Job Description

Role: Regional Recruitment Manager, China

Location: Beijing, Shanghai, GZ or Chengdu

Job type: Full time, Contractual

Why QS?

At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That’s why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst thriving personally and professionally. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.

It’s our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives.

Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.

At QS, you’ll be responsible for implementing real change in the international higher education landscape. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that see a positive impact across the business and the wider sector.

We’re confident you’ll feel right at home here. QS was named as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023) – recognition of the respect, trust and appreciation that drive our culture every day and as a gold-accredited Investors in People organisation – putting us among the top 28% of workplaces globally – it’s official: QS is a place where everyone can thrive.

As a Regional Recruitment Manager, China, this is what you’ll be doing:

We are looking for a dynamic, independent and target-driven Regional Recruitment Manager to represent and promote our client’s brand – Royal College of Art London (RCA), developing partner networks, supporting alumni and driving international student recruitment. They will have a specific focus on supporting the institution’s well-developed Chinese market and will be expected to work with RCA to develop and execute a successful marketing, support and recruitment plan. Significant travel is expected.

RCA is a world-leading art, design and architecture university in the United Kingdom. They have well established student recruitment in China but are looking to ensure this continues and is of a high quality; as well as to undertake more activity in China. You will work directly with both QS University Services Team and RCA’s student recruitment team, and this role will include opportunities to connect with RCA’s world-renowned academic staff and alumni.

A significant induction and training programme will be provided. RCA is looking for someone to deliver their strategy whilst also developing exciting new initiatives to support the institution’s student recruitment objectives, so are open to hearing new ideas.

Role responsibilities:

Partnership Support

• Work with the RCA’s small network of international education agents to promote the Graduate Diploma, specifically:
  • Acting as a first point of call for queries
  • Receiving and responding to agent-related student complaints
  • Checking to ensure that agencies are working in conjunction with the rules of the British Council Agent Quality Framework
  • Delivering agent training and attending in-country events as appropriate
• Supporting the RCA’s work with its academic partners in China on an ad-hoc basis, including:
  • Supporting academic or senior team visits
  • Attending and supporting the organisation of partnership events
  • Building student recruitment activities with academic partners, and supporting progression agreements

Recruitment Strategy and Conversion

• Drive high-quality student engagement to ensure continued high applications & conversion from China.
• Grow awareness of new programmes within China, as well as programmes where Chinese students are underrepresented.
• Ensure Chinese applicants are well informed about the RCA application process and engage with the resources and events available to them.
• Make suggestions for new resources and events that will better support Chinese applicants to the RCA.
• Working with RCA academics to design, organize & deliver bespoke information sessions and events across key cities-targeting prospects, offer holders or potential feeder institutions, and coordinating production and distribution of marketing collateral if needed.
• Promote and deliver (if required) online events.
• Lead on developing and posting WeChat content supporting student recruitment and conversion
• Work with RCA casual workers and the internal social media team to ensure that the RCA has a compelling presence on Little Red Book, and other Chinese social media channels as appropriate
• Work with the RCA website team to manage and update the RCA’s Chinese language web presence and ensure the College is accurately represented to Chinese search engines such as Baidu

Alumni Support

• Provide ad-hoc support to the RCA alumni team, particularly around planned alumni events in China
• Attend selected events curated by Chinese alumni chapters, in order to represent the RCA
• Collate and share information on successes of Chinese RCA alumni, to use in social media, newsletters, and other promotional activities

Support for other China-based education and commercial partnership opportunities

• Promote English for Academic Purposes programmes to incoming RCA students, and encourage greater sign up
• Promote RCA online Short Courses where relevant to Chinese audiences, working with the relevant teams to develop a China-based promotional plan
• Act as an in-country support for opportunities around Executive Education, Knowledge Exchange, consultancy or Research partnerships (please note, this would be only in the introductory/ business opportunity stage)

Market Management and Client Success

• Work with the wider QS team to deliver a client-focused approach to the service that meets business objectives.
• Manage and deliver to projects and assignments relating to the operational work underpinning the delivery service for RCA.
• Undertake market research, including potential country-specific scholarships from the government and the private sector, and produce country and market analysis, contributing to the ongoing development and implementation of international student recruitment activity.
• Ensure the RCA team is aware of the needs of Chinese students and future alumni.
• Effective and efficient use of external and internal tools and software e.g. CRMS to maintain accurate and complete data records.
• Ensure that excellent customer service is provided at all times to clients, international representatives, prospective students and parents through all channels.
• Effectively manage the planning and budgeting of resources to optimize regional recruitment activities.

Key skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or Equivalent. Study abroad experience in the UK will be valuable.
• Experience working in an international office environment in higher education or in a marketing or business development role, or in the creative or cultural sectors would be advantageous.
• Confidence to represent a world-leading art and design university to prospective students and their influencers, and to senior staff at universities and industry.
• Excellent spoken and written skills (in English) and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships.
• Proven understanding of the international education market and motivations of Chinese students for international study
• A broad knowledge and understanding of the political, social and economic environment in China would be advantageous. The ability to report on regional trends and suggest/supply content for marketing communications is a benefit.
• Knowledge of the UK higher education sector, including UK-equivalent qualifications, entry and visa requirements and processes, will be advantageous.
• Knowledge, interest and enthusiasm for contemporary art, design, architecture and culture, plus an existing network of connections in the cultural and creative industries and universities in China are all beneficial.
• Experience and demonstrated skills in event organisation and management.
• Proven capacity to develop and implement plans to achieve defined outcomes
• Creative and innovative expertise to develop initiatives that excite and motivate prospective students and their influencers.
• Problem-solving skills, the ability to work individually on tasks and collaboratively in a team environment
• Highly developed organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple complex tasks with competing deadlines and work under pressure and to meet challenging recruitment targets
• Ability to work flexibly, working outside of normal office hours on occasions; extensive (>50%) travel will be required.

So, who are we and what do we do?

QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. From consultancy to student mobility, academic partnerships to branding solutions, our services power both institutional and individual success.

We’re behind the world’s most widely read university rankings (Meltwater 2023). Our QS World University Rankings® reach hundreds of millions, shaping decisions and guiding futures.

Since launching in 1990, our impact and influence have only grown. Today, we work with more than 2,000 of the world’s leading higher education institutions, over 12,000 employers, and governments seeking change and socioeconomic development through higher education.

Join QS and you’ll join an 800-strong community of problem-solvers, creators, collaborators and change-makers based in 40+ countries and 11 international offices, including Australia, Malaysia, India, Romania, Singapore, France, Germany, the USA and our headquarters in London.

With every talented new hire, business acquisition and bold initiative, we’re strengthening our reach and delivering even greater value to institutions and learners worldwide. Are you ready to shape the future of higher education?

Like what you’ve heard? Great, apply now!

As a candidate, we know the application and interview process can be daunting and so it’s important that you have a great experience with us. Our dedicated Talent Team will work hard to ensure you are fully informed at all stages and you are really excited by this opportunity to do meaningful work in the education space.

Equal opportunities

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is proud to be a fair and equal organisation where everyone has the same opportunity to achieve their full potential, irrespective of their background or personal attributes. We celebrate our diversity and believe through sharing our experiences we can learn from one another, be stronger together, and enable our business to thrive.

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