Global Partnerships Manager – External Relations – 48418 – Grade 7

Job Title: External Relations

Position Details

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UKGrade: 7Full time, PermanentClosing date: 21st June 2026UK and International travel may be required.

Full time starting salary range £36,636 to £46,049, with potential progression to £48,822.

Role Summary

The role supports the delivery of the University’s International Strategy by developing international partnerships and collaborative opportunities. Working with academics and professional services colleagues, the post holder will build trusted relationships that support sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships and strategic opportunities. The post holder will also act as a trusted partner to Colleges and senior stakeholders, providing informed advice, regional insight and strategic support to advance the University’s international ambitions.

Main Duties

• Contribute to the University’s International Strategy by evaluating research, reputation and education opportunities and progressing initiatives for partnership development (both in the UK and overseas) that will enhance the University’s global reputation and profile.
• Develop a detailed understanding of the opportunities, policy landscape and initiatives that support mutually beneficial collaboration in defined regions, to advise academic colleagues and operationalise the International Strategy.
• Provide advice and guidance to Colleges on the development of new and existing schemes that promote sustainable partnerships, including education, research and reputation building activities. This includes:
  • Establishing and maintaining trusted professional relationships and networks across the University.
  • Developing and delivering effective communications plans.
  • Evaluating external data sources to identify and respond to partnership opportunities.
  • Providing detailed market, policy and regional background information, briefing materials and assessments of opportunities.
  • Assessing proposals for international engagement and approaches from potential partners.
• Manage programmes of incoming overseas delegations, partnership engagement events and other activities, including symposia, round tables, receptions and senior stakeholder visits.
• Organise and undertake overseas travel in support of partnership development. This may include:
  • Management of outgoing and incoming academic and institutional delegations.
  • Organising, leading and participating in international conferences, seminars, receptions, round tables and other strategic engagement events.
  • Leading discussions with academic departments and professional services to realise partnership objectives.
  • Ensuring actions are followed up and agreed opportunities are taken forward.
  • Preparing costings and managing designated budgets.
• Provide high‑level project management support for defined projects and initiatives, which may include research and education partnerships.
• Act as the principal contact point for identified partners, collaborating with academics and professional services colleagues.
• Manage defined budgets effectively, pre‑paring and submitting budgets, undertaking accurate forecasting, reconciliation and reporting as required.
• Ensure that priorities are balanced and deliver agreed deliverables within timelines.
• Foster a fair and equitable workplace for all staff; identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with university policies.
• Support the University’s sustainability agenda through resource‑efficient working.
• Other relevant duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Qualified to degree level or equivalent, plus practical managerial experience or significant relevant experience demonstrated through increasingly demanding roles.
• Knowledge of the international higher education sector and current opportunities and challenges.
• Experience of planning, coordinating and delivering high‑quality stakeholder engagement events (conferences, symposia, delegations, receptions or similar).
• Ability to produce high‑quality policy, market and regional briefing materials to support strategic decision‑making and senior stakeholder engagement.
• Experience of working collaboratively with academic Colleges and/or complex stakeholder environments.
• Working knowledge of partnership development and evidence of ability to formulate operational plans that deliver on strategic objectives.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly and to analyse information and data.
• Excellent people‑management skills.
• Excellent budgetary management skills and experience.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including MS Office and website editing software.
• Excellent interpersonal, intercultural, communication, relationship‑building and influencing skills.
• Excellent organisational, project management, problem‑solving and multi‑tasking skills.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics and duties under the Equality Act 2010; fostering good relations and advancing the university’s Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED).
• Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff; identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with university policies and procedures.
• Other relevant criteria from the university’s equality and diversity duties document.
• Supports the university’s sustainability agenda through resource‑efficient working.

Informal enquiries to Wenwei Wu, email: w.wu@bham.ac.uk

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