Group Director of External Relations

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.