to view our Privacy Notice which outlines our compliance to General Data Protection Regulations and the use and storage of your data. Personal Data is held and processed on the lawful basis that such action is in the Legitimate Interest of the company in pursuing the purposes described and has been considered through the use of a Legitimate Interest Assessment utilising the Balance Test to not be outweighed by risks to the rights, freedoms and interests of the Data Subject.

Please note that our client is legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK. As of 1 January 2021, government restrictions have changed. For further information visit the Home Office website at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk