Admissions and Student Recruitment Officer (Dubai) - Dubai Operations - 97567 - Grade 6

Description

Position Details

Dubai Professional Services, External Relations

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive

Number of Openings: 2

Grade 6

Full time

Permanent

Location: Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 19 June 2021

University of Birmingham Dubai

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we are now moving to a new and exciting phase of our development with the opening of our new state-of-the-art campus in September 2021. This post represents 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 mindset; and
• both an enterprising and entrepreneurial nature to support our growth and pursuit of excellence.

Department Overview

The role of Admissions and Student Recruitment Officer is a key part of the Business Development and Engagement areas remit. This area is responsible for sales and marketing, business development, external engagement, communications, brand and reputation, and admissions for the Dubai campus. The team play a critical role in the future success of the University, delivering against student recruitment and other income targets, building key stakeholder relationships in the region and taking responsibility for the overall brand and reputation of the University's only campus outside of the UK. It is a dynamic team which works closely with colleagues from across campus and in partnership with teams based in the UK, particularly the UK-based Admissions team. Team colleagues also have close connections to external partners in the UAE and other key recruitment markets (including China, India and Nigeria).

Job summary

Primarily, to receive and process applications to the University according to agreed policies and procedures and against agreed offer and entrance criteria. The work is essential to the financial well-being of the University and a high degree of accuracy is required. The post holder is required to keep up to date with the systems and processes used in the University's Admissions Office, both to process applications and those used to interact with outside bodies, and to liaise and work closely with colleagues within academic Schools (e.g. Heads of School and Admissions Tutors), the wider Business Development and Engagement area, the Admissions Office based in the UK and wider Professional Services teams in both Dubai and the UK. The post holder is responsible for dealing with queries from a variety of stakeholders including pre-applicants, applicants, parents, teachers, 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. They will also play an active role in the recruitment of students at key times during the recruitment cycle, supporting events and activities as required.

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.

Processing applications

• The post holder is responsible for processing applications for any admissions route to the University from initial application to registration. This includes reviewing applications, making decisions, issuing offers, dealing with applicant replies, managing fulfilment of conditions and processing confirmation decisions.
• To become proficient in the use of Admissions systems, and to undergo training as systems change or are introduced.
• Reviewing applications involves assessing applicant information and accompanying documentation against criteria agreed with an Admissions Tutor, and an Admissions Officer is expected to be able to discuss the criteria with Admissions Tutors as they are agreed and with applicants who may enquire about their suitability for a particular programme of study. Judgement must be exercised as to whether and how well an applicant meets the criteria, whether prior study (indicated by examinations taken or to be taken as well as other study, including specific modules at postgraduate level) is sufficiently close to what is required, analysis of a range of international qualifications, and whether non-academic requirements are met at a sufficient standard. Where an applicant is offering non-standard qualifications the post holder will use multiple sources of information to assess the qualification and establish equivalency.
• Use their initiative to bring to the attention of teams in Dubai and the UK any changes to overseas qualifications of which they become aware.
• The post holder will ensure that all decisions not only meet the agreed criteria but also that they comply with internal University regulations (e.g. fitness to practice) and with any relevant external regulations.
• The post holder is responsible for communicating decisions to applicants, including offers, which are legally binding, within agreed time frames. Except on a random (quality assurance) basis, decisions and offers are not checked by any other member of staff once an officer has completed training.
• To be aware of the possibilities of fraud and to take necessary precautions in order to ensure that fraudulent applications and documents are identified and the relevant staff within the Admissions Office are notified.
• All work must be carried out at a high level of accuracy within agreed turnaround times and to agreed performance targets. The post holder is required to report regularly on performance against these criteria and to make suggestions for improvements to both the service offered to applicants and for the work of the whole office.
• Have a working understanding of the requirements, policies and practices used for recruitment to the UK campus in order to provide support when required.
• Maintaining a working understanding of the visa and immigration rules for the Dubai and the UAE and liaising with relevant colleagues within Professional Services to ensure strong support for applicants with respect to their immigration needs.

Collaboration across boundaries

• The post holder is required to work with colleagues across the Business Development and Engagement area, Admissions Office, External Relations, other Professional Services and Colleges to provide a service that meets the demands of applicants and other stakeholders. This requires very close team working within the UK-based Admissions Office in order to ensure that the Admissions across the University works effectively together.
• They will also provide such data as may be required through the admissions cycle. An Admissions Officer will be expected to undertake simple analysis of such data and explain that analysis to colleagues.
• The post holder will be a key member of the Business Development and Engagement area and will play an important role in supporting the recruitment of students to the campus. This can include representation on Open Days and similar events, external fairs and exhibitions and schools talks and presentations.
• The post holder will work with colleagues across the Dubai Professional Services team on various projects as and when the need arises. Examples include the start of term welcome activities, and graduation events.

Customer service

• The post holder is responsible for providing an efficient and effective service to applicants and to internal stakeholders, to agreed levels of performance.
• The post holder is responsible for dealing with queries from a range of internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Admissions Tutors, teachers, careers guidance professionals) which involves giving complex information as well as expert advice and guidance in relevant areas.
• The post holder is responsible for communicating decisions to applicants and liaising closely with academic colleagues in Colleges and with colleagues within Business Development and Engagement area.
• High standards of conduct and behaviour are required at all times, including while dealing with a diverse range of stakeholders with varying needs and will require tact, diplomacy, and patience.

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
• Good level of education, to at least A level or equivalent (or substantial relevant experience) with a minimum of GCSE grade C in Mathematics and English (or equivalent)
• General knowledge of higher education
• Demonstrable evidence of exhibiting the values and behaviours consistent with the University and External Relations frameworks
• Experience of working to demanding deadlines and under pressure
• 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
• Excellent interpersonal skills including politeness, diplomacy, tact and courtesy
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to manage good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Flexibility and adaptability
• An understanding of the admissions, marketing and recruitment processes in the Higher Education sector may be advantageous, including the importance of the role in contributing to the successful recruitment and selection of students

Dimensions

This post is primarily concerned with ensuring a smooth admissions process for applicants for study at the Dubai campus and to support the recruitment of students to the Dubai campus more generally as required.

Planning and organising

The post holder will be able to plan their own workload within an overall annual timetable to ensure proactive and efficient support for the admissions process.

Problem-solving and decision making

Without reference to others

• Processing decisions (including legally binding offers);
• dealing with enquiries;
• prioritising own work.

After consulting others

• Advising on new/non-standard qualifications;
• Prioritising the work of other teams;
• complex enquiries

Would be referred to someone else

• Complaints and requests for reviews of decisions

Internal and external relationships

• The rest of their Admissions Team in Dubai and in the UK
• Head of Business Development & Engagement
• Colleagues in the Engagement and Business Development team, and UK based External Relations teams
• Academic contacts in Dubai and the UK
• Colleagues in other parts of Professional Services across the University
• External people with whom an Admissions Officer may come into contact including but not limited to teachers, parents, and agents

As interest in all of the advertised posts has been extremely high, we encourage you to apply online, tailoring your skillset against the listed criteria in the application form.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.