Future Student Advisor

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
• $95,784 - $116,911p.a.
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)

This is a sales-focused international recruitment role for a confident relationship builder who can guide future students through important decisions, develop valuable accounts and convert genuine interest in UC into accepted offers, placements and enrolments.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

Reporting to the Manager of Future Students – International, you will manage an international recruitment and conversion portfolio supporting prospective students. . You will build momentum throughout the recruitment pipeline—from first contact and application through to offer acceptance, placement and enrolment.

This is an active, target-driven role combining consultative sales, account management, academic advice and stakeholder engagement. You will understand what matters to each future student, respond to barriers and confidently while providing accurate, student-centred advice.

• Deliver international recruitment and conversion activity against agreed targets, with a strong focus on converting applications and offers into accepted offers, placements and enrolments.
• Manage a portfolio and sales pipeline, qualifying leads, maintaining purposeful follow-up and using effective closing techniques to turn interest into action.
• Build trusted relationships with future students, parents and whānau, providing timely advice and helping them confidently navigate their decision-making journey.
• Develop and account-manage productive relationships with education agents, schools, institutional partners, faculties and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Use CRM data, market intelligence, enquiry trends and conversion results to prioritise activity, forecast outcomes and improve recruitment performance.
• Provide accurate information and academic advice on UC programmes, admission, entry and pathway requirements in line with University policy.
• Plan and deliver presentations, conversion campaigns, events, visits and personalised communications for diverse international audiences.
• Represent UC with credibility and cultural awareness, ensuring every interaction strengthens confidence in the University and its student experience.

Travel to China as required for recruitment, conversion and stakeholder activity, for up to four weeks in total each year.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are a persuasive, commercially minded adviser who enjoys building relationships and achieving measurable outcomes. You combine empathy and sound judgement with the confidence to progress conversations, manage objections and close. Organised and culturally aware, you can balance a busy portfolio without losing the personal connection that influences a student’s choice.

You will be able to demonstrate experience in:

• Essential sales experience, with evidence of meeting targets, progressing a pipeline and successfully closing deals in a consultative sales environment.
• International student recruitment, education sales, conversion, admissions, customer service or another relevant relationship-based sector.
• Converting enquiries, applications and offers into accepted offers, confirmed placements or enrolments through structured and persistent follow-up.
• Account management and stakeholder engagement, including developing trusted, mutually valuable relationships with agents, partners, schools and internal teams.
• Providing compelling presentations and tailored advice to individuals and groups from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Using CRM systems to qualify and manage leads, maintain accurate records, plan activity and report on pipeline and conversion performance.
• Interpreting data and market feedback to identify opportunities, solve problems and improve recruitment and conversion activity.
• Working accurately within policies, admission requirements and complex rules while maintaining a strong focus on service and outcomes.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant qualification, the ability to travel internationally and a full New Zealand driver licence.
• Mandarin language capability would be an advantage but is not essential
• An alignment with our organisation’s values and commitment to 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: 23 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.