We are looking for a talented, dedicated professional to support Education Centre of Australia (ECA) as a Country Director (China) on a full-time, exclusive basis. The successful candidate will assist with the management of student recruitment activities while also supporting the ECA’s overall engagement in China. Duties will include coordinating with ECA on the creation and implementation of the China market strategy, monitoring results and adjusting the tactical plan to ensure optimal outcomes, working with key stakeholders in Australia, developing and maintaining high level relationships with new and existing partners in China, and other in-market activities as required. Significant travel is anticipated (40%).
About Education Centre of Australia (ECA Group):
The Education Centre of Australia (ECA) is one of the leading and diverse education groups that operates at the forefront of Australia’s Higher Education Sector, with multiple campuses in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Over the past two decades we have helped tens of thousands of students through English language courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and targeted internships.
Established in 2006 and headquartered in Sydney, ECA has grown to an annual admission of over 7,000 new students from over 40 countries. Students are largely sourced from ECA’s own recruitment offices in 7 regions and from its network of some 1,200+ education agents around the world.
ECA operate campuses in partnership with 6 universities across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and London:
- Victoria University – Sydney & Brisbane
- Swinburne University – Sydney
- University of Tasmania – Melbourne & Sydney
- University of Sunshine Coast – Adelaide
- University of Canberra – Sydney
- London Metropolitan University – London
Key duties
- Lead on, develop and implement a market plan aligned with wider ECA student recruitment objectives.
- Line manage and supervise a team of direct reports
- Achieve defined recruitment targets and KPIs.
- Lead on and develop productive working relationships with education agents, higher education institutions, high school networks, and other relevant external stakeholders in the market.
- Develop productive internal working relationships across ECA.
- Generate and report on market intelligence and utilise existing market data to identify and coordinate activities for effective student recruitment through campaigns and, as appropriate, personally participate in education/career fairs and exhibitions, student events, and seminars. This will include the ongoing assessment of the success of events and in-region activity carried out.
- Provide high-level advice and briefings to senior management and members of the ECA Executive on student recruitment matters relating to the China market.
- Coordinate the production of electronic and print publications and other marketing/advertising opportunities both internally and externally, in cooperation with the ECA Marketing team
- Maintain the central database of relevant regional contacts in databases and other systems as required.
- Undertake frequent and extensive regional travel, and travel to Australia as appropriate, on behalf of ECA including outside of regular business hours and on weekends.
Required Experience
- 10+ years of experience in increasingly senior roles related to student recruitment for international institutions.
- Advanced strategic thinking and experience developing and implementing targeted recruitment strategies.
- Experience setting, tracking, and achieving quantitative and qualitative targets, strong analytical abilities and familiarity with using data to drive decision making.
- Fluency in English, comfort communicating with native speakers and proficiency in business writing.
- Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
- Knowledge about Australian higher education and Australia as a destination for international students
- Experience or expertise in sales and marketing
- Work or study abroad experience in Australia is a plus
- Experience recruiting for an Australian institution is a plus
Critical skills
- Advanced written and oral communication skills and ability to influence others
- Strategic thinking skills
- Good judgment, strong moral compass
- Ability to multi‐task and manage a balanced agenda
- Customer service orientation
- Attention to detail
- Intelligence, creative problem-solving skills
- Ambitious and driven to results
- Political acuity and business acumen
What is cool about this job?
As a Country Director (China), you will build a strong personal connection with individuals across ECA and with the organization itself. You will contribute directly to the evolution of the organization and its international strategy. The work you do will impact the educational opportunities available to both students studying at institutions within ECA’s portfolio, as well as across China.
You will be given the opportunity to develop skills such as: strategic analysis and strategy development; communication with key stakeholders; managing a complex agenda; and crafting realistic and successful models of collaboration with partners. You will also have the chance to travel to Australia to visit ECA offices and campuses. You will be part of the Grok Family, where you’ll have access to great coaching, professional development, career growth, and a fun and caring work environment. Grok is dedicated to doing excellent work for our client institutions and it’s exciting to be part of our growing team.
