Associate Director, International Recruitment Okanagan Campus

University of British Columbia•Kelowna, BC

2d•CA$9,049 - CA$14,114•Onsite

About The Position

The role of Associate Director, International Recruitment for the Okanagan campus is critical to the sustained growth in international undergraduate enrolments for the Okanagan campus. The Associate Director, International Recruitment leads, develops and executes a curated international undergraduate student recruitment strategy specifically for UBC’s Okanagan campus. The Associate Director initiates and develops opportunities that benefit the international undergraduate student enrolment goals and targets of the Okanagan campus. The Associate Director assesses strengths and weaknesses of existing recruitment strategies and operations and recommends changes in the recruiting program or processes that will optimize outcomes. The Associate Director works synergistically with all other leaders in the International Student Initiative’s larger team to ensure overall coordinated approaches to international student recruitment strategies for UBC.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline
Minimum of eight years of relevant experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and leading international recruitment initiatives and strategies
Experience working within a large public post-secondary institution
In-depth knowledge and understanding of the current international higher education sector and what it takes to recruit international students
An understanding of and experience developing operational systems and processes to support logistically complex projects carried out in an international context
Strong networking abilities and experience developing and cultivating relationships with organizations and individuals
Ability to develop and execute a strategic plan, and to assess and analyze achievement of results
Superior written and oral communication skills and demonstrated ability to present effectively to groups large and small
Ability to analyze and interpret data to support strategic change; ability to move from ideas to implementation
Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships with peers and subordinates, and to work effectively as a senior member of a high performance, results-oriented team
Ability to exercise sound judgment; a creative and resourceful problem solver
Ability to prioritize and work effectively within tight timelines and competing priorities
Demonstrated cross-cultural communication skills required; fluency in one of the major languages of the ISI recruitment regions would be an asset
Preference given to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada

Responsibilities

Develops and leads a strategic, data-informed international undergraduate recruitment plan for UBC Okanagan, identifying new markets, recruitment channels, and sources of highly qualified students who meet UBC admission requirements.
Provides leadership and oversight for the implementation of the Okanagan international recruitment strategy, ensuring recruitment activities align with institutional priorities, strategic enrolment objectives, and target market goals.
Collaborates with leaders across the International Student Initiative (ISI) and Enrolment Services to ensure coordinated, integrated, and effective recruitment strategies, initiatives, and resource deployment across regions and campuses.
Oversees the planning, execution, and evaluation of recruitment activities in global recruitment regions, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with established recruitment objectives and service standards.
Monitors recruitment performance metrics, analyzes outcomes, and recommends evidence-based adjustments to strategies, tactics, and resource allocation to maximize effectiveness and achieve enrolment targets.
Conducts environmental scans and competitive analyses of domestic and international post-secondary institutions to develop strategies that strengthen and sustain UBC Okanagan’s competitive position in key recruitment markets.
Anticipates, assesses, and addresses operational, logistical, economic, and geopolitical challenges that may impact international recruitment activities, ensuring the successful and cost-effective delivery of recruitment programs.
Gathers and analyzes feedback from recruiters, partners, prospective students, and other stakeholders to continuously improve recruitment initiatives, processes, and student engagement strategies.
Leads the development and implementation of innovative business processes, systems, technologies, and AI-enabled solutions that enhance the planning, delivery, and effectiveness of recruitment and advising services.
Provides expert guidance on international secondary and post-secondary education systems, identifying trends, reforms, and emerging opportunities that may affect student recruitment, admission pathways, and enrolment outcomes.
Assesses the impact of international educational system changes on admission and recruitment practices, and develops recommendations for policy, process, and procedural enhancements to support institutional enrolment goals.
Advises the Provost’s leadership team on recruitment, admissions, and pathway opportunities, including transfer partnerships and articulation prospects, to expand and diversify student recruitment pipelines for UBC Okanagan.
Identifies and evaluates international colleges, universities, and pathway institutions that offer strong potential for attracting qualified transfer students and supporting strategic enrolment growth.
Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability within the recruitment team, ensuring operational excellence and a student-centred approach to international recruitment.
Provides strategic leadership, operational direction, and day-to-day management for the international recruitment team supporting the UBC Okanagan portfolio, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities, enrolment objectives, and service standards.
Leads all aspects of talent management, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, coaching, mentoring, performance management, and professional development of assigned staff.
Establishes clear performance expectations and accountability measures, regularly evaluating team effectiveness and supporting continuous growth and achievement of recruitment goals.
Ensures recruiters consistently apply best practices in international student advising, relationship management with counselors and educational partners, recruitment planning, travel preparation, follow-up activities, and post-engagement processes.
Identifies opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and team productivity by developing, implementing, and refining procedures, workflows, and service delivery models.
Monitors workload distribution, travel schedules, and competing priorities across the recruitment team, proactively reallocating resources and balancing assignments to optimize performance and employee well-being.
Promotes a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement, fostering high levels of engagement and professional excellence across the team.
Ensures compliance with university policies, procedures, and standards related to travel, risk management, health and safety, financial stewardship, and ethical conduct.
Assesses and mitigates risks associated with international recruitment travel and events, ensuring appropriate safety protocols and support mechanisms are in place for staff and participating university representatives.
Builds and maintains effective working relationships with in-country recruitment advisors, contract recruiters, and regional representatives, providing ongoing guidance, communication, and operational support to advance UBC Okanagan’s recruitment objectives.
Coordinates and delivers training programs, orientation activities, and professional development opportunities for recruiters, including in-country training, campus-based training visits, and operational site reviews.
Conducts site visits and operational assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of regional recruitment infrastructure, partnerships, and service delivery, implementing improvements as required.
Provides leadership and support across the broader ISI Okanagan team, fostering collaboration and alignment among recruitment, administration, recruitment marketing, prospective student engagement, scholarships, and awards functions.
Supports cross-functional planning and decision-making by working closely with leaders and staff across multiple teams to ensure integrated service delivery and a seamless experience for prospective international students.
Ensures compliance with provincial and institutional regulatory requirements, including adherence to British Columbia’s International Education Code of Practice and Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation standards.
Monitors changes to regulatory, policy, and compliance frameworks affecting international student recruitment and advising, implementing operational adjustments as required to maintain institutional compliance.
Evaluates the effectiveness and impact of international recruitment strategies, initiatives, and investments through the analysis of recruitment data, market intelligence, enrolment outcomes, and performance metrics.
Prepares and presents comprehensive reports, briefings, and recommendations for senior leadership, providing strategic insights into recruitment performance, emerging opportunities, risks, and market trends.
Identifies and assesses new recruitment initiatives, partnership opportunities, sponsorship arrangements, and market development strategies to support enrolment growth and diversification objectives.
Conducts market analysis to identify emerging geographic regions, student segments, government-sponsored programs, and institutional partnerships with strong potential to enhance recruitment outcomes.
Develops business cases and strategic recommendations for investment in new markets, partnerships, and recruitment initiatives, including implementation approaches and resource requirements.
Leads the preparation of the ISI Okanagan annual recruitment report, ensuring the accurate collection, analysis, and presentation of recruitment activity and performance data.
Oversees the tracking and reporting of key recruitment indicators, including recruitment travel, school and counselor engagement, student interactions, events, partnerships, and on-campus recruitment initiatives.
Collaborates with Finance and Operations leadership to assess recruitment return on investment, including cost-per-student metrics, resource utilization, and overall program effectiveness.
Analyzes recruitment expenditures and outcomes to inform evidence-based decisions regarding resource allocation, program expansion, operational efficiencies, and investment priorities.
Recommends the continuation, enhancement, scaling, or discontinuation of recruitment activities based on performance data, market conditions, and alignment with strategic enrolment objectives.
Establishes and maintains effective reporting frameworks, dashboards, and performance measurement tools to support continuous improvement, accountability, and strategic decision-making.
Collaborates with the Senior Director to develop and manage the annual international recruitment budget for the Okanagan campus.
Exercises delegated authority to approve recruitment-related expenditures, ensuring responsible stewardship of university resources.
Monitors and manages recruitment spending, including travel, accommodation, events, and operational costs, within approved budget parameters.
Analyzes recruitment costs and outcomes to assess return on investment and support effective resource allocation.
Provides budget forecasts, financial reporting, and recommendations to support strategic and operational decision-making.
Ensures compliance with university financial policies, procedures, and spending guidelines.
Identifies opportunities to improve cost-effectiveness while maintaining recruitment objectives and service standards.
Develops and maintains strategic relationships with international partners, UBC Okanagan alumni, and key stakeholders to support recruitment, conversion, and enrolment goals.
Builds and manages productive partnerships with recruitment agencies, educational consultants, government representatives, secondary schools, and post-secondary institutions.
Identifies and cultivates new partnership opportunities that strengthen international student recruitment, market diversification, and enrolment growth.
Represents UBC Okanagan with external stakeholders, fostering collaboration and advancing the university’s international engagement objectives.