Regional Manager, International Recruitment & Partnerships

Application Deadline: 05/28/2024  

Requisition ID: 7508 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenizationand commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policyand employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Our locations are situated on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. We recognize the unique heritages of Indigenous peoples and support their intentions to preserve and express their distinctive Indigenous cultures, histories, and knowledge through academic programming and co-curricular activities. Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy is one example of how Laurier honours Indigenous knowledge.

Position Summary

At Laurier, we are a community. It’s what brings our students here and what keeps our people here.  As an educational institution, we inspire lives of leadership and purpose in our student community. As an employer, we seek, foster and value the same qualities of leadership and purpose in our employee community.

The Recruitment & Admissions unit (R&A) is a division of the Enrolment Services department of the university.  International Recruitment & Partnerships is one of four areas within the R&A unit: Canadian Student Recruitment, Admissions, Marketing & Communications, and International Recruitment & Partnerships (IR&P). 

Reporting to the Director, International Recruitment & Partnerships, the Regional Manager, International Recruitment & Partnerships, serves as a key member of this team to ensure the international recruitment and partnerships mandates and enrolment goals of the university at large are met.  This team implements strategic plans to advance the position of Wilfrid Laurier University nationally and internationally as a destination for high caliber students.  This Regional Manager position is responsible for creating and maintaining effective and intercultural relationships with internal and external partners and the recruitment and admissions components of designated regions and countries in the world.

The incumbent will assist in creating new and maintaining existing relationships between the university and international and national institutions and partners; will communicate with prospective students and their families; will participate in public speaking engagements and participate in the promotion of the university on an international and national level. In this high-pressure, high-volume environment, the incumbent will provide exceptional customer service with these important groups to ensure information needed to make key decisions is provided promptly and with an engaging personal touch.  This position is very fast paced due to the high volume of requests. The incumbent plays a key role by ensuring priorities are set and contributes to the group meeting its deadlines while upholding Laurier’s high standard of partnerships, communication, recruitment, and admissions.  

The incumbent will be strategically placed in Brantford to allow for a client service perspective for their respective campus in international enrolment and support various campus-specific partners such as the Senior Staff of R&A, Wilfrid Laurier International College, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS), the Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) committee and Deans related to the impact international enrolment has for their respective faculties. It is highly desirable for international students from specific regions of the world to study in programs that are offered at the Brantford campus and future campuses (science, engineering, human and social sciences, and liberal arts).  The incumbent will be responsible to create evidence-based market development plans for those campuses with accountability for agreed upon deliverables.  The Regional Manager will also be responsible for identifying and executing Academic Outreach opportunities with relevant partners.  All this activity will contribute to the aspirations in the Laurier Strategy: 2019-2024 of creating a thriving community and developing future-ready people through Internationalization. 

Recruitment and Admissions is a team based multi-campus environment and this role will be a key contributor to the overall objectives of this team. Positive interpersonal interactions are required on an ongoing basis with departments (e.g. Laurier International, Student Services) at the Waterloo Campus, and the Brantford Campus, Wilfrid Laurier International College, Regional Representatives, Education Agents, and other external partners.  This position has a university-wide mandate that will require travel to all campuses and is based at the Brantford Campus. 

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities.

Accountabilities

1. Partner relations coordination

• Manage the Education Agent relationships: vetting and signing new agents, training of agents and their staff, ongoing commission payment responsibilities, maintaining the legal contracts of the agents and database maintenance
• Respond to Education agent inquiries, application and performance and provide follow-up on recruitment trips and agent meetings
• Keep detailed records of agent communication and maintain an effective system of record retrieval
• Identify opportunities in key recruitment markets to establish agreements and work with the appropriate partners within Laurier to ensure elements of the agreements are carried out
• Creation and submission of statistical reports, as well as research into new markets for student recruitment and sourcing new agents
• Collaborate with campus partners at their specific campus to represent international recruitment and partnerships, including the Senior Staff of the R&A unit, Wilfrid Laurier International College (WLIC), SEM, FGPS, and the office of the Deans
• Work closely with the members of the Academic community that are most engaged with program development and delivery to provide market expertise
• Work with domestic Admissions, Laurier International, academic units and other internal stakeholders to ensure that prospective students receive timely and accurate information and excellent quality of service

1. Implementation of visit plan and recruitment/conversion activities

• Project based work relating to prospective students, their recruitment and confirmation to attend Laurier; maintain relevant project action plans
• Ensure Laurier recruitment processes are tailored to address the needs of a diverse international population
• Travel independently ( in Canada and internationally) , speaking to groups of prospective students, their parents, education agents, government officials and school administrators
• Participate in open houses, school tours and visits on campuses from Ontario and International schools
• Using excellent and engaging presentation skills, participate in virtual and in-person recruitment fairs as needed
• Guide international applicants and their representatives through the application process
• Advise prospective students, parents, school counsellors, other school officials and community groups on academic and university choices
• Respond to requests for information from prospective students, teachers, guidance counsellors, parents, government officials, agents and other representatives etc.
• Assist domestic recruitment personnel with visits, career fairs and campus tours as needed

1. Planning, analysis, and reporting

• Help identify target markets for international activities including alignment between Laurier academic programming and demand in target markets, especially those related to the Brantford and future campuses
• Conduct in-depth market research and create market briefs that will inform decision making for recruitment efforts, especially related to the programs offered at the specific campus
• Create the market development strategies for future campuses and the new programming that will be available there for international students
• Provide statistical and other data with recommendations to make policies more relevant 
• Participate in recruitment training, including gathering extensive knowledge of the university, public speaking and presentation practice and gaining extensive knowledge of the admission practices and procedures
• Participate in the travel planning and collective conversations regarding key markets and specific regions assigned
• Plan and execute relevant Academic Outreach initiatives with campus specific expertise for international markets

• Prepare and submit accurate monthly statistics and travel expenses and maintain strategic action plans for assigned regions
• Collect and report performance measures, contact statistics and financial summaries
• Schedule and co-ordinate timetable of all visits, arranging for travel and lodging as needed

1. Admissions

• Provide exceptional service to applicants via email and phone to ensure information needed to make key decisions is provided promptly and with a personal touch
• Assist with the admissions processes for files from assigned regions and curriculums: understanding all elements of the application, requirements, decision-making and issuing of offers, within internally and externally determined deadlines and in a dynamic environment,  adhering to established policies as set out by Senate, the admissions office, and Laurier’s admissions committees
• Evaluate diverse candidates’ educational background and provides counselling and appropriate recommendations and alternatives
• Exercise advocacy for special cases to admissions’ committees for review and communicate decisions and, if necessary, options/alternatives to the applicant
• Research, evaluate and apply pertinent criteria of national, international, and trans-national educational programs and systems to ensure admission requirements or equivalencies are met
• Apply knowledge and understanding of Admissions Committee and Senate policies and guidelines to influence and maintain fair and equitable practices
• Support domestic recruitment and admissions work when possible to ensure all cohorts are up to date and overall enrolment objectives are met
• Diffuse situations where applicant is dissatisfied with outcome

Qualifications

• Undergraduate university degree
• Minimum two years international recruitment or related work experience
• Experience living or extended travelling abroad in a cross-cultural context

• Knowledgeable of international educational systems and practices, university programs, university regulations, policies, and procedures

• Experienced at public speaking and making effective presentations that engage the audience to continue with a personal dialogue
• Knowledge of and experience in advising students on educational policies and procedures an asset
• Demonstrated exceptional writing skills that reflects a commitment to precision, customer service, and natural rapport building
• Demonstrated skill/ability in the following areas: dealing courteously and effectively with people; exercising good judgement and initiative; answering inquiries in a clear and concise manner
• Effective interpersonal and public relations skills
• Ability to work independently and set priorities as well as a commitment to a positive team environment and supportive workplace
• Excellent organizational skills and acute attention to detail
• Experience using social media as a marketing tool within an organization
• Knowledge of the visa process for international students
• Understand and maintain sensitivity to dissemination of information about Laurier, particularly admissions cut-off average information as well as when dealing with information about prospective students
• Available and willing to travel locally, nationally, and internationally and ability to be away from home for extended periods of time
• Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) certification is an asset
• Ability to speak and write fluently in another language is an asset. Arabic, Mandarin & Spanish languages are preferred.
• Valid “G” driver’s license with proven good driving record
• Ability to work evenings and weekends
• Ability to be away from home for extended periods of time

Hours of Work

This is a full-time, Limited term position with an expected end date of 08/10/2025. The normal hours of work are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 

Compensation 

Position Grade: 2A

Salary: $ 68,973 - $ 86,216

When new employees are hired the appropriate base salary is determined using these sub-ranges as a guide while adhering to rules on hiring as defined in our compensation policy. Considerations for new hire salaries include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careersfor additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.