Regional Student Partnership Manager supporting Cardiff

The India Partnerships Manager is a key position to develop Cardiff University’s in-country India partnerships strategy. They will be responsible for representing Cardiff University and driving the strategic development of the University’s partnership interests in India.

Cardiff University has ambitious targets around the development of education and research partnerships. The post holder will be responsible for helping to deliver these by working closely with colleagues the International Partnerships team, and across the wider University – notably the International Dean for India Pro-Vice-Chancellor International.

Drawing upon his/her knowledge of the economic, educational and political landscape in India, the India Partnerships Manager will take the lead to identify, develop, and monitor the progress of collaborative partnerships and programmes through regular visits to partners and liaison with key academics from the University. The post holder will also be expected to advise the University on the opportunities and choices it faces in order to deliver the partnerships vision of the University. This will include identifying the potential for value creation across a range of activities including establishing new partnerships, managing new and existing key stakeholder relationships, business engagement (where appropriate), identifying and accessing new funding opportunities, partnership enterprises etc. This will require maintaining an up-to-date appreciation of the higher education and related markets, and development of strong relationships with appropriate government agencies, funding bodies and other influential stakeholders. This post will involve some travel overseas and pre-agreed travel within India.

Objective

-Focus on developing institutional relationships and presence in-country, concentrating specifically on “partnership development” and stakeholder engagement.

-Identify opportunities, implement strategy, and shape the University’s thinking in order to fulfil our long-term partnerships ambitions for engagement in India.

-Support with strategic, high-level Cardiff University visits to India.

-Lead the development and delivery of an annual schedule of activities among key stakeholders and partners, through academic workshops, collaborative meetings, high-profile partnership engagement activities to raise the University’s profile and increase quality partnerships

-Support and advise on the development of the University’s global profile building work in India

-Provide high-quality management information and policy insight reports to support the development of Cardiff’s India partnerships strategy.

-Identify business development opportunities across both education and research and support colleagues in the implementation of any business development projects in India.

Responsible for:

-Represent the University and drive the strategic development of the University’s partnerships interests in India.

-To build, analyse and monitor market developments in order to provide regular tailored partnerships updates to Cardiff University faculty and staff. Make regular reports to the International Partnerships Team including changes in market conditions, new opportunities, competitor activity, the scale of risk and mitigating actions.

-Make appropriate recommendations on suggestions for future academic partnership engagements that fit the University’s academic, reputation, and business-engagement profile.

-To keep up to date with Indian government (national and local) legislation covering partnerships and provide advice to the International Partnerships Team on opportunities and requirements

-To brief visiting academics and staff on partnership market developments, as required

-To provide support in identifying and establishing future University’s Strategic and key academic Partners in India, including articulation and progression agreements and research opportunities

-Support the delivery of funding opportunities, education partnerships and new business opportunities (where appropriate), including training and education, partnerships, capacity-building partnerships, research partnerships etc., by by working closely with colleagues from the University in the UK, the International Partnerships Office team, and across the wider University (both academic and professional service) and notably the International Dean for India

-Identify high-value research opportunities and feed these through the University to ensure the most effective response from it in order to take advantage of these.

-Identify, initiate, manage and monitor the progress of collaborative projects and programmes through regular visits to partners and liaison with key academics from the University.

-Maintain existing relationships and identify and develop new relationships with a range of government, non-government and institutional stakeholders in order to deliver value through research and educational partnerships.

-Act as first point of contact and relationship holder with local partnership stakeholders and represent the University to external organizations as appropriate

-Be the main point of contact for the University’s academic and professional services staff who wish to establish links or to advance collaboration with Indian partners, and advise on the partner suitability and appropriate actions.

-Ensure the University is able to meet its targets through engagement with key partners and partnership stakeholders.

-Contribute towards refining and implementing partnerships strategy including in-country presence.

-Work with the International Partnerships Team and other Professional Service units to plan and execute strategic projects as required.

-Provide project management support for collaborative initiatives in-country, which may include supporting incoming academic visits and organising workshops.

-Proactively seek local and international funding opportunities for joint projects, and establish a network of effective contacts with local funding bodies including government departments, research councils, foundations etc.

-Maintain an up-to-date stakeholder database.

-Manage in-country budget for partnerships operations

Specific Role requirements:

-Ability to travel in-country and internationally as required by the role.

-Ability to accompany senior level staff on visits to India

-Ability to travel to Cardiff to engage directly with academic and professional service colleagues (As appropriate and agreed).

Personal Requirements

Essential skills, knowledge, Qualifications and experience required:

-Self-starter, able to work independently.

-Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional qualification, preferably from a UK institution.

-Familiarity with Indian Higher Education landscape including funding opportunities.

-Experience of working with government agencies and funding organization. Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of UK Higher Education System. Substantial relevant working experience, including previous experience of partnership development

-Cultural sensitivity, tact and diplomacy.

-Excellent oral and written skills (English and Hindi).

-Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to build effective and trusting partnerships with a range of stakeholders including senior academic colleagues. Excellent presentation skills to a variety of audiences.

-Confidence in negotiating agreements with strong influencing skills to gain commitment.

-Proven IT skills, including the use of CRM systems and data management tools (e.g. Access, Excel).

-Knowledge and experience of managing budgets.

-Able to manage workload and populate local travel schedule.

-Demonstrable ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues.

-Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.

Desired Qualification, skills and competencies

Experience of living or studying overseas and an understanding of different cultures.

Sound understanding of the global education environment.

Location: Delhi NCR, UKIBC follows Hybrid work model. Please do share your CV on amanpreet.singh@ukibc.com.