Head of Student Recruitment

University For The Creative Arts; Farnham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) seeks an ambitious, commercially minded leader to join us as Head of Student Recruitment (UK and International). This pivotal role shapes and delivers the university’s recruitment strategy across UK and international markets.

You will lead high‑performing recruitment teams, drive sustainable growth, oversee UK and international recruitment activities, schools and colleges partnerships, outreach and events, and provide expert market advice to senior

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading recruitment or student recruitment teams within a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to develop strategies that drive growth and performance improvements.
• Experience in recruitment planning, forecasting, pipeline management and reporting.
• Proven success in strategic partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing substantial budgets.
• Data-driven with ability to translate market intelligence into strategic decisions.
• Experience of leading organisational change or service transformation.
• Collaborative leadership style to motivate multidisciplinary teams.
• Higher Education student recruitment experience desirable (UK and international).

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the UK and international student recruitment strategy.
• Lead UK Recruitment, International Recruitment and partnerships teams.
• Drive sustainable student growth and enrolment targets.
• Provide expert market advice to senior leaders on trends and performance.
• Oversee Schools and Colleges Partnerships, Outreach and Events.
• Manage budgets and investment decisions with a commercial lens.
• Lead organisational change and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Commercial acumen

Recruitment strategy

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decisions

Change management

Team leadership

Partnership development

Communication skills

Job description

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is seeking an ambitious, commercially minded and strategic leader to join us as Head of Student Recruitment (UK and International).
This is a pivotal role responsible for shaping and delivering the University's student recruitment strategy across UK and international markets. As UCA's lead recruitment professional, you will drive sustainable student growth, lead high-performing recruitment teams and provide expert advice to senior leaders on market opportunities, sector trends and recruitment performance.
Working at the heart of the University's growth agenda, you will oversee UK Recruitment, International Recruitment, Schools and Colleges Partnerships, Collaborative Outreach and Recruitment Events, ensuring that every stage of the recruitment journey contributes to achieving ambitious enrolment targets and long-term institutional success., At UCA, creativity drives everything we do. As a specialist creative university with an international reputation, we are committed to transforming lives through creative education and ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds can access exceptional opportunities.
We are looking for an exceptional leader who combines strategic vision with commercial acumen and a proven ability to deliver growth.
You will bring:

• Significant experience leading successful recruitment, sales, business development or student recruitment teams within a complex organisation.
• A strong track record of developing and implementing strategies that achieve growth and measurable performance improvements.
• Extensive experience of recruitment planning, forecasting, pipeline management and target-driven performance reporting.
• Proven success in developing strategic partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience managing substantial budgets and investment decisions.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• A data-driven approach with the ability to translate market intelligence into effective strategic decision-making.
• Experience of leading organisational change, service transformation or continuous improvement initiatives.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to motivate and inspire multidisciplinary teams.

Experience within Higher Education student recruitment is highly desirable, particularly in relation to UK and international recruitment markets. Knowledge of UKVI compliance and international student recruitment regulations would be advantageous.