Location: Remote in Dubai, UAE
We are looking for a talented, dedicated professional to be a UAE - based Regional Recruitment Director (MENA) supporting The University of New South Wales (UNSW) via Grok Global Services’ Program Office .
About Grok Global Services
Founded in 2005, Grok Global Services is a best-in-class provider of international engagement services for higher education institutions. By joining our team, you will be working in a supportive environment full of like-minded professionals, each committed to advancing the internationalization of higher education institutions from around the world.
A pioneer of in-country staffing in the international education sector, Grok remains at the forefront of this model and currently delivers this service across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. The company also boasts industry-leading divisions in digital marketing and strategic consulting.
About The University of New South Wales (UNSW)
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is one of Australia's leading research and teaching universities.
Established in 1949, UNSW has expanded rapidly and now has more than 63,000 students, including more than 14,000 international students from over 130 different countries. UNSW offers more than 300 undergraduate and 600 postgraduate programs and has developed an extensive network of alumni chapters throughout Asia.
UNSW is a founding member of the prestigious Group of Eight research intensive universities in Australia and a member of the Universitas 21 international consortium.
The main UNSW campus is located on a 38-hectare site at Kensington, in Sydney. Other campuses are UNSW Art and Design (Paddington), UNSW Canberra (Canberra City and Australian Defence Force Academy), and sub-campuses at Randwick and Coogee, as well as research stations around NSW.
About the Role
The Marketing & Digital Experience team at UNSW dually strengthens recruitment efforts, positioning the university as the top choice for local and international students, as well as enhancing UNSW’s global brand reputation by creating sharper brand distinctiveness and amplifying UNSW’s globally renowned expertise.
The Regional Recruitment Director (MENA) is based in the Middle East region and plays a key leadership role overseeing international student recruitment across the Middle East, North Africa, and emerging global markets. This role is responsible for leading the design and implementation of regional recruitment strategies, managing high-level stakeholder relationships, and driving performance across a team of International Regional Managers across Pakistan and Africa. This role also drives student recruitment and conversion outcomes across its own regional portfolio which includes the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
Working closely with the broader International Recruitment team and internal stakeholders across Marketing & Digital Experience, Admissions & Scholarships, and Student Life, the Regional Recruitment Director will lead initiatives to enhance market share, improve conversion rates, and ensure a high-quality, diverse student cohort aligned with UNSW’s strategic goals. The role will be underpinned by taking a data-informed approach to student recruitment and engagement initiatives, ensuring a strong focus on lead generation, nurture and conversion through UNSW’s CRM and related systems.
The role reports to the Senior International Market Development Lead and has three direct reports.
Accountabilities
Specific accountabilities for this role include:
- Responsible for leading the development and overseeing the implementation of comprehensive regional sales strategies and operating plans across MENA, Pakistan and Africa to achieve commencement targets at both pan-UNSW and faculty levels, while driving market share growth, regional diversification, and long-term strategic positioning.
- Lead a team of International Regional Managers, providing strategic direction, performance oversight and professional development in order to drive sales achievement, excellence, and exceed commencement targets across their regional portfolio.
- Drive sales operations in line with best practice, including an account management strategy for international recruitment agents with a focus on driving enrolment quality, growth and diversity, and improved return on investment.
- Manage and nurture high-level relationships with key partners across recruitment channels including agents, schools, articulation partners, sponsors, government and industry.
- In partnership with the Marketing and Digital Experience Team and Faculties, develop sales and marketing campaigns to strategically distinguish UNSW from competitors in your region and deliver growth within target markets.
- Responsible for the delivery of the University’s market and channel diversification strategies as applied to your region, working in partnership with ‘feeder’ partners including international schools, articulation partners, study abroad organisations and government/industry sponsors.
- Lead on pipeline and CRM improvements as well as conversion strategies to benefit global recruitment activities, drive numbers and increase return on investment, collaborating with the broader International Recruitment team to drive continuous improvement.
- Effectively utilise and leverage the UNSW CRM, ensuring that future student information and key data is entered, stored and effectively used to maximise recruitment, conversion and enrolments across programs.
- Represent the University at student recruitment events, expos, school and agent visits both locally and internationally (as required) to drive achievement of your and your team’s regional sales strategies.
- Provide expert knowledge and insights on market trends. Share data, insights and competitor intelligence to Faculties and other stakeholders including post-census reviews of regional plans and strategies and return on investment analysis on agent performance, events and conversion activities.
- Provide advice to key senior stakeholders on the development and delivery of the University's regional sales and recruitment operations.
- Effectively manage an activity budget aligned with your regional sales plan, providing timely reporting and reconciliation of expenses.
- Conduct and report on analysis of sales data in a regular and timely manner, providing key insights for strategic decision making, financial forecasting and student load planning.
- Provide support (as required) towards reducing the University’s non-genuine student risk from international markets, ensuring the highest quality genuine students enrol in UNSW programs.
- Ensure compliance with data governance, privacy, and ethical engagement standards.
- Align with and actively demonstrate the Code of Conduct and Values.
Ensure hazards and risks psychosocial and physical are identified and controlled for tasks, projects, and activities that pose a health and safety risk within your area of responsibility.
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Skills and Experience
- Relevant tertiary level qualifications in a business-related discipline with significant demonstrated success in senior student recruitment or sales management, with a readiness to transition into a regional leadership role with a leading global institution
- Proven track record of successful performance and sales management excellence to achieve targets across both B2B and direct channels, with a proven track record of exceeding sales targets in competitive international markets.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience mentoring or developing recruitment professionals, networks, or student recruitment channels.
- Strong knowledge of sales and account management with experience in shaping strategy and implementing sales plans, including (but not limited to) developing structured processes and metrics, managing timelines and budgets to achieve successful, cost-effective outcomes.
- Strong track record in executing conversion and retention strategies through a CRM and lead management automation tools.
- Strong track record in developing best practice around sales operations, embracing technology to improve operating model efficiency and effectiveness.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into action.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on clarity, persuasion, and engaging diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage complex stakeholder relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including across government, industry, and education sectors.
- Excellent time management skills, with a demonstrated ability to autonomously respond to changing priorities, manage multiple tasks and meet competing deadlines.
- Ability to apply judgement, creativity, and flexibility to generate new and innovative ideas and approaches and to solve complex problems.
- An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
Knowledge of health & safety (psychosocial and physical) responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.
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Role Requirement
The Regional Recruitment Director role will at times be required to work flexible hours in order to attend various recruitment events and activities, including local and/or international travel. During operationally critical periods possible annual leave restrictions will apply.
To learn more about Grok, please visit us at our website: https://grokglobal.com/ and by following us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grokglobal/
