At the University of East London (UEL), our mission is to prepare students for the careers of the future while shaping that future inclusively and sustainably. As a careers-first university, we believe education and opportunity should be open to all, and that diversity of people and thought is essential to solving society’s biggest challenges.

Founded in 1898 as the West Ham Technical Institute, UEL has always championed industry-focused education and social mobility, earning the name “The People’s University” for its commitment to widening access to technical and professional learning. While our scale and ambition have grown, our purpose has remained constant: empowering communities, advancing social justice, and equipping students with future-proof skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Today, UEL continues this legacy through pioneering research, employer-engaged education, and meaningful community impact. We are tackling health and economic inequalities, promoting sustainability, and helping to build a more inclusive and resilient future.

Guided by our ambitious Vision 2028  strategy, UEL is reshaping education for the benefit of all, empowering students from every background with the skills and opportunities to succeed. Our commitment to excellence is recognised nationally; we are proud to be named University of the Year for Teaching Quality in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025. At UEL, we don’t just teach, we inspire, innovate and empower, shaping the future together.

About External Relations

Our multi-award-winning External Relations Directorate brings together a wide range of specialist teams including Brand & Marketing, Communications & Public Relations, Corporate Engagement & Advancement, Student Recruitment & Conversion (home and international), Admissions, Outreach & Access, and Design & Digital.

We are building a forward-thinking, digitally driven function, embedding innovative practice and a digital-first mindset across all our work. We are looking for individuals who thrive in an agile environment, embrace new technologies, and are excited by transformational change. Together, we are creating a culture of continuous evolution—staying at the forefront of emerging trends and best practice across the sector.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a creative and fast-paced internal communications team, delivering high-quality communications that engage and inform staff across the University.

You will play a key role in planning, delivering and evaluating clear, compelling and creative internal communications campaigns, working closely with stakeholders across the institution.

 Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver creative communication plans for University-wide projects and staff engagement campaigns
• Work with stakeholders to define communication objectives and deliver targeted, effective messaging
• Produce clear, engaging and accurate content across a range of channels, often to tight deadlines
• Adapt tone and messaging to suit different audiences and platforms
• Measure and evaluate communications using data and feedback, making recommendations for improvement
• Review and enhance internal communication channels to ensure they remain accessible, relevant and engaging
• Draft communications on behalf of senior leaders, including the Vice-Chancellor and Executive Board
• Act as a trusted internal communications advisor, providing guidance and influencing stakeholders at all levels
• Contribute to initiatives that improve staff engagement and feedback mechanisms
• Work collaboratively across External Relations to ensure a consistent and joined-up approach

About You

You will be a confident and creative communications professional with experience delivering impactful campaigns to diverse audiences. 

You will bring:

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in communications or a related field
• Experience planning, delivering and evaluating successful communications campaigns
• Strong experience creating engaging, high-quality content for varied audiences
• Experience working with and influencing stakeholders across complex organisations
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools and digital communication platforms

Skills and qualities:

• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging messages
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines
• Confidence working independently and using initiative
• Sound judgement when handling sensitive communications
• Confidence using new technologies and communication platforms
• A collaborative and flexible approach, with the ability to adapt in a fast-changing environment

What You’ll Need to Thrive

You’ll thrive in this role if you are creative, proactive and solutions-focused, with the confidence to work in a fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities. You’ll enjoy building relationships across the organisation, influencing stakeholders, and using insight to continuously improve communications and engagement.

Additional Information

• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or out-of-hours when required
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Benefits Package

At UEL, we believe that a great role is about more than just a salary. It’s about the complete package, including our outstanding work environment and inclusive culture.

We offer a genuinely competitive salary, dependent on experience (DOE), and a range of excellent benefits.

You can explore our full benefits package here: https://uel.ac.uk/benefits-professional-services-positions

Building an Inclusive Future

As an inclusive, equal-opportunities employer, our multiple Charter awards (Stonewall, Race Equality and Athena Swan) reflect our ongoing dedication to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and we’re committed to closing the  ethnicity pay gap. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and honest that there’s more to do. We’re determined to keep moving forward so everyone at UEL can thrive.

So, if you’d like to take your career to the next level with us here at the University of East London and are inspired by our environment and commit to success, we want you to apply today!

Please note that this advert may close earlier than the deadline if we receive many applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Closing Date: 10 Apr 2026

Team: Support - UELPS Ltd

Salary: £46,471 to £51,606 per annum inclusive of London Weighting

Full Time | Permanent

About Us
At the University of East London (UEL), our mission is to prepare students for the careers of the future while shaping that future inclusively and sustainably. Founded in 1898, we have always championed industry-focused education and social mobility. Today, guided by our ambitious Vision 2028 strategy, we are transforming education to become the UK’s leading careers-first university.
We are committed to driving diversity in the future talent pipeline, working with partners across the world to promote opportunity wherever it is found and to create a sustainable, inclusive and innovative future.
 
The External Relations Directorate brings together communications, marketing, student recruitment, outreach, design and digital, international partnerships and advancement into a single integrated function. Our teams work in an agile, forward-thinking environment where innovation, collaboration and digital-first thinking are at the core of everything we do.
 
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Associate Regional Director (South Asia) to lead student recruitment performance across India and the wider South Asia region, one of the University’s most strategically significant international markets. 

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving UEL’s inbound student recruitment across South Asia, with a primary focus on India. Based in Hyderabad, the Associate Director will lead a distributed regional sales model while working closely with in-country and UK teams to deliver a more coordinated national approach. It will be responsible for translating UEL’s international recruitment strategy into measurable outcomes. The successful candidate will drive enrolment performance, coordinate activities, manage regional recruitment pipelines, and ensure strong conversion outcomes across multiple intakes. 

The role combines oversight of travelling recruitment teams with collaboration across marketing, alumni, careers and partnerships to enhance market presence, embed careers-led engagement and strengthen institutional reputation. It also requires oversight over the third-party operating centre, ensuring SLA's and objective are met.  

A key element of the role will be supporting the establishment and successful operation of UEL’s India Hub in Chennai. This position is critical in moving UEL from a high-performing regional recruitment model to a nationally coordinated South Asia platform, integrating sales, marketing, partnerships and alumni activity to deliver sustainable growth and enhanced market positioning. 

You will provide leadership to regional recruitment staff across South Asia while building strong partnerships with agents, institutions and key stakeholders to ensure the University’s international growth ambitions are achieved.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Lead in-bound student recruitment performance across India and South Asia, with accountability for enrolment targets, pipeline health and conversion outcomes
• Support the transition from a regionally segmented model to a nationally coordinated platform, ensuring that all recruitment activity contributes to broader institutional objectives around market share, brand reputation and long-term sustainability. 
• Translate regional insight into national strategy, working closely with the Chennai Careers Hub to align local delivery with a coordinated, India-wide recruitment, reputation and engagement approach. 
• Embed careers-led recruitment approaches, partnering with the Chennai Hub, industry stakeholders and alumni networks to deliver immersive engagement activities (e.g. careers and skills pop-ups, employer panels, innovation events) that strengthen the student value proposition.
• Provide leadership and line management to regional recruitment teams across India and Nepal
• Oversee forecasting, pipeline management and recovery planning where performance requires intervention
• Play a key role in establishing and operating UEL’s India Hub in Chennai
• Build strong relationships with education agents, institutional partners and key regional stakeholders
• Work collaboratively with Marketing, Admissions, Compliance, Finance and Academic Schools to deliver a coordinated recruitment strategy
• Provide clear performance reporting and insight to senior institutional stakeholders
• Represent UEL at key regional events, conferences and recruitment activities

About You
 You will be a strategic and commercially focused recruitment leader with extensive experience of international student recruitment in South Asia.
 You will bring:

• Significant leadership experience delivering recruitment growth in high-volume international markets, particularly India and South Asia
• Strong understanding of the UK higher education recruitment landscape, admissions processes and compliance requirements
• Proven track record of achieving ambitious recruitment and conversion targets
• Experience managing recruitment pipelines, forecasting and data-driven performance monitoring
• Demonstrated success leading geographically dispersed teams
• Deep knowledge of the South Asia recruitment ecosystem, including agents, regulatory processes and competitor positioning
• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills

You will also be a resilient and delivery-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced international environments and is committed to collaborative, high-performance working.
 
Working Pattern
The role will be primarily based in Hyderabad, India, with significant travel across the region to support recruitment delivery, partnership development and the successful operation of the India Hub. Flexibility to engage with colleagues during UK business hours will be required.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Stefanie Walton, Director of Student Recruitment & Admissions at s.walton@uel.ac.uk.

Your cover letter should highlight your experience in international student recruitment, leadership of regional teams, and your understanding of the South Asia higher education recruitment market

Closing Date: 09 Apr 2026

Team: Support - UELPS Ltd

Salary: Competitive package