Strategic Director of Commercial Strategy and Student Recruitment na The City of Liverpool College
The City of Liverpool College · Liverpool, Reino Unido · Onsite
- Senior
- Escritório em Liverpool
This strategic leadership post drives student recruitment and commercial growth whilst maintaining the College’s reputation as The College for Business. The post is responsible for establishing and leading a new attraction function, creating a more targeted and personalised service for applicants. The post holder will combine strategic vision with innovation, ensuring sector partnerships and employer services continue to grow and deliver outstanding outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and lead the college’s comprehensive commercial strategy and student recruitment plan, aligning with our established reputation as 'The College for Business'.
- Oversee student recruitment across all areas (16–18 provision, adult education, apprenticeships, higher education, commercial and full cost etc.), ensuring campaigns and outreach activities meet or exceed target.
- Establish and lead a newly created attraction function, a bespoke applicant-facing service to provide personalised, proactive engagement with prospective students and new businesses.
- Identify and develop new income-generating opportunities for the college, forging partnerships with businesses and external organisations.
- Work closely with curriculum schools, Directors of Faculty, Vice Principal Curriculum Development and Innovation, and the Vice Principal Student Participation and Development to ensure curriculum offerings and student support align with recruitment goals and market demand.
- Line-manage the Director of Marketing and Communications, ensuring marketing and communications strategies support student recruitment and attraction functions.
- Provide inspirational leadership to teams responsible for marketing, student recruitment, admissions, and employer engagement.
- Represent the college to key external stakeholders and build strategic partnerships across the city region and with schools, employers, and community organisations.
- Champion strategies to recruit a diverse and inclusive student body, working closely with the Director of Diversity and Inclusion.
- Ensure processes deliver an excellent experience for applicants while upholding compliance requirements.
- Monitor and analyse recruitment data, market research, and demographic trends to inform decision-making.
- Collaborate with the Director of Student Services, Director of Learning Support and Wellbeing, and Directors of Education to ensure student services, learning support, and curriculum areas are aligned with recruitment and commercial strategies.
- Maintain and enhance the college’s established reputation as 'The College for Business', with a focus on further developing sector partnerships and the services offered to employers.
Professional Practice and Values
- To contribute fully to the mission and values statement of the College Group ensuring its effective implementation in all aspects of College life.
- To take a proactive approach and responsibility for personal professional development, Health & Safety, and meeting other regulatory compliance (e.g. GDPR, Safeguarding), thereby enabling safe and professional working practices to be observed at all times.
- To support cross college actives as required, particularly during key enrolment and invigilation periods.
- Carry out any other relevant and appropriate duties as determined by the needs of the service and as appropriate to the grade.
Due to the changing nature of our work, this role profile serves as a framework to outline the main areas of responsibility. You may be required to undertake other activities of a similar nature that fall within the remit of your area of work.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Substantial experience at a senior level in student recruitment, marketing, or commercial development within education or another relevant sector.
- Strong strategic planning skills with the ability to translate broad goals into actionable plans.
- Excellent commercial awareness with the ability to identify and capitalise on new business opportunities.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build networks and partnerships.
- Strong people management skills with experience leading multi-functional teams.
- A creative and forward-thinking approach to problem-solving, market attraction, and market retention.
- Commitment to delivering an outstanding experience for prospective students and partners.
- Passionate about the influence this role can have within the college’s commitment to equality and inclusion.
- Able to thrive in a fast-paced, target-driven environment with resilience and adaptability.
- Graduate or post-graduate level education or equivalent professional experience.
- Clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and commitment to integrity and transparency.
Desirable
- Deep understanding of the FE and HE landscape, including sector challenges and opportunities.
Benefits
Why Join The City of Liverpool College?
As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
As a valued member of our College community, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, dedicated wellbeing support, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth and development.
Here are some of the benefits available to you:
Generous holiday allowance
Generous holiday allowance
40 days annual holiday allowance, plus 1 annual wellbeing day
Pension Scheme
Pension Scheme
You'll be part of the Local Government Pension Scheme, with generous employer contributions of up to 20.20%.
Employee Benefits Platform
As part of your role, you’ll have access to the COLC Employee Benefits Platform, a one-stop hub for a wide range of perks designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and everyday savings. You’ll be able to access discounts at major supermarkets, fashion and lifestyle retailers, tech stores, travel providers, and more. You’ll also benefit from the Cycle to Work Scheme, cinema and leisure discounts and tech and home appliance discounts, with the option of spreading the cost through salary sacrifice. The platform is part of our commitment to supporting you in every aspect of your working life – and beyond.
Health and Wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing
As part of our commitment to supporting your health and wellbeing, all employees have access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a completely confidential support service available 24/7, 365 days a year. Whether you’re facing personal challenges, looking for advice, or simply need someone to talk to, Health Assured is here to help. Through Health Assured, you can access a 24/7 confidential helpline, face to face, online or telephone counselling, as well as structured support for a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationships, bereavement, legal and financial concerns.
You'll also have access to the online wellbeing portal, a secure, user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources, health assessments, articles, and guidance covering emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, and to the Wisdom App, which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools, meditation guides, fitness videos, and self-help modules
as well as daily wellbeing tips.
You’ll also be entitled to a free eye test through our voucher scheme with Specsavers, which covers a full eye exam (worth up to £25) and even includes £45 towards a pair of glasses. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.
Travel
You'll also have access to the online wellbeing portal, a secure, user-friendly platform offering a wide range of self-help resources, health assessments, articles, and guidance covering emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing, and to the Wisdom App, which offers mood trackers and wellbeing tools, meditation guides, fitness videos, and self-help modules
as well as daily wellbeing tips.
You’ll also be entitled to a free eye test through our voucher scheme with Specsavers, which covers a full eye exam (worth up to £25) and even includes £45 towards a pair of glasses. We also offer free flu vaccinations to help keep you feeling your best all year round.
Travel
We offer interest-free loans to help you buy annual travel passes from Merseytravel and Merseyrail. That means you can enjoy the savings of up to two months' free travel—without having to cover the full cost upfront. It’s all about making your commute more affordable and less stressful.
Flexible Working
We offer flexible working options depending on business need to support our employee's work-life balance.
Professional Development
We’re passionate about helping you thrive, offering a mix of formal and informal professional development opportunities—designed to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and accelerate your career.
College Benefits
Our excellent sports and fitness facilities can be used free of charge by staff. You can also access a range of discounted hair and beauty treatments at our Academy and Graduate Hair & Beauty Salons, and a staff discount at our Academy Restaurant.
