Deputy Director of External Relations (Reputation and Engagement)

Position Details

External Relations

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary - Competive

Grade - 10

Full Time - Permanent

Closing date – 30th August 2021

Additional information

For further details on this post and the University of Birmingham please read the full particulars pack Click here

For informal enquiries about this role please contact Bryoney Johnson, External Relations Operations Manager, at b.r.johnson@bham.ac.uk

Provisional interview dates: 1st stage - 16-17 Sept 2021. 2nd stage - 30 Sept - 1 Oct 2021

Job Summary

As a Global top 100 university, the University of Birmingham has an ambitious global strategy and growth aspiration across research, education, reputation and engagement, and continues to deliver against this ambition. This newly created leadership role will make a significant contribution to ensuring the University successfully delivers key strategic reputation and engagement targets, particularly across Communications and Reputation, Public Engagement, and Global development agendas.

The role will be based in External Relations; a division of 350 staff with a core budget of £26m. The role will work closely with the Director of External Relations to oversee and influence strategic vision for Communications and Reputation, Public Engagement, and Birmingham Global teams, and will provide line management to the Directors of these teams to ensure cohesive, collaborative, effective and efficient delivery of University strategic priorities across these areas.

With a number of bold initiatives and projects planned across these areas, this will be an exciting time to join the External Relations team, and the role will provide scope for the post-holder to help shape, deliver and maximise strategic reputation and engagement opportunities for the University of Birmingham. This includes, for example, the University’s role as a partner for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022, the opening of phase 2 of our Dubai campus, extensive work around REF results and international reputation and research, and the unique opportunity offered by our new city-centre facility, The Exchange, which is due to open in 2021. The post holder will have strategic oversight of this diverse and sector-leading portfolio, and will be a senior champion to align our reputation and engagement activity with institutional and partner priorities, to help ensure long-term strategic success.

The post holder will operate at a senior level within the University working closely with the Director of External Relations. Building a strong relationship with the Deputy Director (Student Acquisition) will be essential to ensure the delivery of fully integrated External Relations strategy and the associated Key Performance Indicators, to support the new University Strategic Framework. The post holder will be a member of the senior management team in External Relations, and the role will require close liaison and relationship building with key External Relations functions, and across wider University divisions to ensure work is aligned, planned at a strategic level and maximises the use of resource. The role will also require working closely with thematic Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Heads of Colleges, Senior Officers, and members of University Executive Board to play a significant role in developing ER priorities and deliverables in-line with the University’s 2030 Strategic Framework.

Main Duties

Strategy:

• Support the Director of External Relations in developing and delivering the University’s wider Strategic Framework and associated Key Performance Targets and Indicators, ensuring co-ordination and alignment with other Professional Services functions

• Progress the alignment of work across priority areas for reputation and engagement, both externally and internally, addressing complex, multi-disciplinary challenges and opportunities

• Ensure Communications and Reputation, Birmingham Global, and Public Engagement teams have clear strategic deliverables and targets which are measured, evidenced and reported in a timely manner

• Contribute to the development of wider External Relations strategies and strategic projects

• Ensure there is an integrated approach to manage stakeholder relationships both internally and externally to support reputation and engagement activity undertaken across External Relations

• Ability to deliver regionally, nationally and globally

Leadership and Management:

• Lead the Communications and Reputation, Birmingham Global and Public Engagement functions, and role model and embed the External Relations values and behaviours

• Play a key leadership role within External Relations and institutionally by representing External Relations more widely

• Co-ordinate resources and ensure proportionate allocation aligned to priorities and growth opportunities

• Respond to and influence academic needs and priorities in research, reputation and engagement portfolios; including providing insight and direction on risks and rewards associated with activities

• Use their extensive knowledge and networks to support delivery of the University’s Strategic Framework

• Develop relationships and partnerships aligned to External Relations strategy, in collaboration with the Director of External Relations

• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with senior academic and professional services colleagues, as well as partners locally, regionally and internationally

• Ensure the External Relations function is effective and efficient and works collaboratively across the University community

• To chair, be a member of, or support reputation and engagement related committees, specifically supporting thematic Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Director of External Relations

• Be a visible and supportive member of the External Relations senior team

• Provide regular, high quality reporting on existing and planned activity, drawing on evaluation of activities where appropriate

Other:

• To provide leadership, inspiration, clarity and direction to staff about University-wide priorities and proactively and continuously coach and develop self and others
• To lead by example in setting the highest possible standards and demonstrating the qualities of the ‘Birmingham Professional’
• To effectively and professionally deputise for the Director of External Relations as required
• Some travel as required both in the UK and internationally

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Highly developed knowledge of operating at a senior level, preferably in a global context

• An appreciation of UK and global HE and the implications for current and future strategy in the university

• Ability to exercise a substantial degree of independent professional responsibility, discretion, tact and diplomacy

Skills & Experience

• Educated to degree level preferably with a post graduate qualification

• Ability to operate at a strategic level whilst ensuring translation of the strategy into clear deliverables

• An excellent collaborator, able to work across boundaries and to share credit in order to deliver value for the University

• Experience of managing and developing teams of people from diverse professional backgrounds, experience of managing budgets, resources and funding and making sustainable long-term improvements

• A creative thinker, a good collaborator with a positive leadership style that inspires others

Communications

• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an ability to lead and motivate a team of staff to influence at a senior level with a positive and empowering approach

• Ability to communicate effectively and regularly at senior levels, to persuade and influence, and to keep the University abreast of developments to ensure service provision is in line with broader agendas

• Competence in representing the University externally to partners, industry and other bodies, in the UK and internationally

• Ability to work across the academic community with credibility responding to academic needs and priorities whilst proactively identifying opportunities aligned to the University’s Strategic Framework

• Demonstrable relationship building skills across multiple audiences and stakeholder groups

• Ability to influence a broad range of internal and external stakeholders

Dealing with Problems

• Ability to think creatively about opportunities and threats, to face conflict and look for common ground on which to build

• Competence in evaluating departmental activity and ability to recommend and implement innovative solutions to improve service quality, efficiency and continuity

• Experience of being a role model reflecting External Relations values and behaviours demonstrating resilience and positive response to change and a strong understanding of University culture

Organisational Skills

• Aptitude to shape strategic direction and develop and implement operational plans in order to deliver the University’s objectives as set out in its vision

• Through being accessible and visible, ability to provide leadership, for a team of professional staff and create a motivating environment where people are challenged, developed, encouraged and supported to achieve outstanding results

• Ability to develop long-term plans and chart a path towards their achievement whilst balancing short terms pressures and challenges

• Ability to understand priorities and adapt to changes with strong time management

• Able to operate flexibly within a busy work environment, shifting focus when required. Dynamic, outgoing and practical, with an aptitude to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines

  
  

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.