Head of Academic Partnerships

All Locations

Poole House (Bournemouth - Talbot)

All Departments

Professional, Managerial and Support Services

Advertising Salary

Salary from £57,422 - £64,605 per annum (pro rata) with progression opportunities to £70,579

Vacancy Type

Permanent

Function

Professional and Support

Closing Date

16 Nov 2025

Basis

Full Time

The Head of Academic Partnerships has a leading role in driving BU's internationalisation objectives, and provides strategic and creative thought leadership for delivering the University's strategy in relation to leading the identification and development of strategic international partnerships.

The post is a part of external engagement at BU, a cross-institutional group of professional services leads and experts as well as Faculty leads collectively working to deliver our shared vision of BU2035. The role will undertake intelligence gathering, senior level analysis, as well as producing briefings and presentations and policy formulation related to BU's internationalisation objectives and international partnership development related to existing and emerging areas of expertise.

Main Responsibilities

1. Develop, lead and implement the University's internationalisation objectives, with a particular focus on TNE and partnership development, working closely with the Dean of Global Engagement & Strategic Partnerships, Head of External Engagement and Head of International Mobility & Exchange, as well as in conjunction with senior stakeholders across BU.

2. Lead the identification and development of strategic and key international research, education and practice partnerships for the University to continually enrich and develop its academic footprint in existing and emerging areas of expertise, and generate impact and income worldwide.

3. Raise BU's international profile through partnership development with a range of organisations and agencies nationally and internationally.

4. Develop and shape the structure and governance arrangements for the global partnership development and account management as a part of wider external engagement, working with senior colleagues.

5. Working within the cross-institutional external engagement at BU in synergy with the Head of International Mobility & Exchange and Head of External Engagement and build a cohesive external engagement team, growing their capability, expertise and effective behaviours to meet the goals of the University, and their ability to develop and manage international partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

6. Working closely with senior staff members from across the University, build a cohesive international engagement team, growing their capability, expertise and effective behaviours to meet the goals of the University, and their ability to develop and manage partnership and mobility activities with internal and external stakeholders.

7. Create an operational plan for international partnerships including managing budgets, ensuring compliance with financial, institutional and regulatory requirements.

8. Lead senior BU delegations on overseas partner visits, including planning, provision of strategic briefings and intelligence, partner communications and coordinating follow up of actions.

9. Lead the strategic vision and operationalisation of overseas partner engagement events, taking an institutional view and ensuring impact.

10. Provide strategic and creative thought leadership to inform the internationalisation objectives and embedding of internationalisation activities across BU to support international partnership development.

11. Undertake responsibility for the provision of high-quality advice, reports and briefings on international engagement and partnership development to the Dean of Global Engagement & Strategic Partnerships and other members of UET and ULT, including the Vice-Chancellor.

12. Engage proactively with relevant international networks (based in the UK or overseas), country-specific briefing events, policy briefings, government initiatives etc. To gather information and intelligence and remain up-to-date with current policy and project initiatives and developments.

13. Monitor and evaluate international partnership activity to ensure delivery of outcomes and impact, and alignment to the University mission and strategy.

14. Represent the University nationally and internationally, deputising for the Dean of Global Engagement & Strategic Partnerships/UET as appropriate.

15. Work collaboratively and effectively with other Professional Services and Faculties to ensure coordination of international activities and pro-actively champion internationalisation at the University.

16. Undertake any other relevant duties and projects required as directed by the Dean of Global Engagement & Strategic Partnerships.

The Global Engagement & Strategic Partnerships (GESP) professional service is responsible for all international activities of BU including TNE, Recruitment, Exchange & Mobility and External Engagement, working closely with our partners in the UK and overseas to deliver the BU 2035 strategy. The professional service is part of the university's ambition to grow globally to support our students, staff and wider community. With a wide range of deliverables the GESP professional service will be essential in maintaining and growing the global strategy for BU.

Bournemouth University's vision is worldwide recognition as a leading university for inspiring learning, advancing knowledge and enriching society through the fusion of education, research and practice. Our highly skilled and creative workforce is comprised of individuals drawn from a broad cross section of the globe, who reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives and experiences that help to build our global learning community.

BU values and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We seek a diverse community through attracting, developing and retaining staff from different backgrounds to contribute to inspirational learning, advancing knowledge and enriching society. To support and enable our staff to achieve a balance between work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

A job description for this position is available at the top of this page. If you require this in a different format, please contact us