Educational Partnerships Project Manager

Oxford Brookes University is a modern and forward‑thinking institution with a global reputation for high‑quality teaching, impactful research and an excellent student experience. Rooted in a city renowned for culture and learning, we embrace innovation while remaining connected to a rich academic heritage. Our people are central to our success, and we are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can develop, progress and thrive.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Educational Partnerships Project Manager to lead the commercial and operational onboarding of new global partnerships. This is a pivotal role that ensures new international opportunities are rigorously assessed, strategically aligned, and progressed efficiently through University governance.

Working within the Marketing, Recruitment and Engagement Directorate, you will act as a specialist project lead—joining up commercial, legal, financial and operational strands to ensure new transnational education (TNE) partnerships are viable, sustainable and fully supported. You will provide high‑level analysis, evidence‑based recommendations, and structured project oversight to enable informed decision‑making at senior executive level.

What will I be doing?

In this strategic and highly collaborative role, you will:

• Lead the end‑to‑end commercial approval process for new transnational education partners, including business case development and financial due diligence.
• Coordinate contract lifecycles with Legal Services, ensuring agreements reflect delivery models, compliance requirements and risk mitigation.
• Develop and manage project plans aligned to in‑country regulatory frameworks and University governance milestones.
• Act as the primary liaison with international partners during the commercial setup phase.
• Produce high‑quality reports and strategic recommendations for senior committees.
• Identify project risks, maintain risk registers and ensure they are owned and managed by relevant stakeholders.
• Lead handover processes for new partnerships, ensuring smooth transition to academic validation and quality assurance teams.
• Contribute to market intelligence by monitoring policy changes, global regulatory shifts and international HE trends.

What skills do I need?

• Degree/equivalent professional experience.
• Proven experience providing high‑quality, evidence‑based briefings for senior stakeholders.
• Significant experience leading commercial onboarding processes, including risk management and financial due diligence.
• Strong project management capability, with experience coordinating complex multi‑stakeholder projects.
• Experience managing contract lifecycles and coordinating with legal teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to analyse and interpret global regulatory environments and identify potential risks or opportunities.

About the location

The role is based at our Headington campus, one mile from Oxford city centre and well served by public transport. Hybrid working is supported, with on‑campus attendance typically 1–2 days per week, depending on business needs.

Benefits

As one of the largest employers in Oxford, we pride ourselves on the great experience we offer our staff. You’ll join a friendly, professional environment where every member of staff is recognised as important to the success of Oxford Brookes University. To find out more about the benefits of working for Oxford Brookes, please visit www.brookes.ac.uk/job-vacancies/working-at-brookes.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

At Oxford Brookes, inclusivity is one of our five guiding principles: we take positive steps to create an environment in which we celebrate, value and provide equal opportunity to all. We are committed to recruiting from the widest possible pool & welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates who embrace our values, regardless of their background.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee to interview any disabled applicant who meets the essential selection criteria.