Manager of Future Students - International

Job Description:

Te Rōpū Pāpori | Engagement
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Permanent position, 37.5 hours per week
• 5 weeks annual leave + 5 days university holidays
• $108,459 – $134,900 p.a
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)

This is an opportunity for an internationally experienced education and sales leader to shape an integrated recruitment and conversion portfolio across markets, relationships and the student decision journey.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

You will lead the University of Canterbury’s (UC) international student recruitment and conversion portfolio and its contribution to the University’s wider enrolment goals. Your portfolio includes International Recruitment Market Managers, Future Student Advisers and engagement expertise, with activity extending across onshore and offshore teams, representatives, agents and partners.

You will work alongside peer leaders in a deliberately flat and collaborative leadership model. Success will come through influence, credibility and trusted relationships.

• Set and deliver international recruitment, sales and conversion strategies aligned with UC’s enrolment goals.
• Lead, coach and connect a globally distributed team, creating clarity and accountability while empowering people to use their judgement.
• Translate market intelligence, pipeline data and student behaviour into focused activity and measurable enrolment outcomes.
• Strengthen the end-to-end international student journey and reduce hand-offs between recruitment and conversion.
• Build influential, loyal and mutually valuable relationships with education agents, institutional partners, government bodies, schools and other stakeholders.
• Guide market planning, channel performance, resource deployment and continuous improvement.
• Advocate for your people and portfolio while contributing constructively to shared decisions and wider Future Students priorities.
• Represent UC confidently in international markets and strengthen its reputation as a compelling destination for students.

International travel is an important part of this role. You must be willing and able to travel to China and South Asia approximately three to four times each year, with trips generally lasting around two weeks.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are a commercially astute international education professional who understands that student recruitment is both a relationship business and a disciplined sales operation. You create direction, earn trust across cultures and enable capable people to perform at their best.

You will be able to demonstrate experience in:

• Substantial international education experience, ideally across student recruitment, admissions, conversion, partnerships or market development.
• Sales leadership, including ownership of targets, pipelines, market plans and conversion performance.
• Leading global, offshore or geographically dispersed teams.
• Understanding international student decision-making and the recruitment journey from first engagement through to enrolment.
• Leading through influence and inspiring commitment across cultures, functions and organisational boundaries.
• A coaching and advocacy-based leadership style that sets expectations and supports accountability without micromanaging.
• Using data, market intelligence and commercial judgement to make sound decisions.
• Developing high-trust stakeholder relationships and negotiating effectively in complex international environments.
• Balancing clear portfolio accountability with shared leadership and collective success.
• An alignment with our organisation’s values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

Future Students includes domestic student recruitment and international student recruitment. Together the team successfully builds the profile and reputation of UC as an outstanding, world-class learning environment that supports the pursuit of excellence, attracts a diversity of talent and investment and continuously reinforces the value of UC qualifications and experience. For more information about our team, please visit us here.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

At UC, being part of our team means more than just a job. We are committed to supporting our kaimahi | staff’s career and wellbeing with benefits designed to help our kaimahi grow and feel connected, supported and valued.

• 5 weeks annual leave + 5 days university holidays
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangements
• professional development opportunities
• supportive working environment
• a wide range of retail discounts across shopping, entertainment and travel
• on-campus staff discounts
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment on a beautiful campus, with access to UC facilities such as the UC RecCentre and Staff Club at discounted rates, plus onsite cafés and eateries.

For more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc

For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: 16 October 2026 (midnight, NZ time)
Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email. However, we are happy to answer queries about the application process; please forward these to [email protected].

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency, or hold a valid New Zealand work visa, to be considered for this role.

Please note, this role is based in Ōtautahi Christchurch and requires regular international travel.