Country Advisor, International Partnerships

Title: Country Advisor, International Partnerships (South Asia) supporting Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Education : Relevant tertiary qualification with subsequent extensive relevant experience and/or an equivalent combination of relevant experience, education and training

Location: New Delhi

About OneStep Global: 

OneStep Global, a market entry firm specialized in the higher education sector. OneStep Global helps universities, colleges, government organizations to land and expand across Asia, through stake holder management and in country representation. OneStep Global has been working with some very prestigious universities and colleges across the world. The solutions vary from market development, market entry and market presence. 

About RMIT:

RMIT is a multi-sector university of technology, design and enterprise with more than 96,000 students and close to 10,000 staff globally. The University’s mission is to help shape the world through research, innovation and engagement, and to create transformative experiences for students to prepare them for life and work.

RMIT is a truly global university. Their three main campuses in Melbourne are located in the heart of the city, Brunswick and Bundoora. Other locations include Point Cook, Hamilton and Bendigo, two campuses in Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) and a center in Barcelona, Spain. 

The University is also committed to redefining the relationship in working with, and supporting, Indigenous self-determination. The goal is to achieve lasting transformation by maturing their values, culture, policy and structures in a way that embeds reconciliation in everything they do. RMIT is changing their ways of knowing, working and being to support sustainable reconciliation and activate a relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff, students and community. Their three campuses in Melbourne (City, Brunswick and Bundoora campuses) are located on the unceded lands of the people of the Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation.

RMIT has a presence in India in partnership with BITS PIlani, delivering programs across three campus locations. Strategic initiatives, detailed within RMIT’s Knowledge with Action (KWA) strategy, are focused on deepening the university’s engagement across South Asia, promoting connections between RMIT locations, nurturing Indian talent, and fostering engagement with government, industry and alumni, and thought leadership.

The Role: 

The International and Engagement group is led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor International & Engagement and Vice-President. The portfolio is responsible for RMIT’s international strategy and agenda, including international development and partnerships and oversight of their international operations including RMIT Vietnam and RMIT Europe. It consists of the following units: 

·       International (with oversight of operations in South Asia, Southeast Asia and North Asia regions)

·       RMIT Vietnam 

·       RMIT Europe 

·       University Communications 

·       Experience (Global Student Recruitment; Global Marketing and Regional Hubs; Market Intelligence & Propositions; Digital & Experience) 

·       Business Development, Philanthropy, RMIT Culture 

The In-Country Advisor, International Partnerships (South Asia) supporting RMIT will be the University’s central liaison in the region, based in Delhi and will strengthen RMIT’s presence and engagement with government, academic institutions, industry and alumni. The incumbent will provide high-level advice for the identification, development and management of the University’s strategic partnerships in India and the South Asia region and will support high level RMIT stakeholders with in-country engagement activities.

The role requires strong stakeholder management skills with a sound understanding of the international higher education environment and cross-cultural context with a specific focus on South Asia.

Reporting:

The incumbent will report directly to the Manager, International Partnerships (South Asia)

Key responsibilities: 

·      Provide on the ground leadership for RMIT in establishing and maintaining relations, within a cross-cultural context, with key stakeholders from government, higher education institutions, industry and alumni through continuous networking and communications to identify and support opportunities aligned to RMIT’s strategic priorities.

·      Support strategic initiatives to optimize and further develop RMIT’s international agenda in India and the South Asia region, identifying and recommending potential opportunities to further the international agenda as required.

·      Facilitate and organize meetings and engagements with various external stakeholders for visiting RMIT staff and executives including preparing briefings, minutes of the meeting and follow-up as required.

·      Support the identification and activation of thought leadership events in collaboration with RMIT Colleges in Melbourne.

·      Support the implementation and development of RMIT's South Asia partnerships, with a core focus on strengthening partnership relations.

·      Provide market intelligence to support RMIT in its engagements across the region;

·      Initiate, build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and members of project teams, as required.

·      Facilitate and promote collaborative knowledge building and knowledge sharing among colleagues.

Person Specification: 

·      Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management and building and maintaining high-level strategic partnerships.

·      Demonstrated experience and success in an engagement or business liaison role.

·      Confident communication and networking skills to develop and support relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including government, industry and professional networks, community organisations and RMIT students, staff, and Alumni network.

·      Substantial knowledge of the higher education and the vocational education and training sectors in India and the South Asia markets and established networks in country.

·      Well-developed planning and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines.

·      Experience in working in a cross-cultural context with different Asian cultures and industry, in the international markets in which RMIT operates, including but not limited to the South Asia region.

·      Highly developed oral and written communication skills, with an emphasis on written reports and submissions.

·      Capacity to think and work innovatively, effectively and flexibly in a small team environment.

The incumbent must comply with a range of statutory requirements, including equal opportunity, occupational health and safety, privacy and trade practice. We also expect the incumbent to comply with its policy and procedures, which relate to statutory requirements and our ways of working.

Appointees are accountable for completing training on these matters and ensuring their knowledge and the knowledge of their staff is up to date.

Availability and start date : 

Immediate, however any notice period for the right candidate will be honored.

NOTE: 

·      Able to work occasional ‘out-of-hours’ and weekends at peak times.

·      Willingness to travel when required within India and potentially to other countries (a valid passport being the expectation).

OneStep Global is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation.