Director of Marketing External Affairs and Student Recruitment

University of Northampton

Location:	Northampton
Salary:	£100,000 to £130,000 per annum
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Permanent

Placed On:	27th February 2026
Closes:	5th April 2026
Job Ref:	UN5459

About the Job

This vacancy and application process is managed by executive search firm: Perrett Laver

To find out more about this role, including details of how to apply, please click the 'Apply' button above.

Proud of our roots and history, we are now looking forward with confidence and purpose, and this role is critical to our success. As a key member of the University’s Leadership Team and reporting to the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer, this pivotal role shapes how we present ourselves to the world, how we communicate and engage with our stakeholder communities, how we pique the interest of prospective students at home and abroad: maintaining and growing our student pipeline, and how we maximise the potential of our transnational education partnerships; all of which is essential to the University delivering on its strategic ambitions.

This role is responsible for optimising the University’s brand, marketing, strategic communications, external relations activities, plus driving forward our critical income streams of home and international student recruitment, and our international partnerships, leveraging the strengths and assets of the University to grow our profile regionally, nationally and internationally, and effectively engaging with our communities and stakeholders.

About You

We are looking for a strategic, imaginative and emotionally intelligent leader, with a strong track record in delivering impactful marketing and communications activities, and sustained business growth, in complex organisations and highly competitive sectors. You will bring board-level and international experience of brand development, communications, engagement and public affairs, multi-channel campaign delivery, along with a deep understanding of the student psyche and journey.

Equally important is being a great colleague to your leadership team peers, and demonstrating a commitment to the mission, values and spirit of the University of Northampton, and everything we stand for. Joining us at this time, offers the chance to be part of a forward-thinking and student-centred institution, where you will help shape the external face of a university that is redefining what it means to be a critical and influential part of Northamptonshire’s civic fabric.

Click here to read our strategy, take a virtual campus tour and learn more about us.