In-Country Officer Job at UKEAS Nigeria, 15th March

UKEAS Nigeria is an education consultancy committed to ensuring that in all our offices FREE expert advice is given by highly trained counsellors on any aspect of British education. We provide counselling and application services for international students wanting to study at high schools, 
colleges and universities in the UK. Founded in Taiwan in 1993, we have helped tens of thousands of students to achieve their goal of study in the UK.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:




Job Title: In-Country Officer
Vacancy Reference Number: UKEAS 08:13
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Industry: Education
Specialization: Student recruitment, customer service and office support
Job Descriptions 

• The successful applicant will be based within a UKEAS office in Nigeria and will be responsible for recruitment and the follow up of prospective students on behalf of the University of Kent.
• They will provide administrative support to manage student applications and will liaise with the University of Kent to ensure that applicants are kept updated about their application and are processed as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Job Purpose

• This position is an exciting opportunity to work with an established and highly regarded UK institution whilst also developing a vital and strategic role within UKEAS, one of the University’s key worldwide agencies. The job focuses on the expansion of the crucial Nigerian market, conversion of already high application numbers from both potential undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as providing year-round support and advice for all referred applicants.
• The in-country representative will be an employee of UKEAS in Nigeria with the sole purpose of supporting the University of Kent. The post holder will therefore have close contact with UKEAS agency staff, IR and members of University academic staff plus those involved with international recruitment, admissions and our foundation programmes.
• Management of this position will be the responsibility of the International Officer accountable for the Nigerian market but, any potential disputes or disciplinary matters should be raised with the Assistant Director for possible action.

Key Accountabilities / Primary Responsibilities 

• Under the direction of the relevant International Officer within IR, the Recruitment of full-fee paying international students to the University of Kent.
• Carrying out visits to support the University’s links with schools, language schools, colleges and universities in Nigeria with a significant student base considering furthering their education in the UK.
• In conjunction with UKEAS staff and IR, to manage the admissions and support of international students, including communicating with enquirers, applicants and academic colleagues to achieve high rates of conversion to registration.
• To assist in the development and implementation of recruitment and marketing strategies in designated regions
• To maximise international student recruitment and profile raising opportunities for the University; to undertake domestic and when necessary international travel as required at education exhibitions, schools and events in Nigeria and other target countries within Africa.

Key Duties 

• To be a competent and professional representative of the University of Kent in all dealings with stakeholders, and handle any enquiries in an expert and timely manner
• To keep informed and adjust to new developments relating to the University, as expected of all academic and non-academic staff
• To generate new applications for the University of Kent through the UKEAS network
• To manage the conversion of referred applications with offers, offering a local contact point with advice and counselling for the rest of the application process
• To work with the Admissions Office at the University of Kent to ensure the complete application process runs as smoothly as possible.
• To give professional one to one attention to prospective students and their parents and submit a weekly report on the status of all applications (referrals and UKEAS generated)
• To represent Kent at promotional events such as recruitment fairs, exhibitions, conferences and school visits in Nigeria, and on occasion, other countries (subject to visa restrictions)
• Travel extensively across Nigeria to conduct student interview sessions, pre-departure briefings and counselling at agents’ and partners’ offices when necessary
• To manage a range of PR activities in Nigeria to increase brand awareness and market visibility
• To act as a key contact and keep up to date with changes in regulations that may affect application figures. Gather and disseminate market intelligence and opportunities in Nigeria to both UKEAS and IR
• To assist with the creation of interesting and up-to-date content for the University’s social media feeds including Facebook and Twitter
• Undertake projects relevant to IR’s objectives, to be decided, as and when necessary. Fulfil any other duties as appropriate within their competence, as required by the University from time to time.
• To provide expert visa advice and to manage the application process to ensure no visa refusals
• To assist in the preparation of University of Kent visits to Nigeria, including promotional activity and contacting of existing enquirers and applicants
• To liaise with UKEAS colleagues in all the Nigeria offices to ensure a high visibility of University of Kent’s offering
• To participate and feed into University of Kent’s Nigeria conversion strategies

Internal & External Relationships
Internal: 

• International Recruitment, UKEAS, Heads of School, Admissions Officers, Hospitality, Finance, Alumni and Development,Regional Strategy Group Members, School Marketing Officers, Recruitment and Admissions, Internationalisation Strategy and Faculty Recruitment Outreach Committee members, Student Planning and Information Office, Compliance Office and The Centre for English and World Languages.

External: 

• International schools, Language Schools, colleges, universities, private education providers, funding bodies, Embassies, British Council, agents and University of Kent alumni to increase the University’s international profile and numbers of international students.

Person Specification 

• The person specification details the necessary skills, qualifications, experience or other attributes needed to carry out the job. Applications are assessed against each of the criteria either at application or interview stage.
• Applications will be deemed unsuccessful if an essential criterion is not met.
• This may also help you self-select if you are suitable for the role.

Qualifications / Training: 

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent qualification) – Essential.
• UK educated (preferably at degree level) – Essential.
• Marketing qualification. – Desirable
• University of Kent graduate – Desirable

Experience / Knowledge: 

• Current and relevant experience of working in an international student recruitment and marketing environment – Essential.
• Cultural awareness of the UK and experience in dealing with international organisations – Essential
• Experience of working with student recruitment agencies – Desirable.
• Fluency inforeign languages. – Essential
• Fluency in written and spoken English – Desirable.
• Experience with direct marketing and CRM databases – Essential.
• Knowledge of the International Schools sector both overseas and in the UK – Desirable
• Detailed understanding of UK immigration policy and procedures, especially in regard to language testing and progression requirements – Desirable
• Knowledge of Nigerian providers of Foundation and alternative University preparation qualifications – Desirable
• Proven success in developing and managing effective networks and external relationships – Essential.
• Previous experience in a busy/pressurized environment. – Essential.
• Knowledge of student recruitment markets. – Essential.
• Knowledge of Key Stakeholders including the British Council, UKCISA, UCAS, CIS, and English UK – Essential

Skills / Abilities: 

• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office packages – Essential.
• Proven ability to combine strategic thinking with attention to detail – Essential.
• Ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences both in writing and orally, including strong presentation skills – Essential.
• Ability to work efficiently, accurately & calmly under pressure – Essential  
• Ability to work well within a team to achieve the Office’s objectives – Essential.
• Ability to work alone, self-motivated and efficient – Essential.
• Project management skills – Essential
• Budget management skills – Desirable
• Excellent organisational skills. – Essential.
• Excellent analytical skills. – Essential.

Additional Attributes: 

• Goal orientated and highly motivated. – Essential.
• Flexible work ethic and willingness to undertake regular travel in Nigeria and on occasion overseas, including flexibility at evenings and weekends. – Essential
• Ability to empathise with the purpose and values of the University and to work effectively with academic staff and students. – Essential.
• Potential and motivation to develop a successful career in higher education. – Desirable

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their full CV’s and covering letter detailing how you fulfil our criteria and why you are best suited for this job to: ikeja@ukeas.com.ng
Click here for more details (MS Word)



Interview Expected Date: 1st May, 2017. (dependent upon notice period)



Deadline: 18th March, 2017.